SAVE SCOTLAND’S RAILWAYS!

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2021 :: RMTnews 7 Rail unions and their supporters held a ‘Six months to save Scotland's railways’ protest outside the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s official residence in Edinburgh last month to demand a commitment from her that she will block the proposals to cut ScotRail services. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the Scottish government was managing the ScotRail franchise under its ongoing Emergency Measures Agreement and it had the power to block the service cuts being proposed. “It cannot evade responsibility over this issue. With COP26 just weeks away, it beggars belief that the Scottish government is happy to preside over massive cuts to rail services, despite this being a sustainable and low carbon form of transport. “This will do nothing to make Scotland a ‘Net zero nation’ and will just push more people into cars. The union has warned that the recently announced power- sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens would fall at the first hurdle if it allows massive cuts to ScotRail services to go ahead. Failed ScotRail operator Dutch-state owned operator Abellio is consulting on proposals to slash 300 ScotRail services a day. This comes on the back of a ScotRail commissioned report, produced by Professor Iain Docherty which advocated damaging service cuts, ticket office closures and job losses across Scotland’s rail network. Yet, in contrast, the Scottish government and Scottish Greens power sharing plans talk about the ‘crucial role’ that transport has in ‘supporting a green and fair recovery’ and makes a commitment to increasing investment in public transport.  With industrial relations on Scotland’s railway at an all-time low, the unions are calling on the First Minister to meet with them to discuss the future of Scotland’s railway and are seeking a commitment from her that the Scottish government will halt the damaging proposals to slash ScotRail services. Scotrail Ticket Examiners who have been engaged in a six-month fight for pay justice and equality have voted by a massive 90 per cent to continue their action in a re- ballot. Under the recent additions to the anti-union laws workers have to be balloted every six months if they wish to continue an on-going dispute. Mick Lynch said that it was a stunning result and congratulated members who had stood firm alongside their conductor colleagues for over six months in this fight for pay justice and equality in the face of outrageous provocation from the employer. "Our campaign of action continues and it is now down to Scotrail and their political masters to take this key group of staff seriously, to stop snubbing talks and to get round the table with the union to negotiate a fair and just settlement,” he said. SAVE SCOTLAND’S RAILWAYS! Unions and supporters demand that the SNP/Green power-sharing government stop massive planned cuts to ScotRail services