As a breaking story, we have republished this article to keep those travelling over the weekend up to date with developments.
THE NATIONAL Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers has suspended a series of strikes which were due to take place on Saturday, November 5.
Just hours before they were due to begin, the series of strikes were called off on Friday, November 4, with the union’s official Twitter account posting that it was entering into negotiations.
Action planned for Saturday, November 5, Monday, November 7, and Wednesday, November 9, will now not go ahead as the union begins discussions with Network Rail and other service operators.
The strikes would have seen widespread disruption across the country’s rail networks.
A post to the RMT’s website read as follows:
Rail union RMT has suspended planned strikes on Nov 5, 7 and 9 and will now enter into a period of intensive negotiations with Network Rail and the train operating companies.
Through a strong industrial campaign so far, RMT has secured unconditional talks on Network Rail and the promise of an offer from the train operating companies who up until this point, have made no offer of any kind to our members.
Originally Network Rail was intent on imposing changes to maintenance without agreement with RMT.
The current dispute remains very much live, and the union is continuing its re-ballot of members to secure a fresh mandate for action with the result due on 15th November.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The threat of strike action and our strongly supported industrial campaign has made the rail employers see sense.
“We have always wanted to secure a negotiated settlement and that is what we will continue to push for in this next phase of intensive talks.
“Our priority is our members, and we are working towards securing a deal on job security, a decent pay rise and good working conditions.
“Our re-ballot remains live and if we have to take strike action during the next 6 months to secure a deal, we will.”
