TfL London Overground strikes cancelled after improved pay offer

London Overground workers have suspended their strike next week after receiving an improved pay offer, the RMT union has announced.

More than 300 security, station, revenue and control staff working for Arriva Rail London were due to walk out for 48 hours on February 19 and again on March 4 but the action has been called off.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "London Overground members working for Arriva Rail London have made progress through their determination to take strike action.

"The dispute is not over but we have made sufficient progress to suspend the action next week in order for our members to assess the new offer fully in a referendum.”

An e-referendum on the new improved offer will begin next week.

Steve Best, managing director at Arriva Rail London, said: “We are pleased that RMT union has suspended industrial action planned for Monday 19 and Tuesday February 20. This is a positive step for our employees and London Overground customers, who will no longer face disrupted services next week.

“We continue to work with the RMT to resolve this dispute and are pleased at the progress we have made so far. We hope that together we can reach an agreement which delivers a fair pay award and long-term job security for our employees, as well as ensuring a financially sustainable future for ARL and our railway.”

Separately the train drivers' union has announced a fresh strike and an overtime ban hitting travellers using King's Cross.

ASLEF (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) members at LNER will walk out on Friday March 1. An overtime ban will be enforced on Thursday February 29 and Saturday March 2.

The union says the strike follows "a failure by the company to adhere to existing agreements" around rostering.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, said: "We are fed up to the back teeth with the bad faith shown, day after day, week after week, and month after month by these two companies.

"We always stick to agreements which we make. These companies think they can break agreements, which they freely enter into, whenever it suits them. And they're wrong. This is a shot across their bows and a sign of things to come.

"They need to stop what they are doing, start to behave properly and honourably, because their drivers, our members, are no longer prepared to be treated like this." An LNER spokesperson said: "Our priority focus remains on minimising disruption to customers during ASLEF strikes, which sadly will continue to cause disruption and delays. We encourage ASLEF to continue to work with us to find a way to end this long running dispute which only damages the rail industry."

ASLEF members working for Northern are taking industrial action on the same days.