TWO STRIKES by signallers have been suspended so that further talks can take place.

RMT members at the West of Scotland signalling centre in Glasgow had been due to walk out for 24 hours from 06.00 this morning, and again on Friday, in a dispute over who should have preference when full-time 'residential' jobs became available at the centre.

Network Rail had said most trains would have continued to run, although some Strathclyde area services could have been disrupted.

The union said the practice for the past 30 years had been to appoint the current general purpose relief by default when residential vacancies arose, but Network Rail disagreed.

Further negotiations will now take place at the conciliation service Acas. Network Rail representatives and local union officials are also set to hold their own meeting next Monday.

In an RMT circular, the union's executive told its members: "Having reviewed the file we note correspondence from the Regional Organiser regarding his discussions with Acas.

"Having also conversed with Regional Organiser and the West of Scotland Signalling Centre Representatives regarding this matter, we instruct the General Secretary to suspend the current planned Strike Action to allow meaningful dialogue to take place which may resolve the current impasse.

"Further we note that a meeting is to take place between the local representatives and Network Rail to address this matter on 30 January. In view of the above we instruct the General Secretary to facilitate a meeting prior to 30 January with the lead officer GGC [General Grades Committee] and the West of Scotland Signalling Reps in attendance."

Network Rail continues to maintain that the practice of automatically appointing reliefs – or 'slotting' – has fallen into disuse, although it was commonplace before the railways were privatised in the mid-1990s.