Talks between union and Scotrail adjourned until later this week

Discussions had restarted on Monday morning, but broke up again shortly afterwards

Author: Paul KellyPublished 6th Jun 2022

Talks between train drivers’ union Aslef and Scotrail have been adjourned until later this week, just hours after they restarted on Monday.

Both sides have been trying to thrash out a deal to settle a pay dispute and restore a full timetable across Scotland.

Drivers have been refusing to work on their rest days in recent weeks, resulting in a temporary timetable with more than 700 services cut across the network.

No reason has been given for the delay to this week’s latest round of talks.

In a statement the union’s Scottish organiser Kevin Lindsay said: “Talks have been adjourned until later in the week. No further comment will be made until the talks are concluded,".

The new timetable resulted in the frequency of trains being cut and the times of last trains being brought forward.

Aslef's executive committee last week rejected a 4.2% pay increase and urged the continuation of talks, while warning of a ballot on strike action if discussions were halted.

Last week, Mr Lindsay said he believed a deal was "close", adding: "If we get an improved offer, and acceptable offer, there will be no strike action. It's as simple as that.

"The ball is clearly in ScotRail's court now, they can come up with an improved offer using the money that is already there in this package.

"Let's get a deal sorted, let's get the railway running, that is what we want."

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