Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, warned of the damaging approach the UK Government is taking to industrial action as strikes continue across the UK.
Fiona raised this issue with the First Minister during First Ministers Questions on Thursday 23/06 highlighting the recent comment from an RMT representative who said; “perhaps the UK Government should take a feather out of the Scottish Government’s hat and actually propose a 5% pay deal along with a five-year non-compulsory redundancy agreement.”
In her response the First Minister called for the UK Government to end its anti-trade union rhetoric and respect workers across the economy. She also reiterated the need to seek fair resolutions to disputes which is particularly important as we continue to deal with rising inflation which has been exacerbated in the UK by Brexit.
Following First Ministers Questions Fiona commented;
“As we continue to see rail workers strike across the UK it is crucial that the UK Government acts constructively with Trades Unions and announcing that they plan to introduce legislation to allow agency workers to be used in a legally balloted strike is dangerous and doesn’t help.
“It is clear that Tory UK Government ideology is inflaming the current dispute rather than helping to resolve it. We must ensure that all workers across our economy are respected, however, with the current cost of living crisis, the UK Government must work with Network Rail and the rail companies in England and the Unions involved to end the dispute, reduce disruption and ensure that those who use train services to get to work have a reliable service.
“The UK Government must work with the Unions, as the Scottish Government have, to end this current UK wide dispute and the disruption we are seeing to rail services.”
ENDS
NOTES
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