Strikes planned by workers at two rail companies over job losses have been called off following progress in peace talks, it was announced tonight.Around 1,500 workers at First Capital Connect and National Express East Anglia had been due to walk out for 24 hours next Monday.
Strikes planned by workers at two rail companies over job losses have been called off following progress in peace talks, it was announced tonight.
Around 1,500 workers at First Capital Connect and National Express East Anglia had been due to walk out for 24 hours next Monday.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) said tonight that it had suspended the industrial action after 'significant progress' was made during negotiations with the two companies.
Last week, workers at National Express East Anglia, which runs various local routes and Norwich to London Liverpool Street, Peterborough and Cambridge, voted 2-1 in favour of a strike.
Union members at First Capital Connect, which runs services between King's Lynn and King's Cross, voted by more than 3-1 for industrial action in a separate dispute over ticket office opening hours.
Both train companies had pledged to keep disruption to a minimum should the strikes go ahead.
General secretary Bob Crow said: "First Capital Connect has modified proposals on booking office closures including a reduction in the number of staff to be displaced and a commitment that staff will be retained.
"At National Express East Anglia there has also been significant progress in discussions on reducing the use of agencies and contract labour.'
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