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Rail strike threat talks starting Rail strike threat talks commence
(about 2 hours later)
Talks between unions and employers aimed at averting a national rail strike are taking place in London.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, which could hit 80% of services on average.
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 framework to resolve its concerns at the talks steered by conciliation service Acas.
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."
The talks are expected to continue until at least Tuesday before any announcement is made.
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.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 People need to be aware that if this strike goes ahead, a lot of services will be severely hit Robin Gisby, Network Rail
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. Robin Gisby, NR's director of operations and customer services, said: "We believe there is a settlement to be had.
The talks are expected to continue until at least Tuesday before any announcement is made. "We can't bank on the union to call off the strike, despite ongoing talks, and so we are now concluding our contingency plans with full details available later this week.
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." "Network Rail and the operators will do all we can to run as many trains as possible but people need to be aware that if this strike goes ahead, a lot of services will be severely hit."
If no breakthrough is achieved, Network Rail says it will be issuing more details of contingency plans later in the week. In a statement, the company added: "As an average across the country, only around 20% of passenger services are expected to run.
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. "Passengers should check with individual operators for more detail as this overall picture masks some routes and operators who will be able to run a near normal service between 7am and 7pm on the days of the strike."
It is estimated that the worst hit routes could be the commuter lines into London Victoria, Waterloo, Liverpool Street and London Bridge, where only one-in-10 trains 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 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.
"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.
Mr Crow said the RMT was determined to see its concerns addressed
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 the plans would adversely affect railway safety - a claim disputed by Network Rail.
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.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.