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Five-day Southern rail strike to go ahead after talks break down Five-day Southern rail strike to go ahead after talks break down
(about 3 hours later)
A five-day strike on Southern trains is to go ahead from next Monday. A five-day strike by conductors on Southern trains is to go ahead from next Monday.
The RMT union said talks with Southern's operator Govia Thameslink (GTR) broke up after the company rejected an offer to suspend the action. Operator Govia Thameslink (GTR) said it would "bring misery to hundreds of thousands of passengers".
The union had wanted GTR to put forward a similar offer to one given by ScotRail in a separate dispute. The RMT union said negotiations broke down after the company rejected an offer to suspend the action.
However, GTR said the RMT rejected an eight-point compromise to settle the dispute. The union wanted GTR to match terms offered in a similar dispute with ScotRail, but GTR claimed that was "a complete red herring".
Southern is planning an emergency timetable with nearly 60% of services running. GTR said it suggested an eight-point compromise over its plans to turn conductors into "On-Board Supervisors".
The union called off planned strikes in Scotland after a proposed deal guaranteeing new trains would have a conductor on board. Negotiations 'a farce'
It said the ScotRail offer gave guarantees on the jobs and safety-critical role of the guards. Passenger service director Angie Doll said the strike was "unnecessary, unacceptable and unjustified" and would cause "untold damage to the local economy in the South East".
The Southern dispute centres on plans to change the role of conductors. Rail Minister Paul Maynard said: "It is deeply disappointing that union bosses continue to overlook the impact they are having on hardworking people who want to get on with their journeys."
The RMT's offer was made to Southern's chief executive Charles Horton before talks at conciliation service ACAS resumed at midday. But RMT general secretary Mick Cash said the negotiations were "a farce" and claimed the government had told GTR "to stonewall, reject and wreck the talks process".
How would a proposed strike affect you? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. The long-running dispute centres on GTR's plan for Southern drivers, rather than guards, to open and close carriage doors.
GTR said it wanted "the flexibility to be able to run a train without a second member of staff on board" but insisted there would be no compulsory redundancies.
The union claims two staff members are safer than one and it fears job losses.
Strike details
The strike is due to run from 00:01 BST on Monday 8 August to 23:59 BST on Friday 12 August.
Southern has announced an emergency timetable with about 40% of services cancelled.
It issued a map showing some routes, including the Brighton main line, with a reduced service of "very busy" trains.
Others would have a "significantly reduced service at limited times", while six lines would have no rail service:
Havant - Chichester
Horsham - Dorking
Redhill - Tonbridge
Haywards Heath - Seaford
Oxted - Uckfield
Eastbourne - Ashford International
How will the strike affect you? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
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