Pay talks between RMT and ScotRail set to resume next week after planned strike on Monday
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Rail chiefs have spoken of their disappointment that a planned strike will go ahead on Monday, hitting services in the Highlands.
During a visit to Inverness today, ScotRail managing director Alex Hynes and chief operating officer Joanne Maguire spoke of their frustration after RMT members voted to reject the latest the latest pay offer in the ongoing dispute.
Talks are set to resume next week.
Highland rail services to be hit again by strike action
ScotRail came back into public ownership earlier this year for the first time in 25 years and is now run by a company owned by the Scottish government.
Ms Maguire said: "Since the 1st April, we have been work really hard with the trade unions and they have been working really hard with us."
She said the management team and RMT colleagues had put in a lot of time last week to look at coming up with a better pay deal so it was disappointing to hear yesterday's news that it had been rejected.
"We will get back around the table with the RMT next week," she said.
Alex Hynes also voiced his disappointment.
"We are very sorry to passengers," he said.
"After Monday, we will look at sitting down with the RMT to understand why it has been rejected."
The 24-hour stoppage is separate from the RMT’s dispute with Network Rail which has seen disruption across the whole Great Britain railway network on a number of days since July.
A large proportion of ScotRail’s employees are members of the RMT, including in roles such as conductors, ticket examiners, hospitality, station staff, engineering depot staff, train presentation, supervisors, resource co-ordinators, and CCTV operators.
ScotRail says that, on Monday between 7.30am and 6,30pm it wil be able to offer a limuited service only on three routes: Milngavie to Edinbugh Waverley; Glasgow Central to Larkhall and Glasgow Central to Lanark.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Strike action will go ahead on Monday, and we remain open for meaningful talks to resolve the dispute with Scotrail."
