Scotrail strike needs Scottish Government intervention says STUC

A series of strikes which will disrupt Scotland’s rail services will go ahead after talks between the RMT union and Scotrail owners Abellio.

The Scottish Trade Union Congress has called for the Scottish Government to intervene as the war of words between the sides escalated.

Tuesday’s 24-hour strike will lead to significant reduction in rail services.

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The RMT has called the strike after claiming Scotrail plans to extend the use of trains with only a driver on board, something the company denies.

STUC general secretary Grahame Smith said the strikers had the backing of Scotland’s trade union movement.

“Since assuming control of the franchise last year Abellio has failed to deliver the enlightened European model of industrial relations reflected in their franchise bid,” he said.

“It is essential that the Scottish Government now forces Abellio to engage constructively with the RMT in an effort to negotiate an acceptable solution to this dispute”.

The RMT say driver-only trains have led to accidents and threaten the long term stability of jobs.

"RMT members should not have to face the risk of their role and responsibilities being reduced and undermined,” said the union’s general secretary Mick Cash.

Scotrail managing director Phil Verster told BBC Radio Scotland the union had based the campaign on “misinformation”.

“We have guaranteed that there will be no job losses, no redundancies, guaranteed pay, guaranteed terms and conditions so with these guarantees we only want to improve the railway,” he said.