A set of planned strikes on Virgin East Coast train services due to start this week has been suspended, it has emerged.
Members of the RMT union were due to stage three 24-hour strikes on 19, 26 and 29 August and ban overtime for 48 hours from 27 August in a row over job cuts, working conditions and safety.
David Horne, Virgin Trains’ managing director on the route, said: ‘We’re pleased that the RMT has agreed to suspend industrial action and continue talks. We had put in place detailed contingency plans which would have seen our timetable run as normal, nevertheless this news will be welcomed by our customers and people.
‘We want a service that focuses firmly on the customer and look forward to discussing these further with representatives of the RMT.’
The RMT told the BBC that the suspension ‘does not mean the dispute has been completely resolved’.
The union has claimed that nearly 200 jobs across the franchise are threatened by cuts, and made accusations that the proposed staffing changes came about because the franchise was losing money.
Previously Virgin would not comment on the financial status of the line but did pledge there would be no compulsory redundancies.’
Transport Network has approached RMT for comment.
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