Rail strike Train drivers could walk out for first time in 20 years

TRAIN drivers could strike for the first time in 20 years after talks between a rail union and transport bosses failed to reach an agreement over pay.

Aslef met with Scotrail yesterday to discuss a pay increase amid inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.

While other sections of Scotrail staff have gone on strike in recent years, the move would be a first in two decades for drivers. It is understood Scotrail has offered drivers a 2.2 per cent increase, which Aslef says is a “derisory offer”.

Kevin Lindsay, industrial organiser for Aslef, said: “Aslef members who have kept the country moving throughout the pandemic have been presented with a derisory pay offer from Scotrail management which takes no account of the costof-living crisis workers face.

“Scotland’s train drivers did not make the decision to consider industrial action lightly – indeed we have not had a single pay dispute with Scotland’s railway operators for 21 years. Yet, just one month into the Scottish Government’s stewardship of Scotrail, we are being left with no option but to consider action in response.

“Scotrail and the Scottish Government must recognise

that these key workers deserve a decent pay rise, they should return to the negotiating table with a much fairer deal that recognises the vital work our members do.”

Neil Bibby MSP, Scottish Labour transport spokesman, said: “This is a shameful way to treat hardworking rail staff, who kept things going through the pandemic.”

Graham Simpson, transport spokesman for the Scottish Tories, said: “The public have already been saddled with combination of rising fares and a reduced service, now they are threatened with even more disruption due to strike action.

“Ministers and Scotrail must return to the table to thrash out a deal that averts strikes or risk their much-touted nationalisation descending into chaos.”

Scotland’s rail services already face disruption as thousands of railway workers ballot for strike action, after safety concerns surfaced over plans to cut hundreds of critical maintenance jobs.

Unions warn there remain 200 existing vacancies in maintenance delivery in Scotland, which they say is affecting passenger safety, in the wake of the Stonehaven rail crash of August 2020, which claimed the lives of three people. Network Rail, which owns the nation’s rail tracks, stations and signals and track, and operators of cross-border services would be hit if there is a yes vote in a strike ballot involving 40,000 workers across the UK.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) say it would be the biggest rail strike in modern history.

Strike action could begin in June if workers vote to walkout in the ballot running until May 24.

The RMT union in Scotland says the strike would hit operations across Scotland, because among those being balloted are safetycritical workers including signallers employed by Network Rail, who are crucial to keep trains running.

Transport Scotland was approached for comment.