Company dismisses MSP’s jobs claim as ‘scaremongering’

Politician seeking urgent talks with Abellio-ScotRail

Fears west Fife is being dealt another jobs blow have been dismissed as “ridiculous scaremongering” by ScotRail.

According to Dunfermline MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville 15 staff may be affected by changes to the CCTV monitoring system run by rail operator Abellio-ScotRail.

She is seeking urgent talks with senior management to establish what support is being made available to local staff “facing redundancy”.

Changes concern a £1.4 million upgrade to the organisation’s CCTV coverage and its impact on future staff numbers.

Following contact with AbellioScotRail, Ms Somerville said the new technology would alert staff if something happens, for example a bag being abandoned on a platform.

It would, she said, reduce the need for as many CCTV monitoring staff.

The Dunfermline operation, which monitors the east coast lines, would be hit.

Help points would be transferred to Paisley, and staff from Dunfermline and Paisley would be relocated to Springburn.

However, she said six jobs would be opening in the west and other vacancies would be available in the organisation.

“Abellio-ScotRail’s decision to cut 15 CCTV specialist monitor staff is really disappointing news in a week when Dunfermline was dealt a blow in another sector in the local economy.

“I am particularly disappointed for the staff at this worrying time and I am concerned that Dunfermline will be losing their specialist skills.

“These staff are vital to security at our stations and platforms in Fife,” she said.

However, a spokesman for ScotRail Alliance said: “This is ridiculous scaremongering.

“We’ve invested £1.4m upgrading and improving our CCTV coverage.

“That’s why coverage has never been better.”

However, he did admit discussions had started with staff and unions “about how we best operate in the future”.

“In those discussions we’ve said that there will be no compulsory redundancies and that everyone who currently works there who wants a job will have one,” he added.

SHIRLEY-ANNE SOMERVILLE MSP