This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32832191
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| TSSA rail union calls off national bank holiday strike | TSSA rail union calls off national bank holiday strike |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| One of two rail unions planning bank holiday industrial action has called off its strike after receiving a new pay offer from Network Rail. | One of two rail unions planning bank holiday industrial action has called off its strike after receiving a new pay offer from Network Rail. |
| The TSSA, along with the RMT, had rejected a four-year pay deal of a £500 increase followed by three years of rises in line with RPI inflation. | The TSSA, along with the RMT, had rejected a four-year pay deal of a £500 increase followed by three years of rises in line with RPI inflation. |
| The RMT has more than five times as many members as the TSSA so a strike by them would still have a major impact. | The RMT has more than five times as many members as the TSSA so a strike by them would still have a major impact. |
| Many train services have already been cancelled for Monday and Tuesday. | Many train services have already been cancelled for Monday and Tuesday. |
| Negotiators from the TSSA and RMT have been locked in talks at conciliation service Acas over the past four days. | Negotiators from the TSSA and RMT have been locked in talks at conciliation service Acas over the past four days. |
| Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the TSSA, said: "Our negotiating team at Acas has received a revised offer from Network Rail. | Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the TSSA, said: "Our negotiating team at Acas has received a revised offer from Network Rail. |
| "As a result of this, they have suspended the planned industrial action, pending the outcome of a meeting of our workplace representatives next week." | "As a result of this, they have suspended the planned industrial action, pending the outcome of a meeting of our workplace representatives next week." |
| Members of the two unions were due to walk out for 24 hours from 17:00 BST on Monday. | Members of the two unions were due to walk out for 24 hours from 17:00 BST on Monday. |
| Travel chaos warning | |
| It is not yet clear how the TSSA's decision might affect the RMT's action. | It is not yet clear how the TSSA's decision might affect the RMT's action. |
| Rail passengers have been advised to expected travel chaos and not to travel if a strike by thousands of signallers, maintenance staff and station workers goes ahead. | Rail passengers have been advised to expected travel chaos and not to travel if a strike by thousands of signallers, maintenance staff and station workers goes ahead. |
| Earlier, Virgin trains cancelled all West Coast mainline services on Monday and Tuesday and warned that the East Coast line would also be badly affected. | Earlier, Virgin trains cancelled all West Coast mainline services on Monday and Tuesday and warned that the East Coast line would also be badly affected. |
| However, it has said it would hope to run a "near normal" service if the strike was called off with enough notice. | |
| Widespread cancellations were also expected on CrossCountry Trains, Chiltern Railways, Arriva Trains Wales, Southeastern and South West Trains. | Widespread cancellations were also expected on CrossCountry Trains, Chiltern Railways, Arriva Trains Wales, Southeastern and South West Trains. |
| Rail companies said further disruption and delays were likely on Wednesday, as services returned to normal. | Rail companies said further disruption and delays were likely on Wednesday, as services returned to normal. |
| 'Welcome news' | |
| Network Rail had been due to mount a legal challenge in the High Court against the TSSA's strike ballot. | |
| A Network Rail spokesman said: "The TSSA has announced it is suspending its planned industrial action planned for next week. | |
| "We welcome this news and the constructive discussions that we've been having since Monday with all our trade unions to avert a strike and reach an amicable solution." | |
| Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said he welcomed the TSSA's decision and expressed the hope that agreement could be reached with the RMT. | |
| An Acas spokesman said: "Talks at Acas adjourned at lunchtime today after a new set of proposals were tabled by Network Rail. | |
| "RMT, TSSA and Unite will be considering their response to these proposals." | |
| Extra buses | |
| If an RMT strike goes ahead, fans of Middlesbrough and Norwich City football clubs may have trouble travelling to Wembley for the Championship play-off final at 15:00 BST on Monday. | |
| In Liverpool, thousands of people attending the Three Queens event - a gathering of the world's largest cruise ships - may struggle to get home. | |
| London Underground staff are not striking but lines that rely on Network Rail signals, including the Bakerloo, District, Waterloo and City and London Overground, would be affected. | |
| London's Tubes and trams are expected to be busier than usual. Transport for London said 100 additional bus services would be laid on, mainly in south London. | |
| The RAC warned that the roads could see big jams if people decided if people switched from road to rail. | |
| Highways England has suspended many roadworks on motorways and major A-roads. |