SCOTTISH COP26 BETRAYAL

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2022 :: RMTnews 12 Marking the three-month anniversary of the beginning of the COP26 Climate Conference transport and energy workers marched to the office of the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to protest at the betrayal by the SNP /Green government of commitments made to move towards a greener Scotland. The protest by RMT rail, ferry and energy workers was start of a concerted campaign to increase the pressure on politicians as the country approaches the local government elections in May.  The charge sheet against the Scottish government includes: • Instead of cutting climate change, the SNP/Green Government is cutting rail services including rail ticket offices hours, timetables and infrastructure while the cost of rail travel is increasing at four times the rate of using a car. • Instead of securing our vital lifeline ferry services in the public sector, ministers appear to be paving the way for privatisation where profits will be put before people and climate. • Instead of helping guarantee the livelihoods of energy workers, ministers have sold Scotland’s renewable energy resources on the cheap to the likes of BP and Shell without securing supply chain jobs.     RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that COP26 started only three months ago but already the lofty rhetoric about fighting climate change seems a distant memory following a betrayal of ambitions by the SNP/Green government to move towards a greener Scotland. “Instead of cutting climate change the government is cutting rail services and ticket offices, threatening the privatisation of our lifeline ferry services and doing far too little to protect the livelihoods of energy workers and the vital service they provide. “As the country approaches the local government elections in May this protest will be the start of a concerted campaign to persuade politicians to protect these services and jobs which are so vital to our local communities,” he said. Fare rises Rail passengers in Scotland face a fares hike of 3.8 per cent and RMT analysis has revealed that since the start of 2012, regulated peak fares in Scotland have increased by a massive 38 per cent, whilst the average cost of petrol has increased by just 8.6 per cent.  In light of this stark disparity between the rising cost of the sustainable rail network compared to fuel, RMT has questioned whether the Scottish government is serious about meeting its climate change targets. The fare increase comes just days after ScotRail announced proposals to reduce opening hours at 117 of its 143 ticket offices, including the complete closure of three ticket offices. The attack on ticket offices follows proposals to slash ScotRail services by more than 10 and a cut to the rail infrastructure budget of £74 million (15 per cent). “Rising fares, fewer services and cuts to ticket offices and safety critical rail infrastructure means ScotRail passengers will be paying more for less. “Cuts at ticket offices also means passengers will be denied advice on the best value fares and we are urging passengers to oppose the ticket office cuts in the current consultation and to join us in our protest outside the First Minister’s official residence on 31 January to demand a better deal for public transport,” said Mick Lynch. SCOTTISH COP26 BETRAYAL Union warns against ferry privatisation, rail fare rises and service cuts and for secure energy jobs