Confusion reigns as to whether or not two strikes slated for this Friday and next Monday are to go ahead in Scotland, after initial reports indicated that a solution had been reached concerning the 35h week deal.
After talks lasting all yesterday, officials from Network Rail emerged to say that the walk-outs had been suspended, but a statement from the RMT (Rail, Maritime, Transport), union, thought otherwise.
”The union”s executive will be meeting with full-time officials and signallers” reps on Wednesday to discuss the progress made in today”s talks,” said RMT general secretary, Bob Crow.
”However, no decision will be made by the executive until after that meeting has taken place and as matters stand, the strike action remains on.”
The gloomy assessment ” one previously backed up by hints that the dispute could extend to a national ballot ” was echoed by a spokesman from Network Rail in Scotland, who told ABTN this morning from Glasgow. ”We have signed an agreement at Scottish level but unfortunately, that has to be ratified by the RMT”s national executive, but the past form of Bob Crow is not predictable.
"It would be a major risk for the RMT to reverse the decision made yesterday and a big blow to its credibility.”
The news is in stark contrast to hopes raised yesterday by Network Rail director, David Simpson. ”I am glad that our negotiations have found a resolution to this dispute and very much hope that this will be ratified by RMT”s national executive at its meeting ” it is regrettable that last week”s needless strike took place.” he said.
Hanging over the decision is the RMT”s previous assertion that it would ballot its 4,000 signalling and signalling supervisory staff across the UK, although quite how commuters in the south would react to a dispute over working practices in the north, remains to be seen.
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