Revised pay offer in Scotland goes to union vote

ASLEF staff at ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper, both of which were nationalised by the Scottish government two years ago, have been balloted on a revised pay offer.

A ballot that had been due to close on August 29 was withdrawn after the improved offer was made (the details of which have not been disclosed).

Instead, the drivers’ union is holding a referendum on the new offer, with a closing date of September 25.

The three other unions are considering the revised offer through their governance processes. RMT members had already voted for industrial action. The results of ballots by the TSSA and Unite have not been released.

All unions previously rejected the Scottish government’s three-year capped below-inflation pay offer to April 2027, with 2% in year one, and 1% in year two (RAIL 1015), made as part of a general public sector pay restraint policy.

Since July 10, ScotRail has been running an emergency timetable with 25% fewer trains, and on some days no trains at all on some lines. It was introduced amid increasing short-notice cancellations, as ASLEF drivers declined to volunteer for overtime.

Separately, ASLEF’s two-year dispute with LNER over alleged “bullying and persistent breaking of agreements” came to a sudden halt on August 29, just 48 hours before 22 days of weekend strikes were due to start.

After a strike and overtime ban in April, the fresh action appears to have had an effect on the government-owned operator, which suddenly reached agreement with the union.

In a short statement, LNER said: “After constructive talks with ASLEF, we are pleased that strikes have now been called off.”

The announcement of the planned strikes had been an embarrassment to new Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, who had settled the national rail dispute with ASLEF only two days earlier. That offer has been put to ASLEF members in a ballot, with acceptance recommended by the union.

“Once again, we have demonstrated that by sitting around the table and negotiating, issues on the railway can be resolved in a way that means better workplace practices for rail workers and a better service for the public,” said ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan.

“ASLEF will continue to campaign for a fully-staffed railway that does not rely on excessive use of driver overtime.”

Elsewhere, despite settlement of the national rail dispute in August, there are 23 other rail disputes that are still ‘live’.

A strike by TSSA members at London Underground (LU), scheduled for Wednesday September 4, was suspended after “discussions showed some progress”.

Ongoing since the spring, the dispute with Customer Service Managers (CSMs) has already resulted in strikes, with stations closing as a result. It was triggered by LU’s ‘Stations Changes’ proposals, which potentially change terms and conditions, the job role and location of CSMs, who run stations.

“We remain in dispute and call on LU to respond positively and work constructively with us to reach a resolution which addresses our concerns,” said TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust.

RMT members at two other companies have voted for strikes, both in disputes over their 2024 pay claim.

A ballot of RMT members employed by Carlisle Support Services working on Arriva Rail London’s cleaning contract voted 96% in favour of strikes, on a 59% turnout.

At Freightliner, a 72% turnout of RMT members saw 95% in favour of strikes.

The 1km London Cable Car that crosses the Thames from Greenwich to Royal Victoria Dock and which carries 1.5 million people a year, is also being hit by industrial action.

Its operation (previously by its builder, Mace Group) was taken over by FirstGroup on June 28. RMT maintenance workers voted 100% in favour of action.

A three-week overtime and rest day working ban (September 12-October 3) is under way, with strikes planned for November 1-3.

The cable car uses 36 passenger gondolas, of which 34 are in use at any one time, with a maximum capacity of ten passengers each.

The RMT has secured a 4.5% pay rise for Elizabeth line staff, covering April 2024-March 2025. It delivers “a range of improvements” for stations and revenue grades, including a “one-year above-inflation pay award, a salary boost for low-paid workers, and a night shift allowance increase”, according to the union.

The staff are employed by MTR Crossrail, which operates the route under contract to Transport for London.

to increase the service to 36 trains per hour has not been approved, but remains an aspiration. This would increase capacity by 64% compared with current levels.

The Siemens contract has options for a total of 250 trains, which would replace all existing trains on the Bakerloo, Central and Waterloo & City lines.