SNP ministers have been accused of "naivety" when bringing ScotRail back into public ownership.
ASLEF, which represents train drivers, yesterday knocked back an improved pay offer from transport chiefs.
It means passengers face more misery as a result of a temporary timetable that has seen evening services across the country slashed.
Talks between unions and transport bosses are set to resume on Monday in the hope of reaching a final agreement over pay and ending a long-running reliance on drivers working rest days.
Kevin Lindsay, ASLEF's Scottish organiser, said the Government had been warned before it took control of ScotRail that any attempt to restrict collective bargaining agreements would lead to strikes.
He told the Record: "The naivety shown in the negotiations was quite startling to us. I think they didn't understand or get a grip of what they were taking on."
The Scottish Government took charge of ScotRail - which provides the vast majority of services north of the Border - on April 1.
It followed years of complaints from passengers about previous operators.
But Lindsay said negotiations between his union and ScotRail bosses got off to a poor start despite warnings made to transport minister Jenny Gilruth and her predecessor Graeme Dey.
"The Scottish Government has ran the franchise via proxy for over two years during the pandemic," he said. "So they knew what the staffing levels were and what the costs were.
"They were warned in meetings, prior to them taking over, that putting Scotland's railways into public sector pay would lead to industrial action.
"So I think there has been an element of naivety from them.
"We are delighted the railway is back in public ownership - but the ownership model should not be used against rail workers when all we are looking for is a fair settlement.
"They were told quite clearly what we were looking for - Graeme Dey has been told, Jenny Gilruth has been told.
"The unions have been consistent throughout - trying to restrict free collective bargaining on the railways would lead to strikes."
'I'm looking for fairness'
The union boss continued: "We have not been on strike in Scotland in 20 years.
"But the charade we went through at the start of this, where we had four meetings and nothing was tabled at three of them.
"At the fourth meeting, it lasted five minutes and ScotRail tabled 2.2 per cent and left the room."
"I have been a union representative for over 30 years and I've been a lead official in Scotland for 20 years. I've never known pay negotiations to be handled in this manner.
"I negotiate with other rail companies and I've never know them to act in this manner.
"I'm not looking for favours, I'm looking for fairness."
Lindsay remains hopeful a deal can be agreed next week.
He added: "We believe the financial package as a whole, if it is rejigged in a different way, we could reach a settlement.
"But that's down to ScotRail and the Scottish Government to come to the negotiation table and do something along those lines."
A spokesman for Transport Scotland spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that ASLEF, having given due consideration to the terms they negotiated, have decided to reject the very good offer on the table, an offer which is in part self-funded through increased revenue and efficiencies.
"While we understand any union’s desire to obtain the best deal possible for their members, the stark realities of the financial pressures we are facing across Government are evidenced by the Spending Review.
"We all need to work together to make nationalisation a success.
"Ministers are committed to ensuring that the railway unions are part of that success.
"However, to be part of the vision moving forward, the unions need to agree on a deal that is both fair and affordable, particularly in the context of wider public sector pay policy."
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
