Rail passengers are facing more misery after a trade union rejected an enhanced pay offer from ScotRail.
Hundreds of services were cancelled recently after a pay dispute led to train drivers not working overtime or on rest days.
ASLEF, which represents drivers, had turned down a 2.2 per cent offer from bosses.
After negotiations the offer was upped to 4.2 per cent, but today ASLEF's executive committee rejected the increase.
The union will now move forward to a ballot for industrial action if ScotRail refuses to engage in further talks.
ASLEF Scottish Organiser Kevin Lindsay said: “ASLEF wants to negotiate a fair deal for our members, we are once again calling on ScotRail to return to the talks, so we can negotiate a fair pay offer that we can put to our members.”
A temporary timetable, which has led to services ending earlier in the evening, has caused havoc for passengers.
The news comes just 24 hours after transport minister Jenny Gilruth said she was “hopeful” the offer would be accepted by the executive committee and the wider union membership.
“Obviously the offer will be put to Aslef at their meeting tomorrow,” she said.
“And it will be up to the members to decide whether or not they want to take that forward and then whether or not it will go to a referendum of members too.”
She also said she believed ScotRail had made a “good offer” and that getting a resolution was “absolutely essential”.
Neil Bibby, Scottish Labour transport spokesman, said: “It’s hard to imagine this shambolic ScotRail service getting any worse, but that’s exactly what will happen if the SNP fail to resolve this situation.
"This government’s disgraceful lack of leadership has left services in chaos and industrial relations at an all time low.
"However much the SNP try to pass the buck, blame for this turmoil lies firmly at their door.
"Rail passengers can’t keep paying the price for SNP failure – the government need to get round the table with the unions and ScotRail and agree a fair deal for rail workers before services grind to a halt altogether.”
Scottish Tory MSP Graham Simpson said: “Once again, train passengers in Scotland are set to suffer thanks to SNP complacency and dithering.
“Since ScotRail was nationalised two months ago, ministers haven’t put a foot right.
“They must get ScotRail and the union back around the table immediately to end this chaos as quickly as possible.”
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