Scotland’s railways face another month of disruption as Scotrail drivers will not announce whether they will accept or reject a new pay deal until mid-July.
Union Aslef’s National Executive Committee agreed on Wednesday that the improved package of pay and conditions would be put to members in a ballot.
Papers are expected to go out this week with a result to be announced on July 11.
Emergency timetables remain in place across the country, but later trains on several major routes were introduced from Monday in a bid to ease pressure on passengers.
Around 700 train services were cut after many drivers refused to work overtime or on on their rest days.
Aslef’s Scottish tegional organiser Kevin Lindsay said: “Following a meeting of Aslef’s National Executive Committee today it has been agreed that the package of pay and conditions improvements negotiated between the union and ScotRail will be put to all members in a ballot.
“The executive is recommending members accept the deal.
“Aslef is a democratic, lay, member-led union, therefore it is right that the train drivers of Scotland decide whether or not to accept this offer.
“Ballot papers will go out next week and the result announced on the July 11.”
The railway in Scotland is preparing for network-wide strike action by the RMT union on June 21, 23 and 25 which will “severely limit” the number of services operating for passengers and freight – on top of ScotRail’s emergency timetable.
RMT members from Network Rail Scotland and cross-border train operators LNER, CrossCounty, Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express will be taking part in the industrial action.
The nationwide strikes by signal workers will mean 95% of ScotRail trains will not run over three days of industrial action.
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