ScotRail Industrial Relations issues (including conductor strike action)

[74A]

These strikes didn't last anything like as long as the disputes we see here because they actually sit down and hammer out a deal. A very good deal too, they got a pay rise and 2 Covid bonus payments. It was very much worth their while going on strike as they have benefited hugely. Why is it that railway workers in Germany can get such pay rises yet in the UK they are told Covid means they can't? Surely German trains finances have also suffered?

Drivers in Germany earn quite a but less than drivers in the UK. You could argue that UK drivers had their decent pay rises in the past and drivers in germany still have quite a bit of catching up to do. .

 

[320320]

Hearing that the RMT deal is all but done, 3% backdated to April, RDW enhancement reinstated and £300 bonus for COP26, don’t know what they’ve given in return yet.

ASLEF made “significant progress” in their talks yesterday and are reconvening this morning. Announcement expected today.

 

[43066]

Hearing that the RMT deal is all but done, 3% backdated to April, RDW enhancement reinstated and £300 bonus for COP26, don’t know what they’ve given in return yet.

ASLEF made “significant progress” in their talks yesterday and are reconvening this morning. Announcement expected today.

Good news, it sounds like the union has delivered a decent result for its members. What a pity it had to take weeks of industrial action to achieve a sensible outcome.

 

[ld0595]

Good news, it sounds like the union has delivered a decent result for its members. What a pity it had to take weeks of industrial action to achieve a sensible outcome.

Seven months of industrial action.

 

[Dansomedan]

Does this have to go to a vote to be accepted. From folk I’ve spoken to, they were expecting a lot more than this, given how much money they’ve lost during the strike action.

 

[Horizon22]

I haven't ignored your points, I do however disagree with people who don't work for ScotRail or even live in Scotland and so don't use the services saying ScotRail workers should accept a pay cut year on year. That strikes me as strange.

I haven't mentioned your job and couldn't care less what your wages are.

To be fair many of these posters are not solely saying this about Scotrail; they are saying it for TOCs and NR across the board

 

[320320]

Good news, it sounds like the union has delivered a decent result for its members. What a pity it had to take weeks of industrial action to achieve a sensible outcome.

Absolutely, although, if it is the deal, you have to wonder what was the point in this shambles in the first place.

Does this have to go to a vote to be accepted. From folk I’ve spoken to, they were expecting a lot more than this, given how much money they’ve lost during the strike action.

I think it can be accepted as it looks to be a fairly good deal although we don’t know what has to be given up in return.

Nobody is going to be compensated for being on strike, thats the major downside of striking, it costs you financially to achieve your aim as we’ve seen with RMT members.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Hallelujah!

At last! (Hopefully)

Obviously the COP26 stuff progressed the talks a bit better since it really did run the risk of embarrassing ScotGov if all the trains were off.

 

[maradona10]

Does this have to go to a vote to be accepted. From folk I’ve spoken to, they were expecting a lot more than this, given how much money they’ve lost during the strike action.

I don’t know any TEs but who would grumble at this is if it’s awarded, most just want an end to industrial action with any sort of respectable award. I hope it’s true.

 

[haggishunter]

Does the potential agreement deal in anyway with the issue of making the railway a genuine 7 day a week entity in Scotland so we’re not back in this situation at the end of the franchise in March?

From the outside looking in it it seems there’s a need for a wider ranging longer term agreement to improve industrial relations and modernise the Ts and Cs to reflect the 21st century railway, and not a temporary sticking plaster?

 

[maradona10]

Does the potential agreement deal in anyway with the issue of making the railway a genuine 7 day a week entity in Scotland so we’re not back in this situation at the end of the franchise in March?

From the outside looking in it it seems there’s a need for a wider ranging longer term agreement to improve industrial relations and modernise the Ts and Cs to reflect the 21st century railway, and not a temporary sticking plaster?

Probably right there but we’ll not know until it’s announced, whenever that may be. I wouldn’t count on it.

 

[380101]

Does the potential agreement deal in anyway with the issue of making the railway a genuine 7 day a week entity in Scotland so we’re not back in this situation at the end of the franchise in March?

From the outside looking in it it seems there’s a need for a wider ranging longer term agreement to improve industrial relations and modernise the Ts and Cs to reflect the 21st century railway, and not a temporary sticking plaster?

Any deals agreed today will simply be to settle the pay claim and overtime payments for the RMT and a pay offer for Aslef members.

Sunday becoming part of the working week for ScotRail traincrew is a whole other conversation that will happen at somepoint in the future. It will involve a hefty pay increase to have any chance of being accepted by the staff and unions.

 

[43066]

Does the potential agreement deal in anyway with the issue of making the railway a genuine 7 day a week entity in Scotland so we’re not back in this situation at the end of the franchise in March?

From the outside looking in it it seems there’s a need for a wider ranging longer term agreement to improve industrial relations and modernise the Ts and Cs to reflect the 21st century railway, and not a temporary sticking plaster?

I think it was established upthread that this particular dispute relates to overtime payments generally, rather than specifically to Sundays. Just as with every other TOC it will be the policy of Scotrail to rely on overtime to run the service because, even with overtime paid at a premium, it’s still cheaper than employing a full complement of staff. I wouldn’t bank on that changing anytime soon.

 

[InOban]

AIUI precovid ScotRail were recruiting many more traincrew, especially drivers, to reduce the need for regular OT.

 

[snookertam]

Because they have a lot more leverage (more people rely on trains there). And because public transport is seen as a public good in Germany, not a drain on finances as it's seen here.

If you held a referendum in the UK, asking voters whether the railway should stop being subsidised so the government can spend £15bn extra a year on the NHS, I shudder to think of the outcome.

Well, if that was the dichotomy on offer, I don’t think it would be up for debate. Thankfully it’s a false one.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Oct 2021 ==

Hearing that the RMT deal is all but done, 3% backdated to April, RDW enhancement reinstated and £300 bonus for COP26, don’t know what they’ve given in return yet.

ASLEF made “significant progress” in their talks yesterday and are reconvening this morning. Announcement expected today.

Great news if true. As others have said, ScotRail/Transport Scotland/Scot Gov have wasted everyone’s time by not negotiating sooner.

 

[Watershed]

Well, if that was the dichotomy on offer, I don’t think it would be up for debate. Thankfully it’s a false one.

In what way? It's unpalatable for sure, but it's exactly the kind of question that politicians will be asking themselves.

 

[LoogaBarooga]

I don't think throwing more Billions at the NHS will solve any of its problems.

 

[43096]

Does this have to go to a vote to be accepted. From folk I’ve spoken to, they were expecting a lot more than this, given how much money they’ve lost during the strike action.

You don’t get compensated for going on strike/not turning up for work. Think of it as short term pain (not being paid on strike days) for longer term gain.

 

[Goldfish62]

You don’t get compensated for going on strike/not turning up for work. Think of it as short term pain (not being paid on strike days) for longer term gain.

Indeed. The losses from the strike action are a one-off. The gains won by the action are year-on-year compounded.

 

[380101]

Hearing that the RMT deal is all but done, 3% backdated to April, RDW enhancement reinstated and £300 bonus for COP26, don’t know what they’ve given in return yet.

ASLEF made “significant progress” in their talks yesterday and are reconvening this morning. Announcement expected today.

RMT have not agreed any deal today so far for the general grades which covers Conductors and Ticket Examiners, station staff, booking office staff, train presentation teams etc. The deal that has been proposed was acceptable to TSSA, Unite and Aslef (Aslef sit in on general grades due to accommodated out of grade drivers in other roles).

Aslef have agreed a deal for drivers that may well be the best deal for drivers throughout the UK at the moment. Official announcement for the drivers deal still to be made by the company/Aslef. Once it's been made aware to driver's I'm sure it will be posted on here!

 

[maradona10]

New ballot for TEs today to strike during Cop26, offer from Abellio today deemed derisory by RMT. No deal.

 

[hiall]

Hearing that the RMT deal is all but done, 3% backdated to April, RDW enhancement reinstated and £300 bonus for COP26, don’t know what they’ve given in return yet.

ASLEF made “significant progress” in their talks yesterday and are reconvening this morning. Announcement expected today.

Rmt definitely no deal. Aslef rumoured to be ready agree a short term deal.

 

[dk1]

Hearing that the RMT deal is all but done, 3% backdated to April, RDW enhancement reinstated and £300 bonus for COP26, don’t know what they’ve given in return yet.

ASLEF made “significant progress” in their talks yesterday and are reconvening this morning. Announcement expected today.

This is a fantastic outcome. Let’s hope an agreement can be reached on both sides.

 

[hiall]

This is a fantastic outcome. Let’s hope an agreement can be reached on both sides.

Unfortunately 320 info is wrong. This is not the deal.

 

[dk1]

AIUI precovid ScotRail were recruiting many more traincrew, especially drivers, to reduce the need for regular OT.

But in my experience it never really does. It’s a constant catch up. My TOC has done very well at driver training & recruitment tbrouout the pandemic yet RDW at my depot alone often stands at anything up to a dozen a day with open turns & declined leave commonplace at weekends.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Oct 2021 ==

Unfortunately 320 info is wrong. This is not the deal.

Fair enough. Thanks.

 

[380101]

Aslef have today agreed a 2.2% rise on a 6 month pay deal for drivers with no detrimental changes to terms and conditions. The current RDW agreement for drivers expires on 31/10/21 but it is highly likely it will be extended on the current terms and enhanced payment.

 

[dk1]

Aslef have today agreed a 2.2% rise on a 6 month pay deal for drivers with no detrimental changes to terms and conditions. The current RDW agreement for drivers expires on 31/10/21 but it is highly likely it will be extended on the current terms and enhanced payment.

Thanks for the update. Nobody was going to accept any loss of conditions so this looks like a win win.

 

[LoogaBarooga]

Looks like there is a deal on the table for RMT members. Likely it will put to a vote early next week.

 

[320320]

Unfortunately 320 info is wrong. This is not the deal.

I was told the offer was there but it seems the driver offer put a spanner in the works as it didn’t look so attractive in comparison.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Oct 2021 ==

Looks like the engineers have cancelled the first of the strike dates due to pending acceptance of offer.

2.5% backdated to April 21 and 2.2% from April 22, £300 for COP26 and some other stuff.

 

[ld0595]

Further industrial action announced until 28 November.

REST DAY WORKING DYNAMIC PAYMENTS – ABELLIO SCOTRAIL

www.rmt.org.uk

Dear Colleague

REST DAY WORKING DYNAMIC PAYMENTS – ABELLIO SCOTRAIL

Further to my previous letter with regards to the above dispute, I would like to congratulate you and your colleagues for standing firm during the days of industrial action. Our Scotrail Conductor members have solidly supported the strike action taken to date in their fight for equality and workplace justice over enhanced payments for rest day working.

Your union’s National Executive Committee has again considered the matter and has taken the decision to call on all our Abellio Scotrail Conductor members to take further industrial action. Therefore, you and your colleagues are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:

• 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 24th October 2021
• 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 31st October 2021
• 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 7th November 2021
• 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 14th November 2021
• 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 21st November 2021
• 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 28th November 2021

Please note that you have already been advised of the strike action called for Sunday 10th October 2021 and Sunday 17th October 2021 which of course remains in place.

Additionally, the instruction to our Abellio Scotrail Conductor members not to work any Rest Days or undertake any Higher-Grade Duties remains in place until further notice.

I ask you all to show your support and stand shoulder to shoulder during the days of industrial action. We must ensure we do not allow Scotrail to divide the workforce and demand that the company do what is fair and honour an enhanced rate for rest day working for all grades.

I trust this keeps you fully advised on the matter and I will, of course, update you on any further developments.