Walkouts


by
Avanti
West
Coast
train
managers
planned
for
the
next
two
Sundays
have
been
suspended,
to
allow
what
their
union
the
RMT
is
describing
as
‘intensive
talks’.

Strikes
were
originally
called
on
22,
23
and
29
December
in
a
dispute
over
pay
for
rest
day
working,
but
after
Avanti
made
a
new
offer
those
strikes
had
been
suspended
while
a
ballot
was
held.

However, 
83
per
cent
of
those
voting
rejected
the
operator’s
revised
offer,
and
new
strikes
were
called
on
New
Year’s
Eve
and
2
January,
and
also
on
every
Sunday
from
12
January
to
25
May.

The
RMT
had
said
‘sustained’
action
was
now
‘the
only
way
to
focus
management’s
minds
on
reaching
a
negotiated
settlement’,
but
the
strikes
on
19
and
26
January
have
now
been
called
off
for
the
new
talks,
although
strikes
are
still
on
the
agenda
from
2
February
to
25
May.

The
RMT
said:
‘This
suspension
reflects
our
good
will
and
commitment
to
finding
a
resolution
to
this
rest
day
working
dispute.

‘We
are
responding
to
overtures
from
Avanti
and
hope
meaningful
progress
towards
a
negotiated
settlement
can
be
made
during
these
talks.’

Avanti
West
Coast
said:
‘We’re
pleased
that
the
RMT
has
called
off
its
strike
action
for
Avanti
West
Coast
on
Sundays
19
and
26
January.
Due
to
the
short
notice,
it’s
not
possible
to
fully
restore
our
timetable
for
19
January,
so
a
reduced
service
will
still
run.
We’re
working
hard
to
run
as
many
additional
trains
as
possible,
so
please
check
before
you
travel
on
the
day
itself.

‘On
26
January,
we’ll
now
run
our
planned
timetable
–
though
this
is
still
reduced
due
to
engineering
work.’