A TRAIN driver’s union will put a new 4.2% pay offer to members as Scotland’s railway moves closer to a return to normal.
Official negotiations restarted on Thursday between Aslef and ScotRail, with the union’s Scottish organiser, Kevin Lindsay, saying the new deal would be subject to a ballot by members.
As a result of the dispute, drivers refused to work on rest days or on Sundays, with ScotRail cutting more than 700 services last week.
Following the negotiations, Lindsay said: “Aslef entered these talks in good faith.
“We have negotiated a pay offer of 4.2%, a three-year, no compulsory redundancy deal and a number of other improvements.
“These will now be put to our members for their consideration.”
David Simpson, the service delivery director at ScotRail, said: “This was a positive and encouraging meeting.
“We made a significantly improved pay offer to Aslef representatives, which was made in good faith following the concerns they have expressed over recent days. We’re pleased that Aslef will now put the offer to its members.
“Our substantially improved pay offer reflects the cost-of-living challenges faced by families across the country, while balancing it against the need to provide value for the taxpayer.
“I look forward to hearing from the trade unions in the coming days. I’m hopeful we can resolve the current dispute and work together to encourage people back to the railway.”
And Transport Scotland said it hoped “that this is an indication that ScotRail can return services to the previous timetable as soon as possible”.
“We all need to work together to make public ownership of our railways a success. Ministers are committed to ensuring that the railway unions are part of that success, and the vision which will move forward Scotland’s railways,” its spokesman said.
The development comes after transport minister Jenny Gilruth said she hoped there would be an announcement of the return of some services on Thursday or Friday.
