A Local MSP has supported the First Minister and Scottish Trades Union Congress call to all parties to get round the negotiating table to end disruption.

The UK Government has been urged to act to end the long-running dispute over pay and conditions on the railways that continues to disrupt services in Scotland.

Christina McKelvie MSP, the SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, has reacted to the UK rail dispute and supports calls made by the First Minister and the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC).

The First Minister and the STUC called on all parties involved in the dispute to come together to seek resolution.

Commenting, Christina said:

“The Scottish government has given the Tory Westminster government a lesson in how to avoid industrial action. The Scottish government has maintained constructive discussions with the trade unions and settled our own pay negotiations by embracing compassion and fairness.

“However, I recognise that my constituents may still face severe disruption as a direct result of the ongoing UK-wide rail dispute between Network Rail, UK government rail operators and unions.

“The UK government’s inability to get around the negotiating table with trade unions, and their reluctance to engage in any constructive action, is causing great uncertainty right across Scotland, no less so than in my constituency. Therefore, it is welcome that the First Minister and STUC are putting pressure on the UK Government to end the chaos that they have created. Perhaps the UK government could look north of the border for a lesson in negotiating.”

Roz Foyer, STUC General Secretary, said:

“We all want to see an end to the rail dispute, and for workers to be awarded a fair pay offer that is not conditional on cuts to staffing and services. In Scotland workers have already agreed their pay claim, but we are still seeing widespread disruption on our railways.

“This is due to the combative approach to negotiations taken by the UK Government which has led to the protracted dispute between Network Rail and the UK Government.

“The rail unions and Scottish Government have come to a negotiated settlement and we need the UK Government to take a similar approach that results in workers at Network Rail and other UK-Government-controlled rail companies getting the deal they deserve.”