Scotland’s summer strike crisis set to deepen as rail workers threaten to strike over pay

Scotland’s rail network could be plunged into further chaos as another union threatens to strike.

Hundreds of ScotRail workers could go on strike in September if they fail to secure a “credible” pay deal.

Unite, the union representing 300 employees of the state-owned operator, has become the third union to call strike action over a pay dispute.

Aslef and RMT recently announced they would be holding a ballot among their ScotRail employees.

Authorities were forced to introduce a temporary train timetable over the dispute, cutting hundreds of journeys per day to “provide greater certainty and reliability for passengers”.

The change comes after an increase in drivers refusing to work overtime and on public holidays, a common practice across the network. As a result, more than a quarter of journeys were dropped from the schedule.

The Unite union announced yesterday that it was “full steam ahead” with its strike plan, which is set to lead to chaos in the autumn.

If members support strike action, it will be the consequence of a looming national emergency as refuse workers go on strike over their own pay dispute.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison is due to meet union representatives and the umbrella organisation Cosla tomorrow to launch talks aimed at preventing strike action that would create mountains of rubbish across Scotland.

Unite union members, who will include train cleaners, drivers, ticket agents, customer service assistants and conductors, will be elected in a vote between Wednesday and August 20.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite trade union, yesterday (MON) said they had “no option” but to elect members through a ballot.

She said: “It is outrageous that ScotRail has failed to make even a formal pay offer, let alone one that is fair to our members.

“Unite members play a vital role in keeping trains running, but many of them are struggling financially because they are not earning huge sums of money.”

In April 2022, Nicola Sturgeon brought ScotRail under state control, a move welcomed by unions who had criticised the privatised network as a “failed experiment”.

However, since then ScotRail has increased ticket prices twice – once by 4.8% in July 2023 and again in April this year when they rose by a further 8.7%.

The last pay dispute at ScotRail was two years ago, when evening trains on many routes finished several hours early because drivers chose not to work overtime.

ScotRail has offered Unite and other unions a total pay rise of 9.3% over three years in its latest negotiations, we have learned.

However, all trade unions involved in the dispute rejected this proposal.

The Unite union said it was a verbal, not formal, pay rise offer and that workers would first receive a 2 per cent pay rise from April, then a 1 per cent pay rise from January.

This pattern of increases was to be repeated in the next two fiscal years.

Pat McIlvogue, of the Unite trade union, said: “The Scottish Government, who are the final payer, and ScotRail need to take action quickly.

There is still a chance to resolve this dispute through negotiations.

‘If they fail to seize this opportunity, they will head full steam ahead towards the autumn strikes.’

Unite’s negotiation process is separate from the drivers’ negotiation and pay process.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail’s customer service director, said the company was “interested in resolving this dispute and continuing discussions with our union colleagues”.

He added: “We appreciate the hard work of our colleagues and the cost of living challenges families across the country are facing. We hope we can reach a pay deal that reflects this while also providing value for money for taxpayers.”

A Transport Scotland spokesman said pay negotiations were being led by ScotRail, which is the employer.

He added: “Train scheduling and staff rotation are operational matters for ScotRail.

However, we expect that each timetable will be as reliable and accessible as possible for passengers and that any changes will be communicated well in advance to enable efficient travel planning.

“Although the Scottish Government is not involved in the negotiations, ministers are being kept informed of progress.”