04.05.16
Southern conductor strike postponed until 20 May
Strikes by Southern conductors over the introduction of driver-operated only (DOO) trains have been postponed until 20 May.
Talks between RMT and Southern to try to resolve the dispute following an initial strike fell apart last week.
However, RMT announced today that it is now instructing members to strike for 24 hours on 20 May, instead of on 12 and 13 May as originally scheduled.
Mick Cash, RMT’s general secretary, said: “Southern GTR fleeces its passengers for a fortune in fares for unreliable and overcrowded services and RMT will not allow safety to be the next thing sacrificed in the dash for fatter and fatter profits on this rail franchise.”
The strikes on 26 April led to 700 trains being cancelled.
RMT also said they are seeking legal advice over some of Southern’s tactics in the dispute, which they say could amount to bullying and victimisation of union members.
A spokesperson for Southern said that the company thought RMT had changed their position because members had objected to losing out on three days of pay in the same pay period and added that the strikes were “totally unnecessary”.
They said: “We hope this additional time will offer the RMT the opportunity to pause and reflect on the impact their action is having on people and engage in meaningful discussions with us.”
Southern’s parent company GTR had to obtain an injunction to stop similar strikes by Aslef on the Gatwick Express route.
RMT are also balloting members on the London Underground due to differences between the contracts offered by London Underground and Tube Lines for working on the new Night Tube.
(Image c. Dominic Lipinski from PA Wire)
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