UK

Rail strike suspended ahead of talks to resolve union recognition dispute

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at CrossCountry were due to walk out on Saturday.

A CrossCountry train near Basingstoke
A CrossCountry train near Basingstoke (Andrew Matthews/PA)

A planned strike by rail workers at CrossCountry has been suspended after progress over a union recognition dispute.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) were due to walk out on Saturday.

The union said the company has agreed to hold talks in a bid to resolve the row.

Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union general secretary Mick Lynch
Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union general secretary Mick Lynch (Belinda Jiao/PA)

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “With our members prepared to take strike action this weekend, CrossCountry management has seen the need to sit down with RMT to find a long-term resolution to this impasse.

“We have agreed to suspend strike action and take up this opportunity.

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“But our strike mandate remains in place, so we will name new strike dates if that becomes necessary.”

The dispute is separate to the long-running train drivers’ pay row at 16 train operators, including CrossCountry.