A row over train drivers’ pay will spread across Scotland’s public sector, a union boss has warned.
Kevin Lindsay, Scottish organizer for Aslef, said drivers were likely to launch industrial action over a “ridiculous” pay offer from ScotRail.
The publicly-owned rail company has cut 600 services and introduced an emergency timetable after four unions rejected a deal last week.
ScotRail apologized to customers and said it was “fully committed” to further negotiations with the union.
Aslef, Unite, RMT and TSSA workers have rejected a three-year deal running from this April until 2027, which would have seen workers rise by 2% each April and 1% the following January.
The drivers then decided not to work on their days off.
He said industrial action was likely to be voted on by workers in consultation with the union’s national executive.
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“It won’t just be Aslef who will be voting – the RMT, Unite, the TSSA union will also be voting,” Mr Lindsay said.
“This will be rolled out across the public sector in Scotland until the Scottish Government becomes real.”
Organizer Aslef said First Minister John Swinney set out the government’s pay policy at a meeting with 18 unions at his official headquarters, Bute House. He claimed Mr Swinney’s comments were “parroted” by ScotRail.
“It’s a take-it-or-leave-it deal, and our members have told me they’re leaving it,” he said.
“There has been no negotiation so I understand the frustration of Scottish train drivers.
Driver salaries
According to ScotRail, the full-time salary for a newly qualified train driver is £43,645, excluding overtime pay.
After six months this rises to £46,614 and after nine months to £50,063. After a three-year post-qualification period, the full-time salary is £55,265.
Freedom of information figures, published by The Scottish Mail on Sunday, showed around a quarter of ScotRail’s 1,250 drivers earned more than £70,000 last year, with half earning between £60,000 and £70,000.
About 80 were paid £80,000 and one £103,000 – including more than £45,000 in overtime.
ScotRail, which was nationalized in 2022, has warned that the frequency will be halved from four trains an hour to two in the morning and late afternoon peak hours between Glasgow and Edinburgh due to the latest staff shortages.
The emergency steps taken by ScotRail to make passengers safer point to a big long-term problem – it simply doesn’t have enough drivers.
In order to maintain a full schedule, it relies on drivers agreeing to work overtime and rest days. This work is completely voluntary.
Fewer drivers than usual have been available to work overtime in recent days amid escalating pay disputes.
However, it is important to note that the rail unions are not taking industrial action within the protests – although the practical effect of the decisions many drivers have taken is similar to an official ban on overtime.
ScotRail is not alone – most rail companies in the UK also depend on overtime from drivers to meet their timetables.
The last pay dispute at ScotRail was two years ago, shortly after the Scottish Government brought the rail company back into public ownership.
The company has agreed to hire and train more new drivers to reduce its reliance on overtime – but that takes time.
ScotRail chief executive Joanne Maguire said it had been a “tough few days” for the firm following the “very difficult” decision to introduce the temporary timetable.
It apologized and said the move was designed to give customers “reassurance”.
Ms Maguire said ScotRail, like other operators in the UK, relied on “an element of rest day work” but that it was working to reduce this reliance.
She said the firm is recruiting and training 160 drivers a year from 2022, but will always rely on some staff working on days off.
Ms Maguire said ScotRail hoped to meet the four unions in the coming weeks to discuss the pay dispute.
She told Good Morning Scotland that the firm wanted to reach a deal that was “fair” to staff but delivered “value for money” to the taxpayer.
“We are committed to resolving the pay dispute and resuming the full schedule as soon as possible,” she added.
Salary in the public sector
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “As a public body and employer, ScotRail has the responsibility and ability to negotiate within public sector pay metrics.
“However, as the rail unions have been advised, any offer beyond these requirements requires approval by the Scottish Government at a higher level following an appropriate process.”
She said Transport Scotland would support rail unions to continue discussions with ScotRail to reach a “mutually acceptable outcome” as soon as possible.
The Scottish Tories have accused the SNP of being “asleep at the wheel” during the drivers’ row.
The party’s transport spokesman Douglas Lumsden said: “With unions warning of the possibility of widespread strike action across Scotland, the SNP must now manage this situation.
“That can start by ensuring that the full timetable is restored for passengers in Scotland as soon as possible.”