OPPOSITION parties slammed ScotRail bosses for “playing hard and fast” with safety yesterday after CCTV workers voted to strike over job cuts, Conrad Landin writes.

Scottish Labour’s rural economy spokesman Colin Smyth said that leaving cameras unmonitored “raises serious questions about security” and called for Transport Minister Humza Yousuf to intervene.

“It’s clear Abellio want to make a profit from the ScotRail franchise on the back of axing jobs,” he said.

“But you can’t play hard and fast when it comes to passenger and staff safety.

“Instead of trying to gag the unions, ScotRail bosses should be listening to their safety concerns.”

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association announced on Wednesday that its members had backed industrial action, after a voluntary severance programme resulted in a drastic staffing reduction.

Green MSP John Finnie added: “It is clear that ScotRail’s voluntary leavers scheme is nothing more than a cost-cutting exercise.

“I will be raising the matter with the Scottish government when Parliament reconvenes next week.”