LONDON — A wire service reports that a union on Thursday called off a series of 48-hour strikes against a northern train network after accepting a package that included a pay increase and reduced working hours.
Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union at First North Western had planned to walk out three times this month, but union officials said the industrial action was halted after workers voted to accept a 3.5 percent pay increase and a working week that is two hours shorter.
“We are pleased that after intensive talks the company had agreed to bring forward the introduction of a 35-hour week, and our company council had unanimously recommended that the revised offer be accepted,” said Bob Crow, the union’s general secretary.
Earlier in the dispute, workers at First North Western, which runs local trains across northwest England, had walked out several times.