24.02.17
RMT calls for urgent talks with Southern to end guards dispute
Rail union RMT has called for urgent talks to be resumed with Southern in a bid to bring its long running dispute about guards on trains to an end after months of the bitter feud.
The news comes as RMT executives prepare to meet next Tuesday 28 February to consider the future of the dispute, with a view to even more strike action by their members being anticipated.
The union’s call for further talks came in a letter penned to Charles Horton, chief executive of Southern’s parent company Govia Thameslink (GTR), this morning that stressed the importance of coming to an agreement to avoid further disruption to services caused by strike action.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “We are seeking clarification on what emerged from the recent discussions Southern had during the TUC meetings and the outcome reached as we have been informed this was misrepresented to us at Acas talks last week.
“RMT continues to seek a guarantee on a second safety critical member of staff – something our members have been fighting for nearly a year on. Passengers rightly demand and deserve a safe, reliable and accessible service.”
The dispute first came about due to Southern’s proposed plans to move to driver-only operated trains, which would not require a guard to open and close carriage doors, but would instead make this the driver’s responsibility.
RMT argues that this would compromise safety on trains for both driver and passenger.
Last week, talks between the operator and the union broke down as the RMT described Southern as “pig-headed” in their approach to the dispute.
Commenting on this week's strike action and the letter sent by RMT, a Southern spokesperson, said: "We ran nearly 9 in 10 train services during the RMT strike two days ago and over half (54%) of our on board supervisors (OBS) and conductor staff reported for work on the day too.
"The RMT leadership should recognise these facts and that our passengers are noticing that the RMT's action against them is increasingly impotent and ineffective. The union should now bring their saga of strikes to an end. We are reviewing their letter and our response to it".
The union staged a 24-hour strike this week on Southern services, causing major disruption on services around London and the south east. Fellow union Aslef also voted to reject a resolution with Southern last week despite having reached a truce with the rail operator at the start of February.
(Top image c. Nick Ansell, PA Wire)
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