Train drivers' union rejects ScotRail pay offer

The train drivers' union Aslef has rejected the latest 4.2% pay deal from ScotRail.

The union's national executive said it would ballot for industrial action unless ScotRail offered further talks.

Many drivers have been refusing to work overtime or on rest days during the pay dispute.

The driver shortage has led to the now-nationalised train operator cutting a third of services under a temporary timetable.

ScotRail said it was frustrated by the decision of Aslef and described the decision not to put the improved pay deal to its members as "astonishing".

Transport Scotland said it was disappointed the union had rejected a deal which it described as "both fair and affordable".

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Scotland's Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth had said earlier this week she was hopeful the 4.2% pay offer would resolve the dispute.

However, it was turned down by a meeting of Aslef's national executive committee on Wednesday.

Scottish organiser Kevin Lindsay said: "Aslef wants to negotiate a fair deal for our members, we are once again calling on ScotRail to return to the talks, so we can negotiate a fair pay offer that we can put to our members."

ScotRail's service delivery director, David Simpson, urged the union to reconsider the pay offer, which includes a improved maternity and adoption leave and a 10% increase in the Sunday working allowance.

He said: "We're incredibly disappointed and frustrated that Aslef bosses have rejected this improved pay offer. It's astonishing that they will not even put this offer to their members.

"Our substantially improved pay offer reflects the cost-of-living challenges faced by families across the country, while balancing it against the need to provide value for the taxpayer.

"We have offered to meet Aslef but, in the meantime, would urge them to reconsider this offer in the interest of their members and the future of the railway in Scotland."

ScotRail say they are astonished, incredibly disappointed and frustrated that Aslef won't even put the offer to members.

They've offered further talks, but they also want Aslef to reconsider the existing offer.

It's worth remembering that ScotRail said last week that the 4.2% offer was final.

ScotRail introduced an emergency timetable last month to give customers a degree of certainty about services after being hit by numerous cancellations.

But the timetable involved almost 700 fewer services a day, with many later trains no longer running.

The train operator has introduced extra services for Wednesday's Scotland v Ukraine World Cup play-off.

Extra evening services were also provided on Friday and Saturday last week, but Sunday again saw more than 300 cancellations. ScotRail had said it will again provide extra Friday and Saturday services this coming weekend.

Separately from the Aslef pay dispute, ScotRail also faces a threat of strike action by RMT members who have been offered a 2.2% pay rise.

UK-wide action is also possible this summer by RMT members who are in dispute with Network Rail, although talks are continuing.

ScotRail has said the shortage of available drivers is due to disruption to training during Covid pandemic, forcing it to ask the existing workforce to work extra hours.

'Fair and affordable'

The Scottish government has said a train driver in Scotland typically earns about £50,000, and has urged workers to ask for "sensible" pay increases during the "precarious" economic situation.

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A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said: "We are disappointed that Aslef, having given due consideration to the terms they negotiated, have decided to reject the very good offer on the table, an offer which is in part self-funded through increased revenue and efficiencies.

"While we understand any unions desire to obtain the best deal possible for their members, the stark realities of the financial pressures we are facing across government are evidenced by the spending review published just yesterday.

"We all need to work together to make nationalisation a success. Ministers are committed to ensuring that the railway unions are part of that success.

"However, to be part of the vision moving forward, the unions need to agree on a deal that is both fair and affordable, particularly in the context of wider public sector pay policy."

The Scottish Conservatives' transport spokesman Graham Simpson accused the government of "complacency" over the situation.

"It's clear she [Jenny Gilruth] and the SNP government just assumed the offer would be accepted," he said.

"Now, it appears, we're back to square one and the Scottish public will have to endure the woefully-inadequate reduced ScotRail timetable for even longer."