RAILWAY enhancement works in Scotland should restart in a bid to protect jobs, according to the RMT union.
General secretary Mick Cash has written to Nicola Sturgeon saying the union is confident the industry can get going again with the strictest possible health and safety guidelines.
It said the sector had already restarted in England and Wales, with renewal work still happening in Scotland.
“For some reason, despite our reassurances, the Scottish Government is insisting this sector remains under lockdown which is now putting hundreds of my members' jobs potentially at risk,” said Cash.
“RMT believes that if this current illogical position remains in place rail infrastructure workers will potentially be thrown on the scrap heap simply due to political decisions being made which are totally contrary to the advice being given to Scottish Government ministers by Network Rail on behalf of the rail infrastructure contracting supply chain and by RMT on behalf of the workforce.
“We are ready to offer those reassurances to the First Minister and Scottish Government and have today requested an urgent meeting to agree a way to protect jobs whilst ensuring the highest standards of health and safety.”
Railway enhancement works were stopped at the onset of the coronavirus outbreak as part of lockdown measures and the industry is under the same restrictions as the wider construction sector in Scotland.
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