SCOTLAND
Sturgeon told to get involved in long-running rail dispute as staff set to strike during Cop26

A Caledonian Sleeper train at Edinburgh Waverley Station

A RAIL union has told Nicola Sturgeon that she must personally intervene and try to resolve a long-running rail dispute which could see staff take strike action during the Cop26 climate summit.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch accused rail bosses of having “dragged their heels over further talks,” despite the fact that the “clock is ticking” to the start of the summit.

Thousands of delegates from across the globe, including world leaders such as US President Joe Biden, will be in Scotland for the crucial UN Cop26 climate change talks, which get underway on October 31.

With that in mind, Mr Lynch said he had now written to the First Minister “calling on her to intervene as a matter of urgency to bring about a fair resolution” to the dispute.

In his letter, he said it is completely within the Scottish government’s powers to resolve these disputes before Cop26 commences.

Earlier this week, members of another rail union, the TSSA, voted to accept the pay offer from ScotRail.

It comes after Scotland’s railways have seen months of industrial action.

Mr Lynch said: “It is frankly disgraceful that, rather than getting all parties round the table for meaningful talks to bring about a fair resolution to these disputes, the Scottish government is still failing to intervene — despite being in control of the ScotRail franchise and having a major interest in the Sleeper service.

“RMT has made clear from the outset that it is open to meaningful talks.

“Therefore, it is disappointing that with the clock ticking and just days to go until Cop26, ScotRail and the Sleeper have dragged their heels over further talks, preferring instead to issue inflammatory and misleading communications to its workforce.”

A spokeswoman for Transport Scotland, the Scottish government’s transport agency, said it was “disappointing” that the RMT had not put the pay offer to its members in a ballot.

She said: “We are keen to see this issue resolved ahead of Cop26 so everyone who works in Scotland’s railways can play their part in welcoming the world to our country and showcase our efforts towards building a greener, cleaner railway.”

A ScotRail spokesman said it was disappointing to see the RMT continue with strike action, calling for workers and bosses to come together to rebuild the railways.