Suspension of planned industrial action

Industrial action on the railway planned by unions for this month has been suspended following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The RMT was due to stage walkouts on 15 and 17 September. General secretary Mick Lynch said: “RMT joins the whole nation in paying its respects to Queen Elizabeth.

“The planned railway strike action on 15 and 17 September is suspended. We express our deepest condolences to her family, friends and the country.” Members of train driver’s union ASLEF were due to walkout at 12 operators across the country on 15 September.

In a statement, the union said: “In the light of the sad news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, ASLEF has decided to postpone its industrial action on Thursday 15 September. We express our deepest condolences to her family, her friends, and the country.”

The transport & travel union (TSSA) had planned a nationwide walkout at nine train operators from midday on 26 September until midday on 27 September, whilst there was also planned to be separate action by Avanti West Coast staff on 15 and 17 September. However, the union has now suspended this.

In a statement it said: “Upon the news that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has died, TSSA union expresses deepest condolences to her family, friends, the country and those affected by her passing.

“TSSA is cancelling planned industrial action for September and will be respecting the period of public mourning. The union pays respect to Britain’s longest serving monarch.”

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said: “The whole railway family is united in sending our condolences to the Royal Family.

“We welcome the decision by the unions to call off next week’s strike action at a time of national mourning.”

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) also confirmed on 9 September that its annual Congress has been postponed following the death of the Queen. The event had been due to begin on 11 September, but a spokesperson confirmed it will be rescheduled.

The TUC spokesperson said: “The General Council sends our condolences to the King and the Royal Family on the death of the Queen and recognises her many years of dedicated service to the country.

“As a mark of respect, we have decided to postpone Congress 2022 until later this autumn.”

Following the Queen’s death, all planned strike action by postal workers on 9 September was cancelled. Communication Workers Union (CWU) general secretary Dave Ward said the strike was cancelled out of respect to the Queen’s service to the country and her family.

Photo credit: Rail Delivery Group

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