A series of rail strikes have been suspended at the last minute as the RMT union goes into "a period of intensive negotiations" with Network Rail and rail companies.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The threat of strike action and our strongly supported industrial campaign has made the rail employers see sense.”
However, there is still a chance the union will decide on a new mandate to strike, with the results of members’ votes due to be announced on November 15.
Lynch said: “Our re-ballot remains live and, if we have to take strike action during the next six months to secure a deal, we will.”
The late notice to suspend strike action means there will still be disruption to rail services on Saturday (November 5). A separate TfL strike is still set to go ahead on Thursday, November 10, affecting Tube and Overground services until Friday morning.
Earlier, Richard Burge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told the Standard that businesses are “hugely frustrated” and warned that many “are already fighting for survival in a torrid economic climate”.
What do you think about the rail strikes? Let us know in the comments below or on our Instagram for the chance to be featured on the ES website.
Yesterday we asked: Will you celebrate the removal of Bounty from Celebrations tubs?
On Twitter, @jdwanderlust replied “No, no, no!” while on Instagram a number of users came to the coconut chocolate’s defence and demanded “Justice for Bounty”.
sayathousandwords shared a distraught reaction: “Son’s crying now, cheers”
eastldnvegan showed solidarity too: “I’m vegan and I’m still mad about this”
nikitus believed this is the end of the line: “What?! Well then, guess I am never buying Celebrations anymore”. However, they should note Bounty has only been removed from limited-edition tubs.
Out of the other Celebrations chocolates, Milky Way picked up most mentions as being the new worst in the selection box.