Nationalise Scotrail Demo - Wednesday 2nd October

Circular No: NP/172/19

TO ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS.

25th September 2019

Dear Colleagues

NATIONALISE SCOTRAIL – DEMO AND PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE WEDNESDAY 2ND OCTOBER

Abellio Scotrail is in crisis and is not fit to run Scotland’s railways. Passengers have endured months of disruption, delays and cancellations and RMT Scotrail members are bearing the brunt of the company’s mismanagement.

The solution is clear – Scotrail must be nationalised.

On Wednesday 2nd October, the RMT will be demonstrating outside of the Scottish Parliament to call on the Scottish Government to bring Scotrail back into public ownership without delay.

RMT branches and representatives are asked to assemble at 11.30am on Wednesday 2nd October, outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP.

On the same day, RMT representatives will be briefing the RMT Scottish Parliamentary Group about the crisis at Scotrail and that afternoon, a debate has also been secured in the Scottish Parliament, during which, Labour will be demanding that Scotrail is renationalised. The debate begins at 14:40pm and there are chamber tickets available for RMT members to attend the debate. If possible, please email Sophie Ward (s.ward@rmt.org.uk) to advise if you are able to attend the debate, to ensure that enough tickets are provided.

In addition, a motion (S5M–18968) has also be tabled in the Scottish Parliament, which reads:
“That the Parliament notes with concern the recent announcement that ScotRail is not due to meet its punctuality target until 2022; further notes that 30 March 2020 is the deadline for the Scottish Government to inform ScotRail of its intention to terminate the franchise early, yet the company has been given until May 2020 to improve under the terms of its remedial plan; regrets the impact of ongoing delays, cancellations and disruption on ScotRail passengers; notes that October 2019 marks five years since Abellio was awarded the ScotRail franchise; understands that there has been no meeting convened of the Public Sector Bidder Stakeholder Reference Group during 2019; supports the RMT union in its campaign for ScotRail to be brought into public ownership, and calls on the Scottish Government to do so at the earliest opportunity.”

The motion can be viewed online here - https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S5M-18968&ResultsPerPage=10

RMT members in Scotland are encouraged to ask their MSP to support the motion.

Please share details of this circular with your members and do all you can to support this important demonstration.

Yours sincerely

 

Mick Cash
General Secretary