STUC Comment on Announcement of Further Rail Strike

Speaking after the RMT’s announcement of further industrial action by signalling staff in Scotland, Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary said:

“Now that the decision has been taken about further strike days by signalling staff in Scotland, it is important that the travelling public are made aware of some of the key issues underlying the current dispute.

“This dispute has not been sprung on anyone at the last minute. The dispute centres on the failure of management to agree the implementation of a deal reached in July 2006. The RMT have signed off the implementation of this deal with management in every region of England and Wales. It is only in Scotland that problems remain.

“Importantly, Network Rail management in other regions has been proactive in recruiting the additional staff required to implement the agreement. This has not happened in Scotland. In this context, it is interesting to reflect on the fact that effective workforce planning is a central requirement of the Scotrail franchise. Network Rail in Scotland should learn from the good practice developed elsewhere on the Scottish network and adopt a sensible and proactive approach to workforce planning. Such an approach is essential to resolve the current dispute.

“The question of who picks up the costs of this dispute must also be addressed. The Scotrail franchise includes provisions for the Scottish Executive to reimburse the franchisee for losses accrued as the result of industrial action. There is potentially scope for Scotrail to raise a claim in relation to the current dispute. If so, does this mean that the Scottish taxpayer will end up picking up the tab for the unacceptably poor management of Network Rail?”

ENDS

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Stephen Boyd 0141 337 8100