RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2024 – SCOTRAIL TRAINS LTD

Our Ref: BR2/0001(SR)

 

11^th July 2024

 

 

Dear Colleague

 

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2024 – SCOTRAIL TRAINS LTD 

 

I write with regards to the above matter and to inform you that your union’s Negotiating Team has recently attended further talks with Scotrail management in the hope of seeking an improved pay offer for our Scotrail Driver and General Grades RMT members. During these discussions, the company tabled a derisory offer that was well below inflation and did not fully reward members for their hard work and dedication. 

 

The insulting pay offer from Scotrail management has been made even more unpalatable when members of the Scottish Parliament received a 6.7% pay rise this year. These same MSPs are the ones imposing a below inflation pay cap on you and your colleagues. It is ludicrous that the MSPs responsible for running Scotrail Trains are taking bumper pay rises whilst subjecting you and your colleagues to significant hardship during a cost-of-living crisis. 

 

Your Union’s National Executive Committee has considered the matter and are appalled at the pay offer from management. Therefore, I have been instructed to inform Scotrail Trains Ltd that we reject the pay offer. Furthermore, I have been instructed to ballot you and your colleagues for strike action and industrial action short of a strike.

 

For all members, the industrial action short of strike action will consist of not working any Overtime, Rest Days or Higher-Grade Duties, while for Engineering Grades it will additionally consist of not to undertake the driving of any company vehicles.

 

The ballot for industrial action will open on Thursday 18^th July 2024 and will close on Thursday 8^th August 2024.

 

It is imperative that we get a massive return in the ballot for industrial action, so we are not prevented from acting on our members' wishes by the ballot thresholds. Failure to meet these thresholds means industrial action cannot happen, so a high turnout is crucial. 

 

I urge members not to waste their vote and to vote 'YES' for strike action and ‘YES’ for industrial action short of a strike.

 

We must send management a clear message that we will not accept double standards when it comes to pay deals and that we demand a pay offer that meets the exceptional burden that members are facing. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary