RMT suspends Alstom strikes to ‘escalate pay battle’

The RMT has called off strikes which had been under way at two Alstom maintenance sites in north west England – but only for now. The sites affected are Longsight in Manchester, where Alstom maintains Avanti West Coast Pendolinos, and Chester, which takes care of the Class 175 fleet used in north Wales. The union has warned that it will return to its ‘pay battle’ in the New Year, and in the meantime a ban on rest day and overtime working will continue.