Train strikes in Scotland are to go ahead next week after a union representing ScotRail workers rejected the latest pay offer.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union refused the revised deal after talks on Thursday, describing the new 5% offer as “a kick in the teeth”.
It comes after an undisclosed deal was offered on Tuesday, and a few weeks after a previous 5% pay rise offer was also rejected.
ScotRail warned of “significant disruption” to services, with the industrial action set to go ahead on Monday.
Due to the number of staff members striking, it will have to run “very limited” services on just three lines on the day.
Trains will be limited to 7.30am to 6.30pm between Milngavie and Edinburgh via Bathgate (two an hour) and one train an hour between Glasgow and both Lanark and Larkhall.
The strike action is separate from the RMT’s dispute with Network Rail, whose staff will walk out this weekend as part of a dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.
Mick Hogg, RMT Scottish organiser, said: “The 5% goes no where near the cost of living crisis and constitutes a pay cut, not acceptable to RMT members.
“RMT members are not prepared to sit back and watch the bosses get richer at the expense of the workers who deliver for ScotRail... the 5% is a kick in the teeth, therefore we want more.
“If we don’t get more we will strike until we win or until someone says, ‘if it’s good enough for the bosses it’s good enough for the workers’.”
Hogg added: “Our message to the First Minister is as follows: get real and stop the pissing about, it’s your annual conference in Aberdeenshire this weekend, therefore no delegates will travel by train up to Aberdeen, and no delegates will travel home by train.”
Hogg said RMT remains available for talks to continue.
Scottish Conservative transport spokesperson Graham Simpson responded that passengers are “sick and tired of these strikes”, adding: “The SNP spent most of the summer trying and failing to dodge responsibility for disruptive ScotRail strike action, and now the militant RMT union is refusing to resolve this latest dispute.
“All of which only means more misery for ordinary rail travellers and struggling Scottish businesses.”
Phil Campbell, ScotRail’s head of customer operations, said: “We’re really disappointed that the dispute with the RMT has reached this outcome, given the strength of the improved pay offer ScotRail made.
“This strike action does nothing for the railway’s recovery at this fragile time - it will severely impact our customers and it will also cost our staff through lost wages.
“Due to the large number of ScotRail staff who are members of the RMT, ScotRail customers should expect significant disruption to services on Monday, as we won’t be able to operate the vast majority of our services.
“We remain open to resolving this dispute.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We absolutely respect the democratic right of union members to take industrial action, be that in Scotland or elsewhere, and we know there have been constructive discussions between ScotRail and the Scottish representatives of RMT members – unlike negotiations elsewhere in the UK at present.
“So it is really disappointing that Scottish members are being denied the opportunity to vote on a new Scottish deal.
“We call on the RMT National Executive to suspend the ScotRail strike action in favour of a members’ referendum on the revised pay offer – an offer which is self-funded, fair and affordable.”
Don't miss the latest headlines with our twice-daily newsletter - sign up here for free.
