This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8531288.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Talks to avert rail strike threat Union anger at rail plan backing
(about 15 hours later)
Talks aimed at ending a dispute which has resulted in industrial action by rail workers in Scotland are due to take place later. Union leaders have reacted angrily to the suggestion that a government agency approved controversial staffing plans for a new rail link.
About 550 members of the RMT union walked out at the weekend in the first of three 24-hour strikes. It has emerged that Transport Scotland accepted proposals for drivers rather than guards to operate the train doors on a new Glasgow to Edinburgh service.
They are angry at plans to operate trains without conductors on a new service between Airdrie and Bathgate. The RMT union claims such a move would jeopardise passenger safety.
The union claimed this would jeopardise passenger safety, but operator First Scotrail has denied that suggestion. It is currently in talks with operator First ScotRail in a bid to end the dispute and avert further strikes.
About 550 rail workers took part in the first of three 24-hour walkouts at the weekend.
The £300m Airdrie to Bathgate rail link is due to open in December.The £300m Airdrie to Bathgate rail link is due to open in December.
It was designed to complete the "missing link" for communities between Glasgow and Edinburgh, such as areas of North Lanarkshire and West Lothian.
First ScotRail wants to operate trains on the new route using drivers and ticket examiners, but without conductors.First ScotRail wants to operate trains on the new route using drivers and ticket examiners, but without conductors.
These are very serious developments and suggest that RMT has been deliberately misled by the Scottish transport minister in direct talks Bob Crow RMT General Secretary
The drivers would be responsible for opening and closing the train doors.The drivers would be responsible for opening and closing the train doors.
This dispute over public and staff safety on Scotrail services can be resolved very easily if the company simply revert back to existing agreements on Driver Only Operation Bob Crow RMT General Secretary Transport Scotland has confirmed that it accepted First ScotRail's plans.
The RMT has vowed to fight such a move, which it said could put passengers at risk. A spokesman said: "ScotRail recommended driver plus ticket examiner operation for Airdrie-Bathgate and saw no safety reason why it should not be used on this route as it is already deployed across 56% of the rail network.
However, the train operator maintains that changing the trains for conductors to open the doors, rather than drivers, would cost taxpayers £1.4m and delay the opening of the new route. "This was also viewed as an efficient means of operating to maximise the investment to taxpayers.
It said the trains were "no different" to those that have run in the Strathclyde region for 25 years. "The Scottish Government accepted those recommendations on the basis that the terms and conditions of existing staff were protected and safety measures were in place."
Talks between union representatives and managers are due to take place at Scotrail's headquarters in Glasgow on Wednesday. The RMT has now accused Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson of misleading the union by not revealing that the transport agency had backed the plans when he met with representatives for talks on the issue earlier this year.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: "This dispute over public and staff safety on Scotrail services can be resolved very easily if the company simply revert back to existing agreements on driver only operation with RMT dating back to 2001 and confirmed in a letter from the chief executive in November 2004." General Secretary Bob Crow said: "These are very serious developments and suggest that RMT has been deliberately misled by the Scottish transport minister in direct talks and that there has been political collusion in the ripping up of existing agreements on driver-only operation and the safety-critical role of the guard."
A spokeswoman for First Scotrail said: "We welcome confirmation that RMT officials are willing to take part in meaningful talks." 'Highly political'
Two further strikes are currently planned for 1 March and 13 March. Labour backbencher Elaine Smith MSP is due to question First Minister Alex Salmond on the dispute at Holyrood on Thursday.
Mr Crow said Mr Salmond must "not only answer these allegations but make clear that he is instructing ScotRail to adhere to the agreements they have in place with RMT on driver-only operation".
He also called on the first minister to "confirm that there will be no taxpayer subsidy to ScotRail as a result of the strike action on their services as a result of this highly political dispute".
A First ScotRail spokesman said it had "made clear in a qualified recommendation that in the end we believe - providing the terms and conditions of existing staff are protected and the requisite safety measures are in place - driver door operated trains with ticket examiners on the new Airdrie-Bathgate services will offer the taxpayer and other stakeholders, in the long term, the best value for money".
He added: "I can assure you that no promises have been broken.
"There is no agreement between ScotRail and the RMT on driver door operated trains - and we have never been asked to enter into one."
The RMT currently has two further strikes planned for 1 and 13 March.