RMT has announced that it has secured an important breakthrough as members from Greater Anglia have voted in favour of a deal that underpins the Guard Guarantee.
This is an important breakthrough in the long-running campaign over rail safety.
Members on Greater Anglia voted by 9 to 1 in a turnout of 80% to accept the new offer which calls a halt in the extension of Driver Only Operation (DOO).
RMT has hailed the strength of its members through 12 days of strike action over a year.
The union says that the agreement shows what can be agreed through negotiations. It has now turned the spotlight to South Western Railway which will see eight days of strike action in support of the guard guarantee, which is due to start next Thursday.
What did the officials say?
RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said:
“I want to pay tribute to RMT members on Greater Anglia who's long and determined struggle over the core issue of a railway that's safe, secure and accessible for all has been the foundation of the agreement that they have approved in the referendum ballot today. It is the resilience of RMT members over almost a year that has secured the guard guarantee on Greater Anglia trains that we have been seeking. They are a credit to the entire trade union movement.
“The spotlight now shifts to South Western Railway where RMT members are preparing to begin a programme of eight days of strike action from next Thursday. If we can reach a negotiated settlement on Greater Anglia that has safety, security and access its core then there is no reason why we can't achieve the same on SWR if the company are prepared to get down to business.
“The Greater Anglia agreement comes after similar deals have been done, including negotiated settlements across Scotland and Wales, that have the Guard Guarantee at their core. We now need to roll that principle out to the train companies where we remain in dispute and deliver the kind of safe, secure and accessible railway for all that the travelling public rightly demand.”
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So the strikes have been called off then?