Fact Service October 2021

Issue 43

Plea for free travel for COP26

Transport union the TSSA has challenged Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon to demonstrate Scotland’s green credentials by making rail travel free throughout the forthcoming COP26 climate talks in Glasgow.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said the conference “will focus minds on cleaner, greener energy, so what better time to offer commuters and visitors to Scotland free travel on our cleanest and greenest form of travel?

“Once people have given our fantastic Scottish rail network a try for COP26, and seen the benefits of quick, clean and green transport they’ll surely be encouraged to stick with rail. That will give the Scottish rail sector the boost in passengers it so desperately needs.”

• Transport union the RMT has announced that delegates at its AGM in Leeds have voted to go ahead with strike action alongside Caledonian Sleeper members during COP26.

The union reported that representatives from Scotrail slammed a proposed "new deal" on offer, which it says has been driven by Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP and Transport Scotland. They described it as poor, loaded with productivity strings and wholly unacceptable to the members, who voted overwhelmingly for strike action to secure a fair pay deal.

https://www.tssa.org.uk/news-and-events/tssa-news/make-rail-travel-free-for-cop26-cortes

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/scotrail-strike-action-during-cop26-goes-ahead