Talks


between
the
RMT
and
Avanti
West
Coast
over
the
terms
of
rest
day
working
have
reached
an
‘intensive’
stage,
according
to
the
union,
which
has
called
off
walkouts
by
train
managers
which
had
been
planned
for
the
next
three
Sundays,
but
ASLEF
has
announced
strikes
by
its
members
on
the
Elizabeth
Line
in
London
after
95
per
cent
voted
in
favour
on
a
turnout
of
88
per
cent.

In
the
West
Coast
dispute,
the
RMT
said
‘following
sustained
industrial
action,
pressure
from
RMT
members
has
brought
Avanti
management
to
the
table
for
meaningful
discussions
on
resolving
the
row’.

The
RMT’s
general
secretary
Mick
Lynch
said:
‘This
breakthrough
has
been
achieved
through
the
strength
and
determination
of
our
members,
whose
industrial
action
has
forced
Avanti
to
engage
seriously
with
this
dispute.

‘As
a
result,
strike
action
has
been
suspended
to
allow
space
for
constructive
talks.
We
are
fully
committed
to
using
the
next
three
weeks
productively
to
secure
a
negotiated
settlement
in
good
faith. 

‘However,
Avanti
must
demonstrate
a
real
willingness
to
compromise
if
it
wants
to
avoid
an
escalation
of
this
dispute
in
the
coming
weeks
and
months.’

Avanti
West
Coast
said:
‘We
are
pleased
the
RMT
has
suspended
strike
action
for
the
next
three
weekends.
We
remain
open
to
working
with
the
RMT to resolve
this
dispute and
will
continue
to
work
together
to
find
a
resolution.

‘This
means
that
tickets
will
be
back
on
sale
for
the
dates
concerned
and
we
will
be
able
to
operate
our
normal
Sunday
timetable.’

Meanwhile,
the
drivers’
union
ASLEF
has
announced
strikes
by
its
Elizabeth
Line
members
on
27
February,
followed
by
1,
8
and
10
March.
They
are
employed
by
the
operator
MTR,
which
is
being
replaced
by
Transport
for
London
with
a
consortium
of
Go
Ahead
Group,
Tokyo
Metro
and
Sumitomo
Corporation
in
May.

ASLEF
general
secretary
Mick
Whelan
said:
‘Our
members
have
been
instrumental
in
the
success
of
the
Elizabeth
Line
–
it’s
a
partnership,
in
practice,
between
the
company
and
its
employees
–
but,
despite
our
best
efforts,
MTR
has
decided
not
to
recognise
the
input,
the
importance,
and
the
value
of
train
drivers
in
this
success.

‘I
suspect
that
the
company’s
intransigence
is
because
it
has
lost
the
contract
with
TfL
to
run
the
Elizabeth
Line;
if
that
is
indeed
the
case,
it
is
very
disappointing
to
see
the
company
behave
this
way.’

Nigel
Gibson,
one
of
ASLEF’s
full-time
district
organisers,
and
the
lead
officer
with
MTR,
said:
‘Taking
action
is
always
a
last
resort,
because
we
do
not
want
to
inconvenience
passengers
and
our
members
do
not
want
to
lose
money,
and
I
hope
that
the
company,
seeing
the
strength
of
feeling
amongst
our
members,
their
drivers,
will
do
the
right
thing
and
return
to
the
negotiating
table.’

Transport
for
London
said:
‘We
encourage
Aslef
and
MTR
Elizabeth
line
to
continue
working
towards
resolving
this
dispute.’

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