RMT suspends 2 days of strikes at train operators next week

The RMT has suspended two days of strikes at UK train operators next week, raising hopes that the industry’s biggest union will end its long-running dispute on the railways.

The union said on Wednesday that it would call off the walkouts planned for March 30 and April 1 after the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, put forward a new pay and reform proposal.

In a statement it said it planned to hold “further talks with the RDG with a view to securing a new offer on pay, job security and working conditions.” The RDG welcomed the move and said the two sides were “now jointly focused on working constructively towards a settlement to this dispute”.

One rail industry executive said talks with union bosses had been constructive and ran late into the evening on Tuesday, adding enough progress had been made by Wednesday afternoon for the union to call off the strikes.

The decision is the latest sign that the RMT’s leadership is willing to work towards ending a series of disputes on the railways that began last summer.

Earlier this week, its members at Network Rail voted to accept an improved 9 per cent pay offer over two years, with more for lower-paid staff, tied to significant modernisation of working practices.

Six weeks ago, the union’s executive committee rejected an earlier 9 per cent pay deal from infrastructure owner Network Rail. It also rejected a similar offer from the train operating companies. At the time, the RMT responded by calling for “unconditional” pay rises and pledged to reballot members to extend its strike mandate.

The RDG said a deal with the RMT would “mean we can do what we have always wanted to do — give our people a pay rise and help secure the long-term future of the railway”. 

The government, which controls the purse strings of an industry that is now in effect renationalised, said: “This marks a positive step and takes us closer to resolving this dispute.”

But the RMT warned that the dispute with the train operators “remains on” and pledged to continue preparations to reballot members for a new mandate when it runs out in May.

A deal with the RMT would end of a series of long-running strikes but passengers still face potential disruption to the network from Aslef, the drivers union.

Aslef held inconclusive talks with the RDG earlier this week, part of series of regular discussion in recent months, but has announced no further strike dates.