UK Edition
Protest marks one year of Southern Rail's battle with unions - and commuters
The RMT union is staging a protest today outside Parliament to mark the one-year anniversary of strikes on Southern Rail.
Thousands of commuters have had to endure 31 days of strikes in that time, including walkouts from December 6-8 last year and over the new year period from December 31 to January 2.
The union is opposed to plans by Southern to extend driver-only operated trains, arguing they are not safe. The rail company says drivers should be in control of closing train doors, allowing onboard staff to deal with passengers.
The RMT’s general secretary Mick Cash said its picket lines and protests had drawn “fantastic public support”.
“RMT has also taken protests to the offices of the Department for Transport and Southern Rail, as well as Parliament, as we have used every tool at our disposal to get our message across,” Mr Cash added.
“Our members engaged in this dispute have made huge personal sacrifices in the past year as they have stood up for a safe railway for all."
The issue has the potential to weigh on the finances of parent company Go-Ahead. The company announced in its half-year results in February there could be a £15m hit to full-year profits because of disruptions on Southern. This could be mitigated if negotiations with the Department for Transport over potential compensation are successful.
The RMT and Southern have resumed talks aimed at bringing the dispute to an end and these are set to reconvene next week, according to the Southern Rail website.
Last month Govia, which runs the franchise which encapsulates Southern, offered to meet the RMT union for fresh talks as it suspended industrial action.
Govia’s chief executive Charles Horton wrote to Mr Cash urging him to come back to the negotiating table.
It comes as the RMT announced a 24-hour strike on Arriva Rail North would go ahead on Friday after talks failed to resolve a related dispute over the role of guards on its trains.