Transport unions demand nationalization of Scottish Railways

On October 2, Labour Party’s motion to nationalize the ScotRail by 2022 was voted down in the Scottish parliament by the Scottish Nationalist Party and the Tories

October 04, 2019 by Peoples Dispatch
ScotRail
Unions including the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, the TSSA and the ASLEF are demanding the nationalization of ScotRail.

On October 2, transport workers’ unions protested outside the Scottish parliament, demanding the nationalization of ScotRail through the termination of the running contract with the private company, Abellio. The call for the protest was given by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).

On the same day, in the Scottish parliament, the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Tories voted down the Labour Party’s motion to nationalize the ScotRail by 2022.

Over 74,000 services have been cancelled by ScotRail since the Dutch firm Abellio took over the franchise in April 2015, according to a Morning Star report.

Labour MP (Scottish Parliament) Neil Findlay told Morning Star, “The sight of the SNP and Tories teaming up to maintain Abellio’s disastrous stewardship of Scotland’s railways is sickening.”

The RMT has stated that, “Abellio ScotRail is in crisis and is not fit to run Scotland’s railways. Passengers have endured months of disruption, delays and cancellations and RMT ScotRail members are bearing the brunt of the company’s mismanagement. The solution is clear – ScotRail must be nationalized.” 

Along with the RMT, unions including the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), and the ASLEF, which is the UK train drivers’ union, have also demanded the nationalization of Scotland’s railways and termination of Abellio’s contract.