The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Rail turmoil to continue as union snubs pay offer
Rail passengers in Tayside and Fife are preparing for further disruption to services after an updated pay offer was turned down.
The National Executive Committee of train drivers’ union Aslef has rejected ScotRail’s pay offer to its members of 4.2%.
The committee did not recommend allowing its members a say on the offer via a vote.
ScotRail managers had previously offered the drivers’ union a 2.2% rise, which members also rejected.
The ScotRail offer also included an excess share premium, a commitment to bring Sundays into the working week within a fiveyear period and a 10% increase in Sunday working allowance.
Managers also offered a three-year commitment to no-compulsory redundancies – although the Scottish Government already follows a no compulsory redundancy policy.
Kevin Lindsay, Scottish organiser for Aslef, said: “Aslef wants to negotiate a fair deal for our members.
“We are once again calling on ScotRail to return to the talks, so we can negotiate a fair pay offer that we can put to our members.”
Passengers hoped talks held on Thursday last week would bring an end to the dispute.
ScotRail has already cut around 700 services from its timetable after drivers refused to work on rest days, as was common practice previously.
Services in Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Fife and Angus have been badly affected.
There are fears surrounding transport to key events this summer if ScotRail is unable to reach an agreement with the unions.
These include the Open, which will be held in St Andrews next month.
A union spokesman said Aslef officials will “now proceed to a ballot for industrial action if ScotRail refuses to engage in further talks”.
ScotRail introduced a temporary timetable on Monday May 23.
Managers promised it would “provide customers with a level of certainty and reliability”, but some services have still been cancelled.
The company was also caught up in a row over the extra services it added for yesterday’s Scotland vs Ukraine World Cup play-off.
Conservative transport spokesman Liam Kerr accused the firm of holding a “Central Belt bias” after it emerged the new services would travel no further north than Stirling.
David Simpson is ScotRail’s service delivery director.
He said: “We’re incredibly disappointed and frustrated that Aslef bosses have rejected this improved pay offer.
“It’s astonishing that they will not even put this offer to their members.
“Our substantially improved pay offer reflects the cost-of-living challenges faced by families across the country, while balancing it against the need to provide value for the taxpayer.
“We have offered to meet Aslef but, in the meantime, would urge them to reconsider this offer in the interest of their members.”