Cumbernauld strike suspended

Strike action at Scotland's Cumbernauld Theatre has been suspended following agreement to hold talks at ACAS.

The strike on Friday 24 August was suspended minutes beforehand, after ACAS had been in touch with theatre management and the union the week beforehand offering conciliation talks in an effort to resolve the dispute.

Friday's strike, the first in a series, was to be held in protest at planned job and pay cuts.

However a letter was received by BECTU shortly before the start of the stoppage at 1700 which allowed it to advise pickets, and local residents supporting theatre staff, that the strike was to be suspended.

BECTU Scottish Organiser Paul McManus refused to get too optimistic over this development saying: "Management have told us that they are keen to meet with us to find a constructive way through the dispute but there is a long way to go yet.

"Both sides must now deliver on promises to compromise in order to end this dispute.

"Staff's willingness to take strike action has given us an opening which we must make every effort to fully utilise to get an agreement here".

The Cumbernauld Theatre board meet this Thursday to ratify the decision to meet at ACAS.

ACAS talks are scheduled for 4 September but in the meantime BECTU retains the strike days planned for 6 and 21 September.