Unions urged to settle COP26 dispute

Rail unions are being urged to heed the importance of next month’s COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow and settle a long-standing dispute before the gathering comes to Scotland.

Transport Minister Graeme Dey appealed to union leaders to “understand the importance of the moment” and to work with bosses at ScotRail to resolve grievances.

It comes after the Unite trade union announced on Monday that engineering staff would stage a number of one-day stoppages in October and November – including during the crucial summit.

Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said that would mean “three days of strike action will take place on Scotland’s railways during the most important climate conference in history”.

With talks taking place to resolve the dispute, Mr Sweeney demanded to know what would happen if the “revised pay offer... is refused by the trade unions”.

And he warned: “We now face the prospect of Scotland being an international laughing stock as delegates to the COP26 conference can’t use public transport because of Abellio’s intransigence and this government’s seeming indifference.”

Unite said its planned protest was in response to “failure by Abellio ScotRail to make a meaningful pay offer” to staff.

Mr Dey said more talks were scheduled for tomorrow.

The planned 24-hour strikes will take place between October 18-19, November 1-2, November 10-11 and November 12-13. A number of rail depots and stations will be impacted, including Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central.

COP26 in Glasgow runs from October 31 to November 12.