South Western Railway Plan Full Service During Industrial Action
RMT suspends rest day working and agreement over flexibility on guards' shifts
RMT members demonstrate outside the Department of Transport
South Western Railway have said that they plan to run a full service over the four days of the RMT’s industrial action from 16-19 February. They are advising passengers to check how their train is running before travelling during this time.
The RMT has told drivers not to undertake any rest day working. This means that they will not be taking any extra voluntary shifts to cover absences. Guards and drivers have been told not to work in accordance with key sections of the Guards Restructuring Agreement. These allow for some flexibility around shift start and finish times in certain circumstances. These elements were jointly agreed with the union several years ago according to South Western Railway.
During previous instances of industrial action management staff have been drafted in, where they have appropriate training, in an attempt to keep as many trains running as possible.
South Western Railway said, “We’re really sorry that once again, you are to be subjected to unnecessary industrial action by the RMT. We plan to run our full service on all four days and will do everything we can to minimise any effect this strike action may have. We do however advise you to check before you travel.”
The RMT say they have taken the action as a result of a failure to agree on issues relating to guards on trains and the rolling out of Driver Only Operation. They say that the decision was made to proceed after management at the company ‘wasted another week failing to engage with the union in talks and continued their threats and intimidation aimed at front line staff’.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said, “It is frankly disgraceful that South Western Railway continue to point-blank refuse to engage with the union in meaningful talks over their plans to run trains without a safety-critical guard on board across this franchise. Instead, they have resorted to the crudest possible attempts to threaten, bully and harass our members fighting to put public safety before private profit.
“RMT has repeatedly said that South Western Railway should call off these disgraceful attacks on their front-line staff and should start talking seriously with the union around an agreement that underpins the guard guarantee and ensures safe, accessible and secure services for all.
“It is the continuing intransigent attitude of the company which means that the industrial action goes ahead as planned from tomorrow in an effort to force them to see sense and to drive them back to the negotiating table for genuine and meaningful talks.
“We know that this action will have a serious impact on services and the responsibility for the disruption caused will be wholly down to South Western Railway and their pig-headed attitude. It is time for the company to get out of the bunker, stop threatening their staff and start talking.”
A Department for Transport spokesman said at the time of the previous strike, "This is a dispute between a private company and the RMT.
"However, the transport secretary recognises the disruption caused to passengers and has met with union leaders on several occasions, including as recently as December, to help bring an end to the strikes.
"Nobody is losing their job as a result of driver-controlled operation trains, employees have been guaranteed jobs and salaries for several years."
Live Updates on South Western Rail Services
February 15, 2018