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Time for ministers to end ‘vow of silence’ on Scotrail dispute, says RMT

SCOTTISH ministers must end their “vow of silence” and take responsibility for a long-running dispute on Abellio-Scotrail, the RMT union said today.

As conductors and ticket examiners undertook another Sunday of “solid” strike action over pay rates for working on rest days, the union called on Transport Scotland to hold the Netherlands-owned franchisee to account.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “It is frankly appalling that, rather than sitting down with the union to negotiate a fair settlement, Abellio is prepared to offer working conditions to scab managers that our members could only dream of while playing fast and loose with public safety.

“I am also calling again for the political leadership and Transport Scotland to end their vow of silence and start taking responsibility by calling Abellio ScotRail to account.”

A Transport Scotland spokesman said that collective bargaining “rests with the operator and unions concerned,” adding that there was “quite simply no additional funding available,” and that any pay increase “would need to be funded by efficiencies agreed through meaningful discussions.”

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