ScotRail strikes cancelled after last minute pay deal

The threat of strikes on ScotRail was lifted when a deal was agreed at the eleventh hour, after a 17.00 deadline expired last night. The RMT had been set to stage walkouts during the COP26 climate change summit, which starts in Glasgow on Sunday. The deal includes a 2.5 per cent pay increase backdated to 1 April this year, plus a payment of £300 to all staff and a three-hour book on allowance applied to each rest day worked, applicable for 12 months from the date of the agreement. The RMT's general secretary Mick Lynch said: 'Following further discussions between RMT and ScotRail an agreement has been reached and the proposals have been accepted by the union. As the disputes are resolved strike action has been cancelled and RMT members have been advised to work normally.' ScotRail's chief operating officer Ian McConnell added: 'We look forward to Scotland’s Railway playing its part in delivering a successful COP26 next week.' Transport minister Graeme Dey said: 'We are pleased that all four trade unions have now agreed to accept this very good pay offer on behalf of their members. We are proud to have brokered and funded a deal which gives Scotland’s rail workers a decent pay rise and improved terms and conditions, in contrast to conditions for rail workers under the UK Government.'

But Caledonian Sleeper strikes are still set to go ahead

The RMT has warned that its last-minute settlement with ScotRail has not changed its plans for Caledonian Sleeper, where strikes are still set to go ahead during COP26. General secretary Mick Lynch said: 'After last night's ScotRail pay deal we have no intention of leaving our Caledonian Sleeper members behind and all our efforts will now be focused on getting them a similar package which is exactly what they deserve. We have proved that the money is there if the will is there ‎and we will hear no more excuses from SERCO now that the benchmark has been set on ScotRail. The Sleeper is the green alternative to the pollution of short-haul fli‎ghts and it would be a travesty if the staff delivering it were kicked in the teeth and shut out in the cold during COP26. There can be no climate justice without workplace justice and we want SERCO back at the table today with a clear instruction from their political paymasters to get this last remaining Scottish rail dispute settled sharpish.'