Rail strike suspended: Planned Bank Holiday walkout will not go ahead

 
Sebastian Mann21 May 2015

Industrial action that was set to cripple the country's rail network towards the end of the upcoming Bank Holiday has been called off.

The two major unions behind the action - the TSSA and the RMT - this afternoon said they were suspending the 24-hour strike, which was set to start on Monday at 5pm.

Both said they had received revised pay offers from Network Rail (NR).

Mick Cash - general secretary of the RMT union which represents some 16,000 rail workers - said: "Following the Acas talks, RMT has received a revised offer that enables us to suspend the planned industrial action while we consult in full with our Network Rail representatives."

More than 90 per cent of services were threatened by the walkout, with rail operators outlining contingency plans that would have seen the railways almost grind to a halt.

Transport for London had warned the Tube network also faced disruption.

Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the TSSA, said: "Our negotiating team at Acas has received a revised offer from Network Rail.

"As a result of this, they have suspended the planned industrial action, pending the outcome of a meeting of our workplace representatives next week."

NR had been due to mount a legal challenge in the High Court later today against the TSSA's strike ballot.

But Bruce Carr QC, for Network Rail, told a judge at a High Court hearing in London that it was not proceeding with an application for an injunction because "there has been progress".

Transport bosses welcomed the strike suspension.

NR chief executive Mark Carne said: “The national rail strike planned for next week will now not be going ahead. We welcome the RMT’s decision.”

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin added: "I am very pleased that the unions have made a decision to suspend their planned action.

"Passengers right across the country will welcome this news and the knowledge that the extensive disruption threatening the Bank Holiday and the return to work on Tuesday has been averted."

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