COP26 Scotrail strike action to go ahead following failed wage discussions
RMT, the union representing the workers, say serious proposals are needed to cancel the strike.
Last updated 23rd Oct 2021
Scotrail workers are still set to strike during COP26, which takes place over two weeks from Sunday October 31, as they look for more pay.
Thousands of representatives from across the world are set to arrive in Scotland during the climate conference, but ongoing disputes within refuse services, rail and stagecoach could see a variety of issues emerge during this period.
RMT Union, representing the workers of Scotrail, wrote to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon calling on her to intervene in their ongoing debate over pay and fairness.
But talks today appear to have failed regardless of their appeal.
In a statement RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: "There was a golden opportunity for Scotrail to make serious progress in talks today but instead they offered nothing of any consequence and as a result our action throughout COP26 goes ahead as planned.
"There can be no climate justice without pay justice and it's about time Scotrail, the SNP and Transport Scotland woke up to that fact. The same message applies to our Scottish Caledonian Sleeper members.
"There is still time to avoid the chaos of a transport shutdown during COP26 if the key players get back with some serious proposals. We remain available for talks but the ball is firmly in their court."
A spokeswoman for Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government's transport agency, said it was "disappointing" that the RMT had not put the recent pay offer to its members in a ballot.
She said: "We acknowledge that the RMT has at last contacted ScotRail to reject this offer nearly two weeks after it was made.
"This is a disappointing response from the RMT leadership, particularly as we understand Aslef and TSSA have accepted the pay offer and Unite is recommending it to its members, who they are currently balloting.
"It is therefore disappointing that RMT leadership did not put this very good pay offer to a democratic vote to its members."
The spokeswoman continued: "In the interest of collective bargaining, we understand that ScotRail would need to re-engage all four unions to determine next steps.
"The RMT leadership has made clear its problem is with rest-day working and that would need to be the focus for any further discussions."
She added: "We are keen to see this issue resolved ahead of Cop26 so everyone who works in Scotland's railways can play their part in welcoming the world to our country and showcase our efforts towards building a greener, cleaner railway."
Meanwhile, a ScotRail spokesman said: "It's extremely disappointing that the RMT have rejected a very good pay offer, negotiated over several weeks, and opted to continue with this highly damaging strike action, particularly when the other three unions have either accepted the offer or have recommended that their members do so.
"We're seeing customers gradually return to Scotland's railway, but the scale of the financial situation ScotRail is facing is stark.
"To build a more sustainable and greener railway for the future and reduce the burden on the taxpayer, we need to change. All of us in the railway: management, staff, trade unions, suppliers, and Government, need to work together to modernise the railway so that it is fit for the future."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "We were disappointed that the RMT rejected the offer.
"Having taken nearly two weeks to tell ScotRail they were rejecting the offer, ScotRail sought to return immediately to the table to focus on the area the RMT said publicly was their one remaining concern - rest day working.
"An offer in this regard was made, the RMT undertook to consider it.
"We fully expected their representatives to return with a counter offer - that after all is the nature of negotiations - yet the RMT leadership rejected that offer out of hand and returned to the issue of pay."
The spokesperson added: "We note the latest public statement by the RMT leadership; Scotrail remains ready to return to the negotiating table at any point this weekend to consider again the issue of allowances for rest day working.
"This matter can be resolved, allowing everyone who works for Scotland's Railway to get on with preparing to welcome the world to Glasgow.
"We believe that's what most of our railway employees want.
"We know a credible, good pay offer has been made that we think most ScotRail employees would want to accept.
"We hope that the RMT leadership will recognise this too. But at this point, we are utterly perplexed by the leadership's inability to see that it is their members who stand to lose out, and that by its actions and unwillingness to seek meaningfully to resolve this matter, they are letting their members down.
"We don't think anyone, including the membership of the RMT, wants to disrupt COP26 or the chance to showcase Scotland's green, clean railway to a global audience. We hope that encompasses the RMT leadership too, although their approach to seeking resolution of matters does appear to call this into question."