5% Pay deal that may end rail chaos, but it’ll take weeks
Fears that bumper offer will fuel public sector wage demands
PASSENGERS face more weeks of chaos on the railways despite hopes that a drivers’ dispute could finally be resolved with a 5 per cent pay offer.
A third of ScotRail services have been slashed since drivers refused to work overtime or rest days amid a shortage of staff.
The Aslef union said yesterday there had been a ‘breakthrough’ after the nationalised operator more than doubled its original offer of 2 per cent.
Aslef will put the offer to its executive committee next week before asking members for their views, while ScotRail said it could then take up to ten days for full timetables to resume.
A similar offer made to the RMT union in a separate dispute has been rejected with members set to vote over strike action.
But the bumper pay deal could come at a wider cost to the public sector, with other trade unions now demanding similar pay rises and threatening industrial action if they do not get them.
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: ‘Nationalised ScotRail must now get on with putting its reduced timetable back to the way it was. Aslef must ballot their members as quickly
‘Jenny Gilruth has been posted missing’
as possible and, hopefully, they will rubberstamp the deal.
‘I hope that the Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth can learn from this. She has been posted missing throughout and we run the risk of this happening every year if she continues to take the hands-off approach that she has.’
The dispute has led to many drivers refusing to work rest days, which resulted in ScotRail cutting around 700 services a day.
In addition to the 5 per cent pay rise, drivers will also get more money for rest day and Sunday working. There will also be a policy of no compulsory redundancies for five years.
The offer was confirmed after talks resumed yesterday.
Kevin Lindsay, Aslef’s Scottish organiser, said: ‘The offer on pay has been increased to 5 per cent and we have received improved offers on pay for rest day working, Sunday working allowances, driving instructor allowances, maternity pay and an extension of no compulsory redundancies to five years.
‘The full Aslef negotiating team is recommending acceptance of the offer to our members.’
Transport Scotland will fund just under half (2.2 per cent) of the pay rise, with the remainder (2.8 per cent) funded by ScotRail, which is now publicly owned.
Drivers will be paid £400 for each rest day they work, and it is estimated that the basic pay of a driver will increase by £2,600 as a result of the deal, to £55,264.
But the offer has led to the GMB union demanding a similar deal for council workers – and threatening industrial action if they do not get it.
GMB Scotland senior organiser Keir Greenaway said: ‘It’s clear the only language our political leaders understand is action. That’s why we are recommending our members vote yes for strikes in our local government ballot.’ David Simpson, ScotRail’s service delivery director, said: ‘We’ve made a really good offer which recognises the cost of living challenges faced by families across the country and delivers good value for the public.’
ScotRail made a similar offer to the RMT. But the union rejected it over a clause about ‘accepting current and future technology’. Its members had also been offered the 5 per cent pay rise, similar benefits and a minimum flat rate pay of £10.50 per hour.
Phil Campbell, head of customer operations at ScotRail, said: ‘It is astonishing that RMT officials have rejected this offer without even giving members a say through a referendum on the details of the offer.
‘I know many staff share our frustration with the RMT.’
Meanwhile, Unison has said it will today ballot 25,000 school staff and waste and recycling workers for strike action over pay.
NATIONALISATION of ScotRail was a gift for union bosses who gambled that the SNP-run franchise would cave in to their pay demands.
They were correct – and train drivers who earn more than £50,000 a year are now being offered a 5 per cent salary hike.
Even if Aslef members accept this generous deal, passengers face weeks more chaos before services return to normal.
Timetables were slashed by a third, bringing the rail network to its knees weeks after the SNP Government took control.
There’s more disruption down the line when members of the RMT rail union go on strike nationally this month – and they may down tools at ScotRail after rejecting a similar deal to that offered to Aslef.
The 5 per cent ScotRail pay offer also sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of the public sector. Unsurprisingly, the GMB is threatening industrial action over a similar deal for council workers. Teachers are also warning of strike action as they call for a 10 per cent pay rise – and are lobbying for a four-day week. Truly, the SNP Government has opened a Pandora’s Box.
It can’t afford to bankroll these unrealistic pay claims after years of lavish giveaways, waste and financial mismanagement.
Ministers prioritised Left-wing dogma as they ploughed ahead with public ownership of the railway. But the consequence has been chaos for thousands of Scots – with many now opting to travel by car or bus.
It’s a costly mess that has made a laughing stock of a once-renowned public transport system. But there will be wider repercussions for the taxpayer – left to pick up the bill for another SNP shambles.