Central City News: Rail strike called off; CENTRAL TRAINS: Staff settle Xmas dispute.

Byline: By Gary Marks

CHRISTMAS travellers in the West Midlands may be spared train strikes during the festive period after a dispute over overtime was settled today.

Senior conductors at Central Trains had planned a walkout for three days over Christmas and the New Year in a row over overtime payments.

Now, according to the Birmingham train operator, the rail transport workers' union Aslef has agreed to an offer of double-time payments for work on holidays, with a guaranteed minimum payment of pounds 220 for its senior conductors.

Managing director Steve Banaghan said Aslef had accepted the offer initially made by Central Trains to its members.

"We have made the same offer of double payments to all our front line staff and have reached agreement with the unions representing the majority of staff, including today with Aslef.

"We have reached agreement with the unions representing train drivers and station and ticket office staff."

However, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has still not accepted the deal for running services on December 24, 31 and January 1, so there was still a question mark today over some service provision.

Mr Banaghan added: "Passengers will find it hard to understand why the senior conductor negotiators for the RMT appear to be so determined to disrupt their holiday travel plans, when other unions - and even the majority of Central Trains members in the RMT, their own union - have been happy to accept the offer of double time payments for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve."

He was "still looking at options" for services on the three RMT strike days.

CAPTION(S):

REPRIEVE... at New Street.