KEEPUPTHE PRESSURE

major player in this disputethe Tory government - was absent, while the employer's side sought its authorisation on every offer it presented.

“But your negotiators and your NEC are not going to rush into a decision on these proposals or on the course of the negotiations.

“We are heading toward the 12-month mark in this dispute and, while we wish to see a satisfactory an outcome as soon as possible, we will not be hurried into a dispute resolution process without members having proper consideration of the detail and a good understanding of implications of entering into the proposed two-stage process.

“For these reasons, the reballot of all members at the train companies represented in this national dispute is going ahead and voting papers have been dispatched.

“In the meantime, it is important to remember that at the beginning of the dispute nothing was on offer and nothing was on the table for members working for TOCs.

“It has been through your actions and determination which has brought the employers round the table and that pressure must be kept up,” he said.