The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union has suspended all industrial action for Network Rail workers after receiving a new pay offer. In a statement on Tuesday, the union said: "The RMT National Executive Committee has taken the decision to suspend all industrial action on Network Rail following receipt of a new offer from the employer.
"Further updates will be given on all aspects of the national rail dispute in the coming days." Members of the RMT have been taking part in walkouts for months in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
In February, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the union will take "sustained and targeted industrial action over the next few months" as employers are "not being given a fresh mandate by the Government" to offer a new deal. Union members working at Network Rail were due to strike this month.
Staff were due to walk out across 14 train operators on March 16, 18 and 20, and April 1. The Union which represents 40,000 workers had accused employers of refusing to put any new offers on the table.
Members rejected a previous offer which included a 5% pay rise, backdated to January 2022 and a 4% hike for 2023 but was conditional on accepting conditions viewed as unfavourable. The union said that the conditions would mean reductions in maintenance tasks which would make the railways less safe.
The deal would have also meant the closure of all ticket offices at the cost of thousands of jobs. It is unclear what the new offer contains but strikes will be suspended until union members can vote on the revised plan.
Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said: "We are relieved for our people, passengers and freight customers that industrial action in Network Rail has now been suspended. We look forward to further information on plans for a referendum."
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