SWT staff rebel against leaders

Two thousand South West Trains staff today voted with their wallets and reported for work in a stinging defeat for hard-Left union activists.

The four-day strike, which was to have begun at noon, was called off after the Stagecoachowned company made clear it would not give another penny in the battle over pay.

Faced with a growing rebellion among workers who have lost up to £400 each because of the three 48-hour strikes which have already taken place, the RMT was forced to back down and "suspend" the strikes. Andrew Haines, SWT managing director, made clear the company "has not moved its position" and had refused union demands to increase the 7.6 per cent rise already being paid in stages.

Hours before the strikes were called off, Stagecoach chairman Brian Souter, 47, said: "If we give in now it will just happen again year after year. We did not seek this dispute and we do not welcome it. But now that it is happening we will sort it out this year once and for all."

Meetings will now take place over the next few days with RMT seeking to find a face-saving deal.