The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has written to Stewart Stevenson, the Minister for Transport, seeking a meeting to discuss the decision to extend the ScotRail franchise to 2014.
STUC General Secretary Grahame Smith said
“We believe that the franchise extension did not require to be agreed before 2010. This early decision, with no public or stakeholder consultation, cuts right across the commitments given to us by the Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson on 21st February, to involve the trade unions in discussions around both the delivery of the National Transport strategy, and the transport strategy for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
“We also have serious concerns about the decision being taken prior to the completion of the Audit Scotland report, as outlined in their 2008 work programme.
“As one of the most significant contracts let by Scottish Ministers, we are extremely concerned about the lack of transparency and the failure to consult and engage with us and other stakeholders.”
The STUC have also raised their concerns with the Auditor General for Scotland.
Grahame Smith said
“As the Audit Scotland Project Brief states, ‘the quality of the service delivered by the franchise is an issue of significant public interest’, and we wish to register our view that this appears to have been completely disregarded.
“The STUC wish to know the view of Audit Scotland of this pre-emptive decision by the Scottish Government which has cut across their investigation.”
Grahame Smith continued
“The STUC will continue to argue that only a publicly owned and integrated transport system, run wholly in the public interest, can fully meet Scotland’s transport needs."
ENDS