Question reference: S6W-04357
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 15 November 2021
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Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 24 November 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the pay deal reportedly agreed between the RMT trade union and Abellio ScotRail, whether it will instruct Serco Caledonian Sleeper to negotiate a pay deal for its workers that (a) provides parity with the pay deal agreed for ScotRail workers and (b) is not contingent on any efficiency measures being put in place.
Answer
The pay deal between the RMT and Abellio ScotRail was rightly negotiated between the operator and staff representatives, and the same applies to Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited (SCSL) and the RMT.
Scotland’s railway faces significant financial challenges and it is only right that discussions around efficiencies, addressing ideas both from the business and the union, should form part of the dialogue around funding a pay deal.
We understand that, following discussions, SCSL made a pay offer which RMT’s Scottish leadership had confirmed would be acceptable. It is disappointing that the pay offer was then rejected, not least because when considered with the pay increase already awarded last year, the combined rate was as good as or better than any other deal for train operating company staff in the rail industry.