Rail union RMT, has suspended the 48hr strike action by First Great Western (FGW) guards planned for 20 and 21 January.
This is ”in order to allow negotiations with FGW to continue after the company agreed not to use managers to drive or work trains as guards,” a union statement said.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: ”The resolve of RMT members at FGW has led the company to listen and act on our concerns and we hope a resolution can be found.
”Our strike mandate is still valid and negotiations will continue on a number of issues essential to the resolution to this dispute.”
A FGW spokesman would not speculate on the outcome of ongoing talks, telling ABTN: ”We welcome the suspension, whilst talks are ongoing. We will continue to meet with the union to resolve any issues and avert disruptive strike action.”
He confirmed that FGW managers would no longer be carrying out the work of guards, but declined to comment on the repercussions on this. The RMT said last week that ”Occasional use of managers has turned into a matter of routine. I”m sure they do have a problem with being short-staffed, but in that case you take on more staff. Bearing in mind FGW”s huge fare increases, you”d think they could do it.”
After last week”s strike announcement the RMT warned that it planned to ballot all 1,500 of its members at FGW ”in furtherance of the dispute” and regarding a general breakdown in industrial relations, but a union spokesman today said: ”That is likewise put on hold, so there is no movement on that.
”There are intense negotiations ongoing, and progress has been made. We anticipate some kind of final position some time next week.”