Rail strike set for Monday suspended

Published: 6:29 PM March 26, 2009

Updated: 7:59 PM November 3, 2020

A 24-HOUR rail strike which looked set to cause commuter chaos on Monday has been suspended. The news emerged today (Thursday) following

A 24-HOUR rail strike which looked set to cause commuter chaos on Monday has been suspended.

The news emerged today (Thursday) following talks between the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) and train company First Capital Connect (FCC), which runs train services in Times Territory.

Earlier this month, RMT members had voted to go on strike amid fears of job cuts after FCC announced plans to cut ticket office hours at a number of its stations, including WGC, Cuffley and Welwyn North.

But in a statement issued this evening, RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "We have been in intensive talks today with FCC and significant progress has been made - not least that there have been no compulsory redundancies.

"There is no doubt that the determination of RMT members and their decisive votes for strike action have played a major role in the progress we have made."

He added: "FCC has modified proposals on booking office closures, including a reduction in the number of staff to be displaced, and a commitment that all displaced booking office staff will be retained.