Following a meeting held today between Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor for the Liverpool City Region and the RMT union, both parties have issued this joint statement:

The meeting was scheduled to enable an update on the ACAS process to date from the RMT’s perspective and we discussed the next phase of the negotiations. Today’s discussions have been positive and constructive and we have made good progress in agreeing a roadmap for further discussions and meetings as we work towards a mutually agreeable solution to the dispute.

All parties are agreed that, whilst these further discussions take place, we will maintain the confidentiality agreed at ACAS until we have agreed further public statements.