SNP surrenders to train drivers’ 5pc pay increase in move that will embolden rest of public sector
NICOLA STURGEON’S SNP government surrendered to transport unions yesterday by helping fund a 5 per cent pay rise to train drivers, in a move that emboldened other public sector workers to demand similar deals.
Nationalised Scotrail confirmed yesterday there had been a “breakthrough” in talks with the union Aslef, after its members forced 700 rail services a day to be cancelled over the past fortnight by refusing to work voluntary overtime.
The union said it had also secured better pay for working on rest days, no compulsory redundancies for the next five years and an improved bonus scheme from the newly-nationalised operator, which is expected to be worth at least another £2,340 per year.
Although Jenny Gilruth, the SNP’S transport minister, insisted she was not party to the talks, the government agency Transport Scotland agreed to fund 2.2 per cent of the rise. Unions representing teachers, nurses, police and council workers are likely to demand similar terms from the SNP government, with many of their members earning far less than the £50,000-plus salaries of train drivers.
GMB Scotland, which represents council workers, said the deal showed that the “paltry” two per cent pay rise offered to other public sector staff was neither “credible nor acceptable”. Kate Forbes, the SNP finance secretary, plans wide-ranging cuts to the public sector and has warned workers there is little money for pay rises.
Any large-scale pay increases for public sector staff would heap further strain on Scottish Government finances, with an estimated 30,000 public sector jobs in areas such as education, local government and policing set to be cut over coming years in a bid to plug a £3.5 billion black hole in its budgets.
Scotrail, which was nationalised in April, has implemented a temporary timetable due to the informal work-torule by drivers, which has seen final services on major routes depart several hours early.
Despite a deal now being in place, disruption to rail services is likely to continue over the coming weeks as the agreement still needs to be put to Aslef’s executive committee next Wednesday before going to its 2,000 members for approval.