Train managers on Britain’s biggest intercity service, Avanti West Coast, have settled a dispute over rest-day working, ending a series of weekend strikes.
The RMT union said 87% of its members had voted to accept a deal including additional pay for working weekends and an agreement on the allocation of staffing for extra shifts.
The union had started five months of Sunday strikes in January, disrupting a long-distance route linking London to cities including Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow. Walkouts were suspended for the duration of the talks.
Eddie Dempsey, who was confirmed last week as the successor to Mick Lynch as RMT general secretary, said: “Our members have stood firm, taking significant industrial action, and have won a deal that delivers real improvements to pay and working conditions.
“This result shows through a strong industrial campaign and robust negotiation we can and do win improvements at work for our members.”
Train managers will earn time and a half for Sundays and a minimum seven-hour shift.
Avanti services have been significantly disrupted for several years by staffing issues and a breakdown in industrial relations that came on top of a national pay dispute.
The operator, a joint venture between FirstGroup and Trenitalia, ran a limited Sunday service during the strikes but warned passengers to expect disruption and to travel on other dates if possible.
An Avanti spokesperson said: “We’ve worked together to find a resolution that is right for our train managers as well as the company and are now looking forward to continuing to grow our business.
“This is a significant step in the right direction providing certainty for both colleagues and customers, as we head into what is traditionally one of our busier periods as leisure travel increases during the spring and summer.”
