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Southern Rail STRIKE details
- Thread starter Ernest
- Start date
pearl
Well-known member
nobody knew what was going on, nothing on southern running page, no announcements ... apart from 'this train terminates here' several times
Latest nonsense from Alex Foulds at GTR:
“Mick Cash says it’s an urgent priority to talk. We 100% agree and our door remains open to the RMT to sit round the table with us, directly or back at Acas, to find a solution. Customers are expecting and demanding that we both make every conceivable effort to find a way forward. For our part we remain ready, willing and able to do that and we’ll clear the diary to try and sort it.
“We have an open mind to all options that lead to the implementation of our proposal to introduce the new on-board roles on our trains and enhance the services we want to provide our customers”.
So, for just in case people think it's the RMT who are being intransigent - here from the horse's mouth: "We have an open mind to all options that lead to the implementation of our proposal to introduce the new on-board roles on our trains and enhance the services we want to provide our customers” - so not an open mind at all then! Great basis for any negotiation - we are doing what we (or the Dft) want but other that that we are happy to talk.
“Mick Cash says it’s an urgent priority to talk. We 100% agree and our door remains open to the RMT to sit round the table with us, directly or back at Acas, to find a solution. Customers are expecting and demanding that we both make every conceivable effort to find a way forward. For our part we remain ready, willing and able to do that and we’ll clear the diary to try and sort it.
“We have an open mind to all options that lead to the implementation of our proposal to introduce the new on-board roles on our trains and enhance the services we want to provide our customers”.
So, for just in case people think it's the RMT who are being intransigent - here from the horse's mouth: "We have an open mind to all options that lead to the implementation of our proposal to introduce the new on-board roles on our trains and enhance the services we want to provide our customers” - so not an open mind at all then! Great basis for any negotiation - we are doing what we (or the Dft) want but other that that we are happy to talk.
Everyone at the RMT off sick currently?
Nope. Their response is what you would expect:
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said:
“RMT is committed to serious and genuine talks and has been right from the moment that the proposals on the guards on Southern were first unveiled. That position has not changed and we remain committed to getting back round the table with the company in proper negotiations. That talks process has been repeatedly undermined by Southern trying to bind us into a set of rigid pre-conditions.
“A major obstacle to progress now is the fact that Southern fired the starting gun on the dash to Driver Only Operation at the weekend. We would call on the company to row back, get back round the table and allow talks to take place without preconditions and without the immediate threat to the safety critical role hanging over our members heads.”
I'm sure people have thought to fix it but as Southern have cut back on all staff to save a few more pennies there aren't the fitters to fix all the trains that need fixing.
25 August 2016
RMT Press Office:
RMT announces strike action by station staff across Govia Thameslink Railways.
RAIL UNION RMT today confirmed 24 hours of strike action by station staff members on Govia Thameslink Railways over a threat to jobs, pay and safety from the impact of ticket office closures and the reorganisation of the workforce.
Members will not book on for shifts between 00.01 hours to 23.59 hours on Wednesday 7th September.
The announcement of the strike follows confirmation of a 70% vote for strike action in a ballot of members which concluded last week.
GTR’s proposed reorganisation of station staff would see the creation of the new position of “Station Host”.
The impact of the Govia proposals cannot be underestimated. GTR want to close ticket offices, or cut them to morning peak only, at 83 stations from as far afield as Kings Lynn and Bognor Regis. As a means of doing this they plan to introduce a new multi-functional role of Station Host which RMT estimates will result in a cut of at least 130 jobs.
This is just the first phase of the company’s plan. Dispatchers and barrier staff will also be affected by the company’s cost cutting measures in the near future.
RMT is totally opposed to ticket office closures, and cuts in hours, as this will have a devastating impact on both staff and the safety and services offered to the travelling public. The latest proposals from the company will also result in a massive increase in lone working including late at night.
GTR are also totally ignoring the thousands of passengers who clearly indicated in our high profile public campaign that they are appalled by the planned closure of ticket offices and the swingeing cuts to opening hours. They have failed to address the views of station staff and have ignored the objections from RMT and our sister rail unions. If these changes come in the union believes it will mean all station staff could be forced onto flexible working with an increased workload.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said;
“The Govia Thamelink franchise is in meltdown and not fit for purpose. Not content with axing catering services, closing ticket offices and attacking the role of their guards they now want to threaten 130 station jobs and compromise the safety of both their passengers and staff alike. Our members have made it clear that they will not stand by while this basket-case franchise unleashes yet another attack on jobs and services in the drive for profits and that is why we have no option but to take strike action.
“These cuts plans fly in the face of the response from the thousands of passengers who objected to the closure of ticket offices and the de-staffing of stations as Govia drives on with plans for a “faceless railway” where the public are left to fend for themselves on rammed-out, dangerous and unreliable services.
“It is about time Govia Thameslink started acting responsibly, halted their cuts plans and got round the table with the union in serious and genuine talks.”
Ends
RMT Press Office:
RMT announces strike action by station staff across Govia Thameslink Railways.
RAIL UNION RMT today confirmed 24 hours of strike action by station staff members on Govia Thameslink Railways over a threat to jobs, pay and safety from the impact of ticket office closures and the reorganisation of the workforce.
Members will not book on for shifts between 00.01 hours to 23.59 hours on Wednesday 7th September.
The announcement of the strike follows confirmation of a 70% vote for strike action in a ballot of members which concluded last week.
GTR’s proposed reorganisation of station staff would see the creation of the new position of “Station Host”.
The impact of the Govia proposals cannot be underestimated. GTR want to close ticket offices, or cut them to morning peak only, at 83 stations from as far afield as Kings Lynn and Bognor Regis. As a means of doing this they plan to introduce a new multi-functional role of Station Host which RMT estimates will result in a cut of at least 130 jobs.
This is just the first phase of the company’s plan. Dispatchers and barrier staff will also be affected by the company’s cost cutting measures in the near future.
RMT is totally opposed to ticket office closures, and cuts in hours, as this will have a devastating impact on both staff and the safety and services offered to the travelling public. The latest proposals from the company will also result in a massive increase in lone working including late at night.
GTR are also totally ignoring the thousands of passengers who clearly indicated in our high profile public campaign that they are appalled by the planned closure of ticket offices and the swingeing cuts to opening hours. They have failed to address the views of station staff and have ignored the objections from RMT and our sister rail unions. If these changes come in the union believes it will mean all station staff could be forced onto flexible working with an increased workload.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said;
“The Govia Thamelink franchise is in meltdown and not fit for purpose. Not content with axing catering services, closing ticket offices and attacking the role of their guards they now want to threaten 130 station jobs and compromise the safety of both their passengers and staff alike. Our members have made it clear that they will not stand by while this basket-case franchise unleashes yet another attack on jobs and services in the drive for profits and that is why we have no option but to take strike action.
“These cuts plans fly in the face of the response from the thousands of passengers who objected to the closure of ticket offices and the de-staffing of stations as Govia drives on with plans for a “faceless railway” where the public are left to fend for themselves on rammed-out, dangerous and unreliable services.
“It is about time Govia Thameslink started acting responsibly, halted their cuts plans and got round the table with the union in serious and genuine talks.”
Ends
Arthur
Well-known member
I can believe that. The Uckfield line has been a disaster all week for short formations and cancellations due to train faults. Southern's stock response is "we only have a finite number of diesel stock". We are all fully aware of that fact. No one has questioned that even though they've introduced more stock on that route (incidentally the refurbed stock they got from Scotland is awfully uncomfortable). Quite frankly no one cares what is wrong with it they just want to know when it's going to be back in service.
yxee
Well-known member
Strike strike strike, until you have no job left. Maximise annoyance to everyone. Holding the nation to ransom.
beorhthelm
A. Virgo, Football Genius
- Jul 21, 2003
- 36,015
interesting point about the guards training, if correct, it suggests Southern are conceding on the second safety trained person. so the dispute is sticking on the agreed conditions where that requirment can be temporary suspended?
To be honest I'm not too sure on where they are with the training but yes, a lot of this does now boil down to having a guarantee of a second safety critically trained person on board. GTR won't back down and we all know why and the RMT won't back down and again we all know why.
"As I understand it, the sickness levels among frontline staff have now sunk back to pre-dispute levels"
Interesting. Some on this thread have been saying for some months there has been no increased levels of sickness, yet someone very much 'on their side' is stating, this week, that sickness could have (he doesn't know for sure, but presumably is making an informed judgement) returned back to normal levels.
beorhthelm
A. Virgo, Football Genius
- Jul 21, 2003
- 36,015
as they had 80% vote for non-strike action, its shame the union decided to go for the hard line option. more strikes will only fuel the view that the union is at fault.
and before the abuse comes, im against the ticket office cutbacks, which are pretty dumb and the consultation was a joke (posters up for about 2 weeks, i thought they binned the idea it was so brief).
Frampler
New member
Is it one of the 442 Gatwick Express trains? (i.e. the crap old trains)
I get one of them home from London Bridge to Eastbourne and the air-con in coach 2 is seemingly always broken, while the air-con in coach 1 is arctic.
Yep one of the old ones. Same problem on the 17.42 from Victoria to Haywards Heath every night, first carriage Arctic, carriages two, three and four like a sauna.
Several poor sods were having to stand all the way back on one last night. Surprised nobody collapsed.
yxee
Well-known member
Their Twitter feed is a joke. Person #35763 tweets "you air con isn't working", response, "please give us the number of the coach". Why don't they just assume they're all broken and TEST them before leaving the depot? Twitter is not a substitute for quality control!!!
ManOfSussex
We wunt be druv
I received this email overnight:
You’re receiving this email because you signed this petition: “A Petition for Southern Rail (Govia Thameslink Railway) Franchise Review.”.
You recently signed the petition “A Petition for Southern Rail (Govia Thameslink Railway) Franchise Review.”:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/113871
Something happened in Parliament that might interest you.
MPs debated the performance of Govia Thameslink rail service on Wednesday 13 July.
How to find out what was said:
You can watch the debate on Parliament TV: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/62ce4633-66e8-4bb4-87a2-c7f99aafbf68
You can read the debate on the Hansard website: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2016-07-13/debates/16071335000001/GoviaThameslinkRailService
Who was involved:
Tim Loughton MP led the debate and other MPs took part. Claire Perry MP, a Government Transport Minister, responded to the points made at the end of the debate.
More about the debate:
Tim Loughton MP successfully entered a ballot system for this debate. This is one way backbench MPs can get debates in Parliament.
The debate was an "adjournment debate". You can find out more about adjournment debates on the Parliament website: http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/adjournment/
More information:
You can read the House of Commons library information which was written for MPs taking part on the Parliament website: http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CDP-2016-0139
Thanks,
The Petitions team
UK Government and Parliament
You’re receiving this email because you signed this petition: “A Petition for Southern Rail (Govia Thameslink Railway) Franchise Review.”.
You’re receiving this email because you signed this petition: “A Petition for Southern Rail (Govia Thameslink Railway) Franchise Review.”.
You recently signed the petition “A Petition for Southern Rail (Govia Thameslink Railway) Franchise Review.”:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/113871
Something happened in Parliament that might interest you.
MPs debated the performance of Govia Thameslink rail service on Wednesday 13 July.
How to find out what was said:
You can watch the debate on Parliament TV: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/62ce4633-66e8-4bb4-87a2-c7f99aafbf68
You can read the debate on the Hansard website: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2016-07-13/debates/16071335000001/GoviaThameslinkRailService
Who was involved:
Tim Loughton MP led the debate and other MPs took part. Claire Perry MP, a Government Transport Minister, responded to the points made at the end of the debate.
More about the debate:
Tim Loughton MP successfully entered a ballot system for this debate. This is one way backbench MPs can get debates in Parliament.
The debate was an "adjournment debate". You can find out more about adjournment debates on the Parliament website: http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/adjournment/
More information:
You can read the House of Commons library information which was written for MPs taking part on the Parliament website: http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CDP-2016-0139
Thanks,
The Petitions team
UK Government and Parliament
You’re receiving this email because you signed this petition: “A Petition for Southern Rail (Govia Thameslink Railway) Franchise Review.”.
yxee
Well-known member
Good to see theyre making some progress...