Stewart Dickson said: “Strike action should always be the last option. I would urge all sides to continue any form of dialogue to resolve the dispute.
“As a former collective conciliator at the Labour Relations Agency, I know that as long as both sides are open to continuing negotiations, a successful resolution is always achievable. I would encourage all sides to avail of its services. It may also be appropriate to refer matters to arbitration.
“This strike, if it goes ahead, will cause a great deal of inconvenience and misery to rail passengers, so I would urge all sides to work hard to avoid this action.”
ENDS