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Rail unions on Friday called off a wave of strike action amid mounting speculation that staff could be offered double-digit pay rises and be allowed to continue “outdated” working practices.
The RMT union abandoned planned walkouts on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday after Network Rail U-turned on plans to force through reforms to the working conditions of maintenance staff.
It is thought a deal on pay could be announced in the coming days. Management previously offered Network Rail staff a rise of 8 per cent over the next two years, which was rejected as too low.
Mick Lynch, the union’s general secretary, has previously said he wanted a rise at least equal to inflation, which is currently running at 10.1 per cent. Neither side would comment on the amount of money on the table.