Relief for commuters as RMT suspends two days of rail strikes
THE RMT Union has announced that it has cancelled two days of rail strikes, in a moment of relief for commuters.
The union, led by Mick Lynch, said that discussions with the Rail Delivery Group prompted the decision to call off the strikes.
Rail workers had been set to walk out on March 30 and April 1 amid an ongoing row over pay and conditions.
It comes after the 20,000-strong membership voted to accept a new pay offer from Network Rail.
Members voted by 76% to 24% in favour of the deal, with a turnout of nearly 90%.
However, this only covered those employed by Network Rail, and employees of 14 different train operating companies were still set to walk out next week.
RMT workers have gone on strike a number of times in recent months and Mr Lynch has been been one of the fiercest critics of rail bosses and the Government.
The announcement that the strikes were suspended, posted on the unions official Twitter account, will relieve frustrated commuters who have seen travel chaos disrupt their plans since the dispute flared up last year.
The union has objected to the possibility of reforms to working practices and potential staff cuts, as well as demanding pay rises for members to counter the impact of inflation and the cost of living crisis.
Meanwhile, crippling NHS strikes were also put on ice as nurses and ambulance workers accepted a “final offer” pay deal from ministers.
However, junior doctors and teachers have both been striking recently and are talks are yet to bear any fruit.