The date of next week’s rescheduled Southern train strike has again been switched from Friday to Wednesday.
A bitter war of words between the RMT union, whose members are walking out in protest at plans to change the focus of conductor’s role from safety to customer service and ticket enforcement, and GTR, which runs Southern rail services.
The RMT continues to accuse the rail company of intimidation and aggression – and GTR has hit back saying the union’s move is cynical and will badly affect passengers.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash told members: “We are challenging Southern over a number of issues, not least the amount of pay they are taking from members’ pay packets, the withdrawal of travel passes and car parking facilities. These matters are still being pursued with our legal team and I will advise you of developments.
“You will have received a letter from the company today, again worded in a very aggressive and frightening manner, trying to force you to move to the on-board supervisor’s role.”
A spokesman for GTR said: “This is clearly a cynical ploy by RMT leadership to maximise the disruption their action will have on passengers by moving the strike, with the bare minimum of notice the law requires, from a Friday, when fewer people traditionally travel, to midweek.
“This action is completely unnecessary; there’s a job for everyone who wants one and no-one will have a cut in salary. The only difference is that conductors will no longer close a train’s doors.
“We totally refute the RMT’s groundless allegations. The refusal of the RMT union to negotiate has left us with no option but to press on with our plans to evolve the role of the conductor on many of our services.”
The RMT union first changed the date last week, from Tuesday and Thursday this week to Friday next week – but it has now been brought forward two days.
