Scottish report

THIS year got off to a very busy start for RMT in Scotland. Members of the Scottish Parliament have heard from the union on a number of different issues. The campaign against the tendering of the CalMac lifeline ferry services got a big boost when the Parliament refused to support the Transport minister’s proposals for privatisation. That is why it was such a shock to learn that ministers had ignored the feelings of Parliament and a very successful hundred-strong lobby outside Holyrood earlier this month and went ahead with tendering bids for life line ferry services from Gourock to Dunoon. On the UK Railways Bill, RMT has been at the Scottish Parliament Local Government and Transport Committee, alongside other unions and the STUC. Parliament debated the Scottish aspects of this Bill in what is known as a ‘Sewel Motion’. This allows the Parliament to comment on legislation that will actually be processed and completed at Westminster. Some very tough questioning at Committee revealed some apparent discrepancies and doubts about the financial settlement between Westminster and the Scottish Parliament. Irrespective of the different views about the adequacy of the funding, with approximately £203 million being passed over annually to the Scottish Executive to manage and run Scotland’s railways, and to contract Network Rail to maintain the infrastructure, we are in for extensive change in the industry. Phil McGarry, representing RMT at the Parliament Committee, was able to place on record the union’s commitment to a publicly owned, publicly accountable railway. He also raised the transfer of responsibilities regarding staff travel facilities to ministers. This as an opportunity to end an aspect of the two-tier workforce, and RMT will be arguing for the standardisation of staff travel facilities across the industry, to allow all staff the same travel entitlement. We have also been successful in securing an assurance from the Deputy Minister for Justice, Hugh Henry, on the issue of fire precautions in sub surface railway stations. No change will be made to these without appropriate consultation, and the concerns raised by the trade unions with both the UK and the Scottish governments have been taken on board. The Scottish Executive is also setting up a new Transport Agency in Glasgow, creating over 100 new jobs, to work with the new Regional Transport Partnerships which will operate like the old regional authorities in local government. However, it is proposed that one third of the RTP board members will be individuals, with no direct lines of accountability. RMT has been arguing that there should be a trade union member on each RTP Board. The Transport Minister has announced a significant extension of the concessionary fares travel scheme from April next year. Free Scotland-wide bus travel will be provided for Scotland’s elderly people and for those with disabilities. In addition two free return ferry trips will also be offered annually to older or disabled island residents. There are a number of inquiries ongoing in the Parliament at present, including on youth justice. All the work of the Scottish Parliament can be found on the website, including these Committee sessions to which reference has been made. G Ann Henderson, RMT Scottish Parliamentary Officer www.scottish.parliament.uk Busy times for RMT in Scotland By Ann Henderson 26