More strikes for Southern Railway travellers

The RMT union has announced that Southern Railway workers are to stage 14 days of strike action in five blocks in the long-running dispute over the role of conductors on trains.

Claiming it had no alternative but to take action over what it called Southern's ‘blatant disregard for the safety and security of passengers and staff alike’, the RMT general secretary Mick Cash said his members were taking industrial action in a bid to maintain a safe and secure service.

He said: “Govia Thameslink and the government have made it clear that they have no interest in resolving this dispute. Instead they have begun the process of bulldozing through the drive towards wholesale driver only operation without agreement.

"Last week there was a train derailment near Watford that involved two trains. The guards on both trains played a vital role in protecting the passengers and the trains in what were extremely frightening circumstances."

The strikes will take place on: 11-13 October; 18-20 October; 3-5 November; 22-23 November; and 6-8 December.

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