RMT - National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers

04/09/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/09/2021 01:34

Third day of RMT ScotRail action

Third day of RMT action over pay justice for ScotRail conductors goes ahead on Sunday as company refuse point blank to engage in talks.

RAIL UNION RMT ‎said today that a third day of strike action in a fight for pay justice for ScotRail conductors goes ahead on Sunday as the company continues to refuse point blank to engage in talks aimed at addressing the issue of equality over enhanced payments for rest day working.

Two days of action in the dispute so far have been solidly supported the length and breadth of the franchise, reinforcing the anger of staff at the company's wholesale failure to treat their conductors with the fairness and equality with other grades that they so clearly deserve.

RMT says that Abellio, in the dying months of their franchise, are quite happy to cancel services wholesale rather than engage in serious talks with the union as they seek to milk every last penny out their ScotRail contract before they are kicked out.

In a separate dispute around the same issue RMT ticket examiner members voted overwhelmingly for action yesterday and the union's executive will be deciding on tactics with that mandate in hand.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

'I want to pay tribute to our ScotRail conductors who have stood firm from day one in this dispute in a fight for basic pay justice and equality with other grades. It is frankly disgusting that these same staff, who have kept Scotland's key workers moving during the pandemic, have been repaid with a kick in the teeth from this greedy and aggressive company.

'Abellio are happy to keep this dispute running, cancel services and bleed the franchise dry rather than engaging in serious talks over workplace justice with the union. That is a disgrace.

'The political leadership in Scotland can no longer sit on the fence and ignore these disputes in their back yard. It's time for serious talks, a serious approach to workplace fairness and justice and a serious solution to ‎be reached.

'Our action goes ahead on Sunday and the union stands shoulder to shoulder with our conductor members.'