Aslef executive committee to consider revised 5% ScotRail wage rise proposal

The union representing the majority of drivers on Scotland’s national rail operator is due to put a revised pay offer to its executive committee in a bid to end weeks of chaos on the line.

Aslef has agreed in principle to a 5% wage uplift from newly-nationalised ScotRail but must now wait for the council to back the bid before going to its members

The offer, which is much higher than many of those working in the public sector, is recommended for acceptance by the union’s entire negotiating team.

Around 2.8% of that was to come from ScotRail itself, while an additional 2.2% would come from Transport Scotland.

A 4.2% offer was also rejected by the union, resulting in hundreds of services across the country being cancelled or operating under severely reduced timetables.

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.

Speaking last week, the union’s Scottish organiser, Kevin Lindsay, said: “All these proposals, we believe, represent a breakthrough and significant progress and is a recognition of the vital role our members play for society and the economy.

“The full Aslef negotiating team is recommending acceptance of the offer to our members through a referendum subject to executive committee approval.”

ScotRail may face further disruption later this month if staff from the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union decide to press ahead with industrial action.

That is unlikely to affect drivers, but will involve ticket examiners, conductors, station staff and cleaners, but not drivers.