A SCOTTISH minister has urged workers to consider the risk of a recession when asking for pay rises.
The SNP’s Richard Lochhead encouraged employees to think about whether Scotland could afford an increase in wages.
The Minister for Employment and Fair Work told the BBC’s Sunday Show that Scotland's economy sits in a "very precarious position".
It comes amid an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions at ScotRail, which was nationalised nearly two months ago.
During First Minister's Questions last week, Nicola Sturgeon was quizzed about the rail operator's services being cut by a third due to the protest.
The First Minister pointed out that train drivers earn around £50,000. Staff have been offered a 2.2% pay rise and the opportunity to participate in a revenue share agreement which would take the total package to 5%.
The offers have been rejected by the unions Aslef and RMT, which described it as “derisory”.
Asked if train drivers earn enough, Lochhead said: “Well, my message to all workers in Scotland in all these sectors is that we have to be sensible.
Lochhead said: “Everything has to be affordable, because the country is in a very, very precarious position at the moment and if we take wrong decisions we could end up with a recession in the near future, which will cause a lot of damage to people’s lives, local businesses in Scotland and the economy.
"It’s not for me as a minister to say what the right or wrong wages for a train driver or anyone else are, but just to say it is really important that people are compromising, they’re being constructive and they recognise the consequences of these disputes dragging on.
"I’d ask everyone to look at whether the country can afford what they are asking for.”
Lochhead also criticised the UK Government as he called on Westminster to "finally act" on rising energy bills and high inflation.
He said: “Qite clearly if you are facing higher food bills, rocketing energy bills, you’re clearly going to want that reflected in your salary, what you earn for a good day’s work.
"This is a very difficult situation that people are in, households throughout the country, as I’ve said before we are doing our best to help those on lower incomes and most vulnerable people in society from a Scottish Government perspective.
"The way to release some of this pressure is for the UK Government to finally act and do something about the energy bills and the other inflationary costs and to help upgrade the benefits by inflation as well that people are receiving.”
