NorthLink ferry strike action suspended

Shipping union RMT confirmed on Sunday that it has suspended a programme of strike action on Northern Isles ferry routes after progress in discussions with Serco NorthLink, and as a gesture of good will to island communities.

General secretary Bob Crow said: “Our members support in this campaign was clearly demonstrated on Friday by the stoppage on the NorthLink ships. However, we have kept a dialogue going with the company and our members are also conscious of the effect that the action is having on island communities and in particular at this time of the year.

“We have now been able to make significant progress in discussions with Serco. We have asked the company for a number of assurances which have been met and in effort to make progress and as a gesture of goodwill to the island communities we have agreed to a suspension of all action; to allow further discussions to take place. If we can’t make sufficient progress in those talks we will have no hesitation in issuing notice of our intent to take action again immediately.”