ScotRail strikes called off by RMT union
PLANNED strikes by ScotRail employees have been suspended to allow for additional talks between rail chiefs and union bosses.
Further walkouts by RMT members had been planned for August 7, 8, 11, 13, and 14. But these have now been put on hold while both sides try to work out their differences.
The industrial action was sparked by a long-running dispute over ScotRail's use of drivers to operate train doors - a duty normally carried out by conductors.
RMT chiefs have argued the moves risk passenger safety and are the first step towards cutting conductor jobs.
ScotRail has denied the moves are unsafe, arguing that 59% of its services already operate this way without incident.
Rail services in the Highlands were brought to a near standstill during previous action by members of the union.
All rail services on the lines east from Inverness to Aberdeen, north to Caithness and west to Kyle of Lochalsh were cancelled and replaced by bus replacement services during earlier staff walkouts. Rail services from Inverness to Perth have also operated on a reduced timetable on strike days.
Announcing the suspension of upcoming strikes, RMT General Secretary Mick Cash, said: "The union has made sufficient progress to enable us to suspend the current programme of industrial action on ScotRail to allow for further detailed discussions on the issue of platform train despatch procedures.
"The progress we have been able to make in this dispute is entirely down to the resilience, determination and strength of our ScotRail members who have taken wave after wave of rock-solid action in defence of rail safety.
"They are a credit to the entire trade union movement."
