A series of planned UK rail strikes due to commence on Saturday (5 November) have been suspended, the RMT union has announced.
The union, whose members include thousands of Network Rail signalling staff who were due to walk out on 5, 7 and 9 November in an ongoing pay dispute, said it will now enter “a period of intensive negotiations” with rail operators.
The union has held a series of 24-hour strikes during the summer and autumn, which have largely crippled the UK rail network on these days.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the current dispute remains “very much live” as the union plans a re-ballot of members to secure “a fresh mandate” for action by 15 November.
“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… we are working towards securing a deal on job security, a decent pay rise and good working conditions,” he said.
“Our re-ballot remains live and if we have to take strike action during the next six months to secure a deal, we will,” Lynch added.