Off The Rails will carry further analysis and assessment of the ScotRail dispute soon. The following report gives the essential facts.
Strikes planned by ScotRail workers during the COP26 conference have been called off, after RMT accepted a deal to end the dispute.
A so-called “final offer” from ScotRail included a two-year deal, with a £300 bonus payment for working during COP26, and an increased allowance for working rest days, and a second year including numerous productivity and efficiency savings. Delegates at RMT’s AGM, which assumes the powers of the union’s NEC for the time it sits, voted to reject the offer and keep strikes on.
It turned out the offer was not “final” after all, as ScotRail issued a new proposal the following day. The new deal was for a one-year deal, with a 2.5% pay increase and the same bonus payment and rest day working arrangements as the previous offer, but with the second year and productivity strings removed. ScotRail reps made clear to the AGM that they saw the removal of the second year as a significant step forward, sufficient to justify acceptance of the deal.
ScotRail workers have struck numerous times during their long running dispute, including strikes involving guards every Sunday since March 2021. The most recent strike ballot returning an 84% majority for further action. Strikes had been due to take place from 1-12 November.
Strikes by Caledonian Sleeper workers from 31 October to 2 November and 11-13 November are still due to take place.
