RMT calls on the First Minister to intervene in ScotRail dispute

RMT calls on the First Minister to intervene in ScotRail dispute

4 October 2021

RMT Press Office:

On eve of crucial talks to avert COP26 ScotRail strike action RMT calls on the First Minister to intervene, shelve rail ticket office closure plan, and pay rail key workers a decent wage.

On the eve of crucial ScotRail pay talks tomorrow, designed to prevent a long-standing pay dispute disrupting COP26 in Glasgow, rail union RMT has called on the First Minister to intervene to shelve ticket office closure plans and pay rail key workers a decent wage.

Last week ScotRail bosses sought to link a pay offer with a reduction in ticket office opening hours, a move rejected by the trade unions.

RMT says when ticket office hours are reduced the offices eventually close. Cutting the service provided by ticket offices means passengers have less advice on the best fares, accessibility is reduced and the risk of crime and anti-social behaviour increases.

The threat to ticket offices follows ScotRail’s plans to cut the railway timetable, which has led to widespread criticism and opposition.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said:

“First we have cuts to the railway timetable, now we have cuts to railway ticket offices, all in the month that COP26 is due to start.

“Everyone knows that public transport is green transport so the recent management of our railways under the SNP and Green government is increasingly becoming a national embarrassment.

“To make matters worse ScotRail bosses are telling rail workers they can only avoid a real terms pay cut if ticket offices are cut. Well, we reject that and we stand with passengers to protect their services and we stand with rail workers to protect their pay.

“As COP26 approaches we are saying cut carbon emissions, not public transport. The First Minister must now get a grip of this situation by ruling out cuts to rail services and ticket offices and insist on a decent pay rise for railway workers.”

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Tagged with: ScotRail, Abellio, Transport Scotland, Conductors, Ticket Examiners, Pay Justice,