Catherwood LibraryILR School

A series of events have rocked the Scottish transportation company ScotRail recently, as the railway works to create a new route. Conductors represented by the RMT Union expressed anger over the ScotRail decision to employ ticket examiners rather than full conductors on the new line and have conducted a number of several-day strikes in protest. Another four-day walkout was planned for April 12, but has now been called off due to discrepancies supposedly found in the authorization ballot. Instead the union has agreed to a mediated meeting with conciliation company Acas. The meeting is scheduled for the coming Wednesday. A ScotRail representative called the talks a good idea, and a step in the direction, while the union, though they agreed to the meeting, are wary and still angry with management. The main basis for the union protest is that ticket examiners are not fully prepared for emergency or unusual situations and could be a safety risk.