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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Talks seek to avert rail strike | Talks seek to avert rail strike |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Last-ditch talks are being held in a bid to avert the first national rail strike since 1994, which could cause travel disruption over Easter. | |
| The RMT union and Network Rail are meeting at conciliation service Acas. | |
| Both signal workers and maintenance staff belonging to the RMT have voted in favour of walkouts in a row over job cuts and working conditions. | Both signal workers and maintenance staff belonging to the RMT have voted in favour of walkouts in a row over job cuts and working conditions. |
| Infrastructure operator Network Rail says most services would be cancelled if a strike was announced. | Infrastructure operator Network Rail says most services would be cancelled if a strike was announced. |
| After the meeting ends, the RMT National Executive will meet to hear from their negotiators and decide what to do. | |
| The union will then issue a statement at about 1630 GMT. It says options for action include a strike and an overtime ban. | |
| Network Rail said talks held on Wednesday had yielded "progress". | |
| Following negotiations with the company's secured lenders, it has today become clear that sufficient support will not be extended to the company to enable it to continue trading as a going concern Jarvis Jarvis to call in administrators | Following negotiations with the company's secured lenders, it has today become clear that sufficient support will not be extended to the company to enable it to continue trading as a going concern Jarvis Jarvis to call in administrators |
| A spokesman said: "Network Rail is committed to pursuing a negotiated settlement - our door is always open to further discussions." | |
| He added that the firm "will do everything it can to run trains to minimise disruption to passengers" in the event of a strike, adding that its contingency plans were at an "advanced stage". | He added that the firm "will do everything it can to run trains to minimise disruption to passengers" in the event of a strike, adding that its contingency plans were at an "advanced stage". |
| Negotiations over its plans to cut 1,500 maintenance jobs started this week and also involve the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, which also represents maintenance workers. | Negotiations over its plans to cut 1,500 maintenance jobs started this week and also involve the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, which also represents maintenance workers. |
| The RMT executive will meet after the discussions to decide the union's next move, but when talks were adjourned on Wednesday a spokesman said that a warning of action was premature. | The RMT executive will meet after the discussions to decide the union's next move, but when talks were adjourned on Wednesday a spokesman said that a warning of action was premature. |
| However, BBC transport correspondent Richard Scott said that, if no last-minute deal is reached, strike dates are expected to be announced. | However, BBC transport correspondent Richard Scott said that, if no last-minute deal is reached, strike dates are expected to be announced. |
| Network Rail manages the track and major stations and wants to change the way maintenance is carried out, doing more of the work at night and at weekends when the rails are less busy. | Network Rail manages the track and major stations and wants to change the way maintenance is carried out, doing more of the work at night and at weekends when the rails are less busy. |
| It has said 1,100 workers have already volunteered for redundancy and the "vast majority" of the cuts will be achieved without resorting to compulsory lay-offs. | It has said 1,100 workers have already volunteered for redundancy and the "vast majority" of the cuts will be achieved without resorting to compulsory lay-offs. |
| 'Assault on jobs' | 'Assault on jobs' |
| The RMT claims passenger safety is being put at risk, something which Network Rail denies. | The RMT claims passenger safety is being put at risk, something which Network Rail denies. |
| RMT general secretary Bob Crow said the ballot in favour of strikes demonstrated members' opposition to cuts and to "the assault on jobs and working conditions". | RMT general secretary Bob Crow said the ballot in favour of strikes demonstrated members' opposition to cuts and to "the assault on jobs and working conditions". |
| The talks come as rail maintenance company Jarvis announced that it will go into administration after lenders refused to offer the company further credit. | The talks come as rail maintenance company Jarvis announced that it will go into administration after lenders refused to offer the company further credit. |
| Jarvis said: "Following negotiations with the company's secured lenders, it has today become clear that sufficient support will not be extended to the company to enable it to continue trading as a going concern." | Jarvis said: "Following negotiations with the company's secured lenders, it has today become clear that sufficient support will not be extended to the company to enable it to continue trading as a going concern." |
| The company has seen big reductions in its business since the beginning of the recession in 2008. | The company has seen big reductions in its business since the beginning of the recession in 2008. |