Train strike cancelled

The Rail Maritime and Transport union has called off its planned 24-hour train strike scheduled for next Tuesday after Network Rail tabled a better deal. However next week's planned stopages on the Tube are still going ahead.

The offer was made during face-to-face talks between Network Rail chief executive John Armitt and RMT leader Bob Crow.

The union's executive agreed to suspend the 24-hour walkout, which was due to start at 6.30pm next Tuesday, to allow workers to vote in a fresh ballot with a recommendation to accept the deal.

Mr Crow said Network Rail had offered to reopen its final salary pension scheme to new employees after they have completed five years service, including any time they have completed with a sub-contractor before transferring to NR.

"Employees with less than five years service would meanwhile join a money purchase scheme but would be able to transfer into the final salary scheme upon completion of five years service," he said.

Mr Crow paid tribute to Mr Armitt for taking personal control of the negotiations and hoped this would be the start of a number of changes of attitude by companies following a flood of final salary pension scheme closures over the past year.

"We are very happy. We had been told we were living in a dream world and that we had no chance of getting this scheme reopened.

Mr Crow said Network Rail had offered to reopen its final salary pension scheme to new employees after they have completed five years service, including any time they have completed with a sub-contractor before transferring to NR.

"Employees with less than five years service would meanwhile join a money purchase scheme but would be able to transfer into the final salary scheme upon completion of five years service," he said.

Mr Crow paid tribute to Mr Armitt for taking personal control of the negotiations and hoped this would be the start of a number of changes of attitude by companies following a flood of final salary pension scheme closures over the past year.

"We are very happy. We had been told we were living in a dream world and that we had no chance of getting this scheme reopened.