LONDON — Talks aimed at breaking the deadlock in the ScotRail pay dispute have broken up in London, BBC News reports.
Negotiations between management and the drivers’ union Aslef will now continue on Monday and Tuesday of next week.
The rail unions described Friday’s talks as constructive.
ScotRail’s acting managing director Nick Brown also said it had been a good meeting, adding that there had been more “reasoned thinking” from the unions.
The pay dispute has seriously disrupted rail services in Scotland over four one-day strikes.
On Wednesday, Aslef raised hopes of a possible end to the dispute, after suspending two more stoppages planned for next week.
A second rail union, the RMT, had said it would join a wave of 11 one-day strikes announced by Aslef earlier this week.
The strikes are due to end on 15 May when the prestigious European Champions League Final will be played at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.
Unions have described ScotRail’s offer of £26,295 – rising to £27,896 by January 2004 – as “totally unacceptable” because of cuts in public holidays and sickness pay.
However, the company has said that any pay rise above the 3% already offered would have to be financed through productivity agreements.