ScotRail Christmas strikes suspended as RMT ballots members on improved pay deal

Strike action on Scotland’s nationalised rail network every weekend leading up to Christmas has been suspended while union members consider a new pay deal.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will ballot its ScotRail members on a 5% wage rise plus an extra £750 payment in a bid to bring the long-running dispute to an end.

Workers had previously announced their intention to walkout every Friday and Saturday between December 2 and December 24.

That action has now been shelved while workers vote on the deal – which is a £250 improvement on previous terms.

The RMT previously said it was holding out for an 8.2% increase.

The new deal also includes a clause guaranteeing no compulsory redundancies for the next six years.

Members previously went out on strike on October 10, the latest in a list of actions undertaken by the union, who were also due to call out workers on the weekend of November 19.

The ballot is to run the next two weeks.

ScotRail’s head of customer operations, Phil Campbell, said: “We’re pleased to have reached agreement with the RMT so that our staff will have a say on our very strong pay offer.

“If accepted, this will deliver an average 7.5 per cent basic pay increase, job security for at least six years, and increases allowances in commission payments.

“We encourage RMT members to vote for this offer so that they can receive a well-earned pay rise and everyone at ScotRail can focus on delivering for customers across the country.”