The
RMT
has
performed
a
sudden
u-turn
by
cancelling
three
imminent
national
strikes.

The
unexpected
change
of
heart,
just
before
a
weekend,
has
come
too
late
to
save
train
services
during
the
next
few
days
which
had
been
cut
back
sharply
by
operators
expecting
mass
walkouts,
with
the
first
set
for
today
(5
November).
It
was
also
too
late
to
avoid
a
strike
on
West
Midlands
Railway
yesterday
(4
November).
A
separate
walkout
is
still
due
on
London
Underground
on
10
November.

More
strikes
had
been
called
on
Network
Rail
on
the
7th
and
at
Network
Rail
and
the
operators
on
the
9th.
These
have
also
been
cancelled,
but
train
services
may
still
be
disrupted.

The
RMT
said
its
change
of
heart
was
because
it
had
secured
‘unconditional’
talks
with
Network
Rail
and
the
promise
of
an
offer
from
the
operators
‘who
up
until
this
point,
have
made
no
offer
of
any
kind’.
It
also
emphasised
the
dispute
remained
‘very
much
alive’.

General
secretary
Mick
Lynch
added:
‘The
threat
of
strike
action
and
our
strongly
supported
industrial
campaign
has
made
the
employers
see
sense.

‘We
have
always
wanted
to
secure
a
negotiated
settlement
and
that
is
what
we
will
continue
to
push
for
in
this
next
phase
of
intensive
talks.’

In
contradiction,
railway
employers
and
the
government
have
been
telling
journalists
that
their
position
is
unchanged.

Meanwhile,
members
of
the
RMT
are
still
being
asked
to
vote
on
whether
to
continue
industrial
action
until
April.
The
ballot
closes
on
15
November.

Mr
Lynch
continued:
‘The
re-ballot
remains
live
and
if
we
have
to
take
strike
action
during
the
next
six
months
to
secure
a
deal,
we
will.’

The
Rail
Delivery
Group,
speaking
for
the
operators,
said:
’It
is
positive
that
the
RMT
leadership
have
stepped
back
from
the
brink.
We
remain
committed
to
intensive
negotiations
to
agree
the
reforms
needed
to
improve
reliability,
deliver
a
pay
rise
for
our
people
and
get
the
industry
back
on
a
sustainable
financial
footing.’