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Talks due over rail strike threat Rail strike threat talks starting
(about 11 hours later)
Talks between unions and employers aimed at averting a national rail strike are to get under way later. Talks between unions and employers aimed at averting a national rail strike are taking place in London.
The RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) are planning four days of action from 6 April.The RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) are planning four days of action from 6 April.
At the heart of the row are Network Rail plans to cut 1,500 jobs and increase evening and weekend work.At the heart of the row are Network Rail plans to cut 1,500 jobs and increase evening and weekend work.
The RMT plans to set out a proposed framework to resolve the dispute at the talks, which will be steered by the conciliation service, Acas.The RMT plans to set out a proposed framework to resolve the dispute at the talks, which will be steered by the conciliation service, Acas.
Network Rail says it will continue to try to find a resolution but has not ruled out legal action to try to prevent the strike. Network Rail has said it will continue to try to find a resolution but has not ruled out legal action to try to prevent the strike.
As far as we are concerned the talks will continue for as long as it takes Network Rail spokesman
If the walkout goes ahead, it would be the first national rail strike since 1994.If the walkout goes ahead, it would be the first national rail strike since 1994.
The discussions began at 1100 BST at an undisclosed location.
The talks are expected to continue until at least Tuesday before any announcement is made.
A Network Rail spokesman said: "As far as we are concerned the talks will continue for as long as it takes. We are committed to resolving the dispute by negotiation."
If no breakthrough is achieved, Network Rail says it will be issuing more details of contingency plans later in the week.
It is estimated that only one-in-five trains may run overall on some routes but on the commuter lines into London Victoria, Waterloo, Liverpool Street and London Bridge, only one-in-10 could be in operation.
Safety concernsSafety concerns
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Transport Secretary Lord Adonis have both urged the two sides to try to resolve the row.Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Transport Secretary Lord Adonis have both urged the two sides to try to resolve the row.
We are determined to secure a settlement which addresses all of the issues at the heart of our disputes with Network Rail Bob Crow, RMT general secretaryWe are determined to secure a settlement which addresses all of the issues at the heart of our disputes with Network Rail Bob Crow, RMT general secretary
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "We go into the talks in a positive frame of mind and committed to reaching an agreement which protects safety-critical jobs, safe working practices and which delivers a secure future for both our members and the travelling public the length and breadth of the UK rail network.RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "We go into the talks in a positive frame of mind and committed to reaching an agreement which protects safety-critical jobs, safe working practices and which delivers a secure future for both our members and the travelling public the length and breadth of the UK rail network.
"We are determined to secure a settlement which addresses all of the issues at the heart of our disputes with Network Rail.""We are determined to secure a settlement which addresses all of the issues at the heart of our disputes with Network Rail."
TSSA supervisors and RMT maintenance workers are set to walk out from 6 to 9 April, while RMT signal staff will strike from 0600-1000 and 1800-2200 on those days.TSSA supervisors and RMT maintenance workers are set to walk out from 6 to 9 April, while RMT signal staff will strike from 0600-1000 and 1800-2200 on those days.
The strike was announced on Thursday after a meeting between Network Rail and the RMT and TSSA failed to reach agreement.The strike was announced on Thursday after a meeting between Network Rail and the RMT and TSSA failed to reach agreement.
Network Rail has said it hopes to achieve the vast majority of the 1,500 job losses through voluntary redundancy.Network Rail has said it hopes to achieve the vast majority of the 1,500 job losses through voluntary redundancy.
Unions say their plans would adversely affect railway safety - a claim disputed by Network Rail.Unions say their plans would adversely affect railway safety - a claim disputed by Network Rail.
There were fears that the strike would be called over Easter, but the unions said they deliberately avoided this in order not to disrupt the public over the bank holiday. There were fears the strike would be called over Easter, but the unions said they deliberately avoided this in order not to disrupt the public over the bank holiday.
However, the start of the strike coincides with the day on which Mr Brown is widely expected to announce the date of the general election.However, the start of the strike coincides with the day on which Mr Brown is widely expected to announce the date of the general election.