Sacked ticket collector who sparked series of Christmas rail strikes has history of ... - Scottish Daily Record

THE Scotrail conductor whose sacking sparked a series of Christmas strikes has a history of run-ins with passengers.

Scott Lewis, 40, was fired over claims he made a passenger cry during a dispute in March.

But the Record has learned he had previously been disciplined for throwing a 13-year-old boy off a train at a deserted station for not having a valid ticket.

It is understood Mr Lewis was reprimanded for leaving the minor stranded at an unmanned stop, then failing to report the incident.

A source said: "The boy, who was in care, was seen in distress leaving the train at an unstaffed station.

"The boy, who subsequently boarded another train, was looked after by a ticket examiner until met by British Transport Police on arrival at his destination."

The altercation happened in January 2004 before the more recent incident, when the complainer said Mr Lewis, from Glasgow's south side, told him to act "like a man" and insisted he look him in the eye as he sat sobbing.

He added he was treated in a "despicable and degrading" way after a misunderstanding over a Ryanair promotion to get a free train ticket from Glasgow Central to Prestwick Airport.

ScotRail have called the decision to strike over the issue "a clear attack on the travelling public".Bosses will meet union officials again today for emergency talks aimed at averting the walkouts.

The RMT said last night they had "no knowledge" of previous disciplinary action against Mr Lewis.

The union are planning a number of strikes at Christmas over his sacking.

Trains linking Scotland with England on routes other than the west and east coast lines will be hit by a 24-hour stoppage on December 21. That is in addition to the ScotRail strikes set for the next day and Christmas Eve.

The December 21 strike will include train managers, senior conductors and catering staff.

It follows what RMT general secretary Bob Crow described as "the total collapse of industrial relations across a raft of matters".

Northern Isles ferry staff, meanwhile, held their first strike yesterday in a separate dispute.

RMT members on Orkney and Shetland routes have voted for action on a number of dates.

They say Serco Northlink Ferries want to cut jobs despite the firm claiming they are not planning any compulsory redundancies.

Aberdeen, Orkney and Shetland sailings also face action from 8am tomorrow until 8am on Monday.