Staff working for Southern are to strike again in their long-running dispute with the train company.
The RMT union said that it was calling “further strike action on Southern Rail in Britain’s longest-running industrial dispute”.
The union said: “Guards and driver members on Southern Rail will take further strike action in the ongoing dispute in defence of the role of the guard, the extension of DOO (driver-only operation) and the guarantee of a second safety-critical member of staff on Southern services.
“The RMT’s NEC (National Executive Committee) has considered this matter again today and due to the failure of both the government and GTR (Govia Thameslink Railway – Southern’s parent company) to make any serious efforts to resolve the dispute it has instructed Southern guards and driver members not to book on for any shifts that commence between 12.01am and 11.59pm on Monday 12 March 2018.”
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT is bitterly disappointed that Southern Rail and the DfT (Department for Transport) continue to reject our call for round-table discussions involving all parties with an interest in resolving this dispute.
“RMT pays tribute to our Southern Rail guards and drivers who have stood firm for nearly two years now in the fight for rail safety despite outrageous abuse and intimidation from the company.
“They are a credit to their communities and to the whole trade union movement as they continue to take action for safety in Britain’s longest running industrial dispute.
“The union remains ready and waiting for genuine and meaningful talks with all parties.”
GTR said: ““The RMT strike will have no impact on the vast majority of passengers as we expect to run a normal service on most routes.
“We renew our call for the union to end this pointless dispute. The RMT should face the reality that the changes they are objecting to were successfully introduced a year ago.”
