10.11.16
Southern to face legal action by RMT over decision to withhold holiday pay
Southern is likely to face legal action over its decision to withhold holiday pay from workers involved in its dispute with RMT over its proposals to expand driver-only operated (DOO) services.
RMT has told the company that it has received legal advice which stated that withholding backdated holiday pay is against the law, with the union’s general secretary Mick Cash confirming that there may be a case for Southern to answer.
The dispute has seen a long campaign of industrial action taken by RMT with its next series of strikes due to take place on 22-23 November. There are also strikes planned over the festive period before Christmas and over New Year, leading to criticisms that the RMT is attempting to ‘cancel Christmas’.
A Southern spokesman defended the company’s decision to withhold pay, saying: “These strikes have caused misery and hardship to people’s work and family lives. We feel we cannot make these payments to conductors who are currently taking industrial action.”
“The fact they have taken strike action makes the calculation of what is owed more complicated. We plan to pay them once the industrial action is over.”
RMT argues that Southern’s DOO operating system, where only the driver has the ability to open the train’s doors, would threaten the jobs of train conductors and passenger safety.
Despite this Southern has pushed ahead in implementing DOO as planned, saying it has been found to be safe by the Rail Safety and Standards Board and that no jobs will be lost.
Attempts to end the dispute failed back in October when RMT rejected Southern’s eight-point plan offer which included a promise to have a second staff member on as many trains as possible.
(Image: RMT. Nick Ansell PA Wire)
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