RMT union says ScotRail strikes will continue 'as long as it takes'

Strike action by ScotRail workers that will largely cripple Scotland's rail network on Saturday will continue as long as it takes to secure a fair pay deal, their union has said.

The RMT rejected an improved pay increase of almost 7.5% for its lowest-paid members earlier this week.

It means more than 2,000 workers will strike on Saturday.

Trains will only run on three routes in the central belt, with all other services cancelled.

The three routes that will operate are:

It means there will be a very limited service for rugby fans heading to Scotland's first autumn international match against Australia at Murrayfield, with fans advised to consider alternative arrangements.

The latest pay offer by ScotRail had been conditional on the strike being called off, and has now been withdrawn.

It would have seen workers given a £500 uplift on top of the 5% that had already been offered, which it said would have been the equivalent of a 7.5% pay rise for the lowest paid.

The RMT has previously said it would "seriously consider" an offer of about 8.2%.

ScotRail RMT members previously went on strike on 10 October, with an overtime and rest day working ban, also put in place by the union, causing cancellations across the rail network over the past fortnight.

Rail services have also been severely disrupted in recent months by a series of separate disputes with workers including ScotRail drivers - which has been resolved - and Network Rail staff.

Network Rail members of the RMT are due to hold more 24-hour strikes on 5, 7 and 9 November.

The union's Scottish organiser, Mick Hogg, said it was fighting to protect living standards and working conditions and described the latest pay offer as "nowhere near acceptable" as it was well below the inflation rate.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that members of other rail unions who had already accepted lower pay offers should join the RMT instead as it would "fight for a better deal".

Mr Hogg said the strikes would continue "as long as it takes" and dismissed suggestions that the disruption would cause long-term damage to the rail network by putting people off using trains.

He added: "We want a successful railway but we need to get real - the bosses are being paid an absolute fortune.

"The Scottish government should take control of the situation and instruct ScotRail to get round the negotiating table and hammer out a deal."

The government took control of ScotRail in April after deciding to nationalise the rail franchise.

ScotRail service delivery director David Simpson said what the RMT was looking for was unaffordable.

He added: "We have had a very frustrating week with the RMT. We've worked hard to find a way to get more money in our staff's pockets in a way that is affordable to the Scottish public given the financial challenges facing the industry.

"This week we were able to find a way to improve the offer significantly. We hear from members they are keen to get this resolved and keen to start providing a great service to customers again.

"The condition for the improved offer was withdrawing the action. The rest of the offer remains on the table."

Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson accused the RMT of "holding the whole country to ransom", and said travellers and small businesses were suffering as a result of the dispute.

He added: "Since nationalisation, relations between the unions and ScotRail have grown progressively worse, but the SNP government have been content to sit on their hands and watch ordinary passengers bear the brunt of this disruption."

It looks like the stakes are getting higher in this dispute.

ScotRail made an improved pay offer to the RMT but they made this conditional on calling off the strike and putting it to their members.

The RMT felt the new offer still was not good enough so declined to do this.

Because tomorrow's strike is on, the new offer is off the table.

One side will need to be the first to blink though if there is to be a resolution. Who will it be?

Will ScotRail put its improved offer back on the table despite the action? Might they make further improvements as the RMT hopes?

Or will the RMT be prepared to call off action and consult its members formally on this week's improved offer, even if they still reject it eventually?

Meanwhile the misery continues for the travelling public.