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Thursday 15 Mar 2007

RMT STRIKE ACTION IN SCOTLAND FORMALLY SUSPENDED

Region & Route:

National

Following a meeting of its national executive committee today, the RMT union has formally suspended strike action in Scotland. This means two planned 48-hour strikes, which were due to take place this weekend and next week, will not go ahead. David Simpson, Network Rail's route director for Scotland said: "We are pleased the RMT has finally, officially suspended this strike action after reaching agreement with us three days ago. "The agreement the RMT signed up to on Monday is exactly the same as the one that they rejected seven days previously. Network Rail is now beginning local negotiations to implement the 35-hour week for signallers in Scotland in the areas where arrangements have not already been agreed. "The RMT’s industrial action was unnecessary, disproportionate and extremely disruptive to rail passengers. It also harmed the Scottish economy and the reputation of the railway in Scotland. "Network Rail is committed to growing the railway in Scotland to meet the needs of passengers and freight operators; we urge the RMT to get behind our efforts to deliver a railway of which we can all be proud." The dispute has centred on the implementation of a 35-hour working week. Agreement was reached on Monday when represetatives of Network Rail and the RMT met in Glasgow, and local representatives announced that strike action would be suspended. But this was not the union's official position until today, when the decision was ratified by the RMT's national executive in London.