Cleaning Up The Railways

Industrial action could go ahead if plans to stop raw sewage being dumped on Scotland's railways aren't brought forward.

The RMT union wants retention tanks to be fitted across the Scotrail fleet from April 2016 rather than from December 2017 to protect workers.

Members are calling on Transport Scotland and Network Rail to apply pressure on Scotrail's new owner, Abellio.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

"RMT has already made significant progress in bringing forward the date when the scandal of dumping raw sewage on Scotland's railway tracks is brought to an end. However, the union believes that April 2016 is a perfectly realistic and achievable target for halting this filthy and disgusting practice. Abellio are set to make a fortune out of the Scotrail franchise and the very least they should be forced to do is to dip in their pockets and retro-fit the retention tanks.
 
"This union intends to keep the pressure on Transport Scotland for the earliest possible end to this scandal on Scotland's railways and that is why we are taking our case right to their doorstep on Tuesday. RMT has said all along that if it was wealthy bankers getting sprayed with sewage rather than rail workers then this scandal would be ended overnight. RMT's campaign goes on."