AWARD organisers have come under fire after ScotRail received recognition for "creating a culture conducive to happiness and security within the workplace" despite being in the middle of one of its most bitter worker disputes.
At a sparkling Proud Scotland awards ceremony at The Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh, the train operator scooped the Employer Award Large Business – Over 500 Employees.
The Proud Scotland Awards are designed to celebrate the LGBTQI+ community by recognising the outstanding work and commitment of individuals and organisations within and supportive of our community in Scotland.
According to the organisers of the awards that are sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland: "They honour and encourage all, north to south, who stand up for diversity, equality and inclusion. Over the last two years we have awarded lots of very special people and organisations in recognition of their work and dedication to others."
RMT was shocked by the announcement coming six months into Britain's longest-running industrial dispute over justice and equality which has seen staff striking every Sunday.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said:“It's beyond belief that ScotRail have landed an award for being a good employer focussed on staff happiness and security having spent more than six months abusing and belittling their workers engaged in a struggle for basic pay justice and equality every single Sunday.
“It would be sheer brass neck after larging it up on social media parading this gong if ScotRail refuse to make a decent pay offer and continue to deny their workers equality and justice across all grades.”
RMT union bosses have said they will ballot more than 2,000 members – including conductors, ticket inspectors and drivers – on whether they would support strike action. Engineers in the Unite union started industrial action last Friday.
Dispute eescalation by the RMT would see drivers, conductors and ticket inspectors walk out for the first time.
ScotRail’s four unions have rejected a 2.2 per cent increase tied to efficiency savings.
ScotRail were delighted wity the award having launched in the summer its Pride of ScotRail Train.
The Class 334 electric train features the eye-catching Progress flag instead of the traditional Rainbow design.
The train operates right across Scotland on ScotRail’s busiest routes, serving destinations from Helensburgh, Motherwell and Milngavie, to Bathgate, Livingston and Edinburgh.
Karen Wallace, ScotRail equality, diversity & inclusion manager, said:
“This is a tremendous honour and a real recognition of the work being done at ScotRail to make the business as welcoming and inclusive as possible."
ScotRail has a dedicated Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager as well as an employee network for LGBTQI+ people and allies. It’s called Pride of ScotRail, from which the train takes its name.
“Our Pride Train is a very visual example of our commitment to diversity and equality, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes too," added Ms Wallace.
“ScotRail is for everyone and we won’t tolerate bigotry or discrimination.”
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