Southern: Further strikes possible after talks break down in bitter deadlock

Commuter fury: The union dispute is one of a string of problems facing Southern, which has also seen protests over performance from passengers in recent weeks
Nigel Howard
Sebastian Mann15 August 2016

Talks have broken down in a bitter dispute over the role of train guards on Southern Railway services.

The RMT union, which staged three days of strikes last week, claimed Southern bosses rejected a proposal that would have “protected the safety of passengers”.

But Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the train firm’s parent company, said the union themselves had rejected an “incredibly good offer”.

Talks aimed at breaking a deadlock in the dispute – which centres on plans to make opening and closing doors the responsibility of drivers instead of guards - collapsed at conciliation service Acas on Monday morning.

The RMT is now considering its next move and a decision is expected this afternoon. Strike action is a possibility.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "We had a golden opportunity in these talks to make some serious progress on the core issue of a second person on the train who would have protected the safety of passengers, delivered customer service and ensured access to services for those with disabilities or needing assistance.

"It's a bitter blow that a firm set of union proposals that could have allowed us to move forward were rejected out of hand. The matter will be discussed by the union executive this afternoon."

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the parent company of Southern, vowed to press ahead with its modernisation plans after an agreement could not be reached.

Angie Doll, the firm's passenger services director, said: "We have been talking to the union for nine months now and, despite several visits to Acas, the union won't agree a deal.

"Passengers will be rightly exasperated that the RMT won't agree to what most fair-minded people would believe is an incredibly good offer.

"We are guaranteeing jobs, pay and a second person on as many trains as we do today and also offered to work with the RMT to agree modern working practices to reduce cancellations and passenger disruption."

She added that drivers have safely operated train doors on services across Britain "day in, day out for decades", and claimed that this dispute is "purely about union power and control".

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