Progress made in rail strike talks (From Witney Gazette)

Progress made in rail strike talks

6:24pm Saturday 12th January 2008 in Headlines By William Crossley

HOPES are rising that a strike by guards working for Oxfordshire rail operator First Great Western can be averted.

After talks yesterday between FGW managers and officials from the RMT union, which represents the 500 guards, the union negotiators recommended the suspension of the strike, due to take place on Sunday, January 20, and Monday, January 21.

In a statement, FGW's chief operating officer Andrew Haines said there had been constructive discussions and that "significant progress" had been made.

He added: "First Great Western has given the RMT negotiating team the commitment they were seeking, particularly in relation to managers working trains. As a result, further talks have been agreed for next week to discuss the other issues in dispute."

The RMT's executive committee will have to decide whether to accept the recommendation to suspend the strike, which was called after a ballot over what the union described as "a total breakdown in industrial relations" with the rail firm.

Train drivers at FGW who are members of the Aslef union have also voted in favour of strikes, but Aslef has decided against setting a date for industrial action by its 800 members for the time being, because of progress made in negotiations, which are due to resume on Tuesday.

'Further talks have been agreed for next week to discuss the other issues in dispute"'

Andrew Haines, First Great Western

FGW runs the majority of the county's rail services, including the Oxford to London main line, the Cotswold Line through west Oxfordshire and express services to the West of England and South Wales, via Didcot.