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Union anger at rail plan backing Rail strike likely as talks end
(about 1 hour later)
Union leaders have reacted angrily to the suggestion that a government agency approved controversial staffing plans for a new rail link. A 24-hour strike by rail workers in Scotland planned for next Monday is likely to go ahead after talks aimed at ending the dispute broke down.
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. Members of the RMT union are fighting plans to have drivers instead of guards operate the doors on a new rail link between Airdrie and Bathgate.
The RMT union claims such a move would jeopardise passenger safety. Operator First Scotrail said it was disappointed no agreement was reached.
It is currently in talks with operator First ScotRail in a bid to end the dispute and avert further strikes. Union leaders earlier expressed anger that a government agency has already backed staffing plans for the route.
About 550 rail workers took part in the first of three 24-hour walkouts at the weekend. It has emerged that Transport Scotland accepted First Scotrail's proposals for trains on the new Glasgow to Edinburgh via Airdrie and Bathgate service to be run with drivers and ticker examiners but no conductors.
It is difficult to understand why the union will strike, inconvenience our customers and possibly delay the reopening of the rail link Steve Montgomery First Scotrail
The drivers would operate the train doors, a move the RMT has claimed could jeopardise passenger safety.
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.
First ScotRail wants to operate trains on the new route using drivers and ticket examiners, but without conductors. About 550 rail workers took part in the first of three 24-hour walkouts at the weekend.
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 Following top-level talks between the two sides in the dispute, First Scotrail said it was "extremely disappointed that no progress was made".
The drivers would be responsible for opening and closing the train doors. 'Maximise investment'
Transport Scotland has confirmed that it accepted First ScotRail's plans. Steve Montgomery, ScotRail's managing director, added: "The new line will create 130 new jobs - and the trains are safe. They are the same as those which have operated in Scotland for 25 years.
"It is difficult to understand why the union will strike, inconvenience our customers and possibly delay the reopening of the rail link which is funded by Scottish taxpayers.
"I would like to assure customers that should there be further strike action, we will do everything to keep services running as normally as possible."
Transport Scotland has confirmed that it has accepted First ScotRail's staffing plans for the new route.
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.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.
"This was also viewed as an efficient means of operating to maximise the investment to taxpayers."This was also viewed as an efficient means of operating to maximise the investment to taxpayers.
"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." "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."
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. 'Deliberately misled'
The RMT accused 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.
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."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."
'Highly political' First Scotrail has insisted that there is no agreement between it and the RMT on driver door operated trains.
Labour backbencher Elaine Smith MSP is due to question First Minister Alex Salmond on the dispute at Holyrood on Thursday. As well as the strike planned for Monday, RMT members are also due to walkout on 13 March, the day of the Scotland v England RBS 6 Nations rugby game at Murrayfield.
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.