At the beginning of this month I informed Network Rail that should they not revise their policy on the mandatory wearing of hard hats and withdraw the 1st September deadline, the union would be in dispute and a ballot would be conducted for industrial action. Following a meeting of the Chairs and Secretaries of the former IMC Company Councils, it was decided by the GGC that a ballot should be conducted of our members for action short of strike action.

I am pleased to be able to advise you that as a result of the position taken by the union and your reps, Network Rail agreed to a further meeting and the company have now withdrawn the deadline in order to allow sufficient time for proper consultation and exploration of alternatives.

This new position has been placed before the GGC and the following decision reached:

"The General Secretary is instructed to seek further discussions with the company. Pending the outcome of these discussions we suspend the ballot for action short of a strike".

I would like to re-emphasise the position of the union on this matter. We are not opposed to the wearing of hard hats per se, but we do insist on the introduction of a common sense policy based on actual risk.