Southern Rail strike: Latest 24-hour walkout to go ahead on Saturday after talks fail

Walkout: Saturday's 24-hour strike will be the 31st strike so far in the year-long dispute
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
Tom Powell5 April 2017

The latest Southern Rail strike by RMT members will go ahead on Saturday after "no specific proposals" were put forward by the company in talks, the union said.

The 24-hour walkout by guards will be the 31st so far in the year-long dispute over staffing and driver-only trains.

The two sides met on Tuesday to try to find a breakthrough to the bitter dispute, which has caused travel misery for hundreds of thousands of passengers, and said they were "considering" their positions.

But RMT leader Mick Cash told his members: "Regrettably there have been no specific proposals from Southern to justify suspending the industrial action.

"I have informed Southern that we are available at any time for further meaningful talks to resolve this very difficult dispute.

"In the meantime, I urge you to continue your outstanding support and solidarity and stand shoulder to shoulder with your colleagues during the industrial action," added Mr Cash.

Passengers have suffered a year of disruption on some of the busiest routes in the country because of industrial action and other issues such as staff shortages.

On Monday train drivers defied Aslef union leaders' recommendation to accept a deal aimed at ending the long-running dispute.

The vote was 48.2 per cent in favour of the proposed agreement, with 51.8 per cent against, on a turnout of 75 per cent.

Following the vote, Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: "We understand and support the decision arrived at in a democratic vote by our drivers and will now seek new talks with the company and work to deliver a resolution to this dispute in line with the expectations of our members."

Southern Rail strike: December 2016

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Union resolve has strengthened in the wake of the train drivers' vote.

Paul Cox, RMT South East organiser, said the result proved the “genuine concern” of drivers over the implementation of driver-only operated trains where the driver has responsibility for operation of the train doors.

He accused Aslef leaders of being “out of touch with reality” in recommending acceptance of the deal.

Southern is aiming to have a near-normal service during the RMT's latest strike on Saturday, saying nine out of 10 trains ran during the last walkout in March.

The company announced it planned to run a normal train service on all but one of its routes.

Passenger Services Director Angie Doll said: "We're now running a near-normal service on RMT strike days, so fewer people are being affected by the RMT's action. This week, we plan to provide almost our entire normal Saturday timetable."

No Southern services will operate between Clapham Junction and Milton Keynes Central via Kensington Olympia/Watford Junction.

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