EIGHT DAYS of summer rail misery ahead as RMT union announces series of strikes in long-running row over guards on trains
- Row over driver-only trains has led to series of strikes and industrial action
- RMT members who work for the South Western Railway plan walk outs
- They will strike on eight days spread out over July, August and September
Rail passengers face fresh misery starting from next week after a union confirmed eight days of strikes would go ahead.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union on South Western Railway will walk out on Thursday 26th July, Saturday 28th July, Tuesday 31st July, Saturday 4th August, Saturday 11th August, Saturday 18th August, Friday 31st August and Saturday 1st September.
South Western run trains between London Waterloo, Reading, Portsmouth, Southampton and Weymouth.
Commuters in Waterloo station during a previous strike. Eight more are planned this summer
The strikes are the latest called in the long-running dispute over guards and ‘driver-only’ trains.
They follow a deal between the union and Greater Anglia to end a similar dispute, which the RMT said guarantees a guard on trains.
Disputes over the role of guards remain unresolved on Southern Railway, Merseyrail and Arriva Rail North.
A South Western Railway spokesman said: ‘We have been engaged in on-going talks with the RMT and are surprised and disappointed that it has decided to call further strikes, especially at a time when families want to be out and about enjoying the summer holidays.
‘We will continue to seek a resolution and work hard to minimise any disruption to our customers.’
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: ‘RMT is making a very simple request of South Western Railway – that they take note of what is going on elsewhere in the rail industry and come forward with serious proposals that give a cast-iron guarantee of guards on their services and a halt to the rolling out of driver-only operation.
‘It is RMT’s firm belief that a deal can be done and an agreement reached like we have with other train operating companies, but that requires a responsible and serious attitude from SWR towards this dispute which is all about safe and accessible railways for all, underpinned by the guard guarantee we have successfully negotiated in Wales, Scotland and other parts of England.’
Tube depot workers plan weekend walk-out in August
Fresh strikes are to be held by London Underground maintenance workers in disputes over pay.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union based at the Ruislip depot will stage two 12-hour strikes over the weekend of August 3 and 4.
Tube trains sit in sidings during a previous strike on London Undeground
General secretary Mick Cash said: ‘Despite previous industrial action there has been no serious move by London Underground to resolve these disputes, which is why we have been left with no choice but to press on with a campaign of strike action in the pursuit of justice for our members.’
Peter McNaught, director of asset operations for London Underground, said: ‘This strike action by RMT transplant maintenance staff will not impact passenger services.
‘We remain willing to continue to talk to representatives of this group of workers to identify a solution.’
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