Unions suspend strikes on VTEC and Eurostar

Industrial action planned by RMT members on Virgin Trains East Coast and Eurostar has been suspended, following progress in talks.

VTEC staff had planned walkouts on August 19/20, 26/27 and 29/30, with an overtime ban over the Bank Holiday weekend on August 27-29 ( RAIL 807). But on August 16 the action was suspended following what the trades union called “significant progress”.

The RMT warned that while the dispute had not been completely resolved, the breakthrough allowed representatives to continue talks and to extend the deadline for taking industrial action to a further 28 days.

Welcoming the suspension, VTEC said it had repeated its reassurances of no compulsory redundancies. Managing Director David Horne 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.”

On Eurostar, a dispute over the work/life balance of train managers led to planned strikes from August 12-15 and August 27-29. The RMT halted action to allow “further detailed negotiations after some progress in talks this morning [August 12]”, although it said the dispute remained live.

The TSSA, whose Eurostar members were due to strike on August 14/15 and 28/29, also suspended action with General Secretary Manuel Cortes saying an agreement in principle had been reached that the union believed would secure a better work/life balance for its members. The action was suspended on August 12.

Changes made to Eurostar services to cater for the strike action on August 12-15 were not reinstated, as passengers had all been reallocated to alternate services.