Trade union leaders have warned strike action is still “on the table” if ScotRail doesn’t provide a new and improved pay deal – but do you think train drivers are paid fairly?
Hundreds of trains have been cancelled or delayed up and down the country after drivers refused to work overtime and on rest days, plunging services into chaos.
Trade union Aslef, which represents train drivers, is currently in negotiations with ScotRail after rejecting the company’s first pay deals.
Currently, train drivers in Scotland earn on average double the average Scottish salary at £53,000 per annum.
Why are ScotRail drivers asking for a salary increase?
The timetable cuts which have been causing difficulties for passengers across the country were prompted by drivers backing away from a long-running agreement to do overtime and work on rest days.
Without the drivers working extra shifts, the usual timetable could not function as normal.
A ScotRail driver who spoke to the P&J said that drivers are tired of constantly being expected to work overtime hours.
The train drivers union is currently in negotiations with ScotRail to secure a new pay agreement after rejecting the company’s 4.2% pay deal on Wednesday and a previous offer of 2.2%.
David Simpson, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said: “We’re incredibly disappointed and frustrated that Aslef bosses have rejected this improved pay offer. It’s astonishing that they will not even put this offer to their members.
“Our substantially improved pay offer reflects the cost-of-living challenges faced by families across the country, while balancing it against the need to provide value for the taxpayer.”
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What do other public sector workers earn?
As of April, ScotRail reverted back to being in public ownership for the first time in 25 years.
This means the government now pays the salaries of ScotRail’s staff, just like they do with doctors, teachers and other public sector workers.
Earlier this week a Transport Scotland spokeswoman said that “we all need to work together to make nationalisation a success.
“However, to be part of the vision moving forward, the unions need to agree on a deal that is both fair and affordable, particularly in the context of wider public sector pay policy.”
A typical ScotRail train driver’s salary is more than £50,000 and the company has argued that it is now bound by public sector pay policy which sets parameters for pay increases.
The public sector pay policy for 2021-22 guarantees a basic pay increase of just 1% for public sector workers earning more between £40,000 and £80,000.
This is below the 4.2% rise offered by ScotRail – and rejected by the union – earlier this week, and well below inflation which currently sits at 9%.
Conversation