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| Version 11 | Version 12 |
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| Southern rail strike begins – live updates | Southern rail strike begins – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.04pm BST | |
| 17:04 | |
| Oh dear, this is a government press officer tweeting: | |
| Some pushing and shoving at London Bridge. Infamous platform 10: narrow. Seat again. SFSG #southernstrike | |
| 5.00pm BST | |
| 17:00 | |
| Stagecoach is running extra services because of the Southern Rail strike. | |
| #Eastbourne There will be additional #Wave99 departures towards #Hastings at 16:50, 17:10 and 17:35 due to the #southernstrike. | |
| 4.30pm BST | |
| 16:30 | |
| Channel 5 tried to conduct an interview with Southern Rail’s passenger services director Alex Foulds in Brighton but kept getting interrupted by angry commuters. | |
| Video - Angry commuters in #Brighton interrupt our interview with @SouthernRailUK over #southernstrikehttps://t.co/3pxMD6D5Na | |
| 4.09pm BST | 4.09pm BST |
| 16:09 | 16:09 |
| Some Southern commuters have said the weeks of disruption and delays on the network have put their jobs at risk - see, for example, Sam Gyimah MP’s letter to Govia Thameslink CEO Charles Horton last month. But is it really legal to sack someone for the misfortune of living on a failing rail line? | Some Southern commuters have said the weeks of disruption and delays on the network have put their jobs at risk - see, for example, Sam Gyimah MP’s letter to Govia Thameslink CEO Charles Horton last month. But is it really legal to sack someone for the misfortune of living on a failing rail line? |
| Yes, says employment lawyer Aye Limbin-Glassey, a partner at Shakespeare Martineau. “If an employee is regularly late to work, due to known disruptions, as has been the case for Southern Rail commuters affected by consistently poor services over the past few months, failing to find alternative travel arrangements could lead employers to take action arising from persistent lateness.” | Yes, says employment lawyer Aye Limbin-Glassey, a partner at Shakespeare Martineau. “If an employee is regularly late to work, due to known disruptions, as has been the case for Southern Rail commuters affected by consistently poor services over the past few months, failing to find alternative travel arrangements could lead employers to take action arising from persistent lateness.” |
| During the strike, bosses are within their rights to discipline employees who persistently arrive late, but they do so at their peril, Limbin-Glassey says. “They should avoid jumping to conclusions as this could lead to counter-claims.” Instead, they should make it clear what employees are expected to do and offer alternatives such as working from home or shift working, to reduce the impact on their businesses. It’s also important that each employee knows who they should report to if they do experience disruption, she adds. | During the strike, bosses are within their rights to discipline employees who persistently arrive late, but they do so at their peril, Limbin-Glassey says. “They should avoid jumping to conclusions as this could lead to counter-claims.” Instead, they should make it clear what employees are expected to do and offer alternatives such as working from home or shift working, to reduce the impact on their businesses. It’s also important that each employee knows who they should report to if they do experience disruption, she adds. |
| There’s not much employers who are left out of pocket by industrial action can do to recoup the costs, says Limbin-Glassey: instead, their focus should be on making arrangements so that there’s as little disruption to the business as possible. | There’s not much employers who are left out of pocket by industrial action can do to recoup the costs, says Limbin-Glassey: instead, their focus should be on making arrangements so that there’s as little disruption to the business as possible. |
| 4.01pm BST | 4.01pm BST |
| 16:01 | 16:01 |
| The TUC leader has tweeted her support for the industrial action: | The TUC leader has tweeted her support for the industrial action: |
| #Southern is an utter mess. Time for @SouthernRailUK to sit down with unions and come to a resolution on this, as happened in Scotland. | #Southern is an utter mess. Time for @SouthernRailUK to sit down with unions and come to a resolution on this, as happened in Scotland. |
| 3.52pm BST | 3.52pm BST |
| 15:52 | 15:52 |
| Southern’s operator and the RMT union are at loggerheads, but where is the Department for Transport in today’s headlines? Saturday’s Brighton Argus ran an eye-catching blank page highlighting its absence, saying it had “cleared the page” for transport secretary Chris Grayling to explain what actions he would be taking to resolve the mess - but answer came there none. | Southern’s operator and the RMT union are at loggerheads, but where is the Department for Transport in today’s headlines? Saturday’s Brighton Argus ran an eye-catching blank page highlighting its absence, saying it had “cleared the page” for transport secretary Chris Grayling to explain what actions he would be taking to resolve the mess - but answer came there none. |
| The Argus’s editor Mike Gilson has written an excoriating op-ed shedding light on - and throwing some serious shade at - the Department for Transport’s failure to fix things. | The Argus’s editor Mike Gilson has written an excoriating op-ed shedding light on - and throwing some serious shade at - the Department for Transport’s failure to fix things. |
| The full piece is here | The full piece is here |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.11pm BST | at 4.11pm BST |
| 2.59pm BST | 2.59pm BST |
| 14:59 | 14:59 |
| Carmen Fishwick | Carmen Fishwick |
| Here are a couple more passenger accounts, as collated and curated from our call-out by my colleague Carmen Fishwick. | Here are a couple more passenger accounts, as collated and curated from our call-out by my colleague Carmen Fishwick. |
| “Southern seem to forget that passengers are human beings” | “Southern seem to forget that passengers are human beings” |
| Dan from Brighton, experienced a less-problematic journey than usual despite the strike, yet has been dismayed with the service he’s received from Southern since 2015, which he describes as “an absolute shambles”: | Dan from Brighton, experienced a less-problematic journey than usual despite the strike, yet has been dismayed with the service he’s received from Southern since 2015, which he describes as “an absolute shambles”: |
| Southern are running eight carriage trains every half hour, and I managed to get a seat in the declassified first class. | Southern are running eight carriage trains every half hour, and I managed to get a seat in the declassified first class. |
| However, it needs to be pointed out that the service that Southern have provided has been an absolute shambles since Govia took over this part of the franchise in July 2015. I have personally experienced week after week of cancellations and delays for getting on for eight months now. | However, it needs to be pointed out that the service that Southern have provided has been an absolute shambles since Govia took over this part of the franchise in July 2015. I have personally experienced week after week of cancellations and delays for getting on for eight months now. |
| The strikes are being used as a smoke screen for a poorly managed company that seems to be in bed with the DfT. Management seem to forget or wilfully ignore that their passengers are human beings having to deal with their utter incompetence. | The strikes are being used as a smoke screen for a poorly managed company that seems to be in bed with the DfT. Management seem to forget or wilfully ignore that their passengers are human beings having to deal with their utter incompetence. |
| I fully support the strike action that the RMT are taking, despite the impact to my day to day life. I have seriously considered moving away from the area so that I don’t have to deal with this on a daily basis, and my journey in is only supposed to take twenty minutes a day. | I fully support the strike action that the RMT are taking, despite the impact to my day to day life. I have seriously considered moving away from the area so that I don’t have to deal with this on a daily basis, and my journey in is only supposed to take twenty minutes a day. |
| “It’s not the RMT’s place to say what is safe and what isn’t” | “It’s not the RMT’s place to say what is safe and what isn’t” |
| Richard travels between Crawley and London, and his usual 40 minute journey took one hour and fifty minutes. He has mixed feelings about the service, but doesn’t believe that Southern Rail should be immediately removed. Instead he saves his anger for the RMT: | Richard travels between Crawley and London, and his usual 40 minute journey took one hour and fifty minutes. He has mixed feelings about the service, but doesn’t believe that Southern Rail should be immediately removed. Instead he saves his anger for the RMT: |
| Nightmare etting into work today, however the strike service that southern rail are running is able to get people to work, albeit a bit late. Well done Southern Rail. | Nightmare etting into work today, however the strike service that southern rail are running is able to get people to work, albeit a bit late. Well done Southern Rail. |
| I will leave work early today, as during the last strike action I was left stranded in London. | I will leave work early today, as during the last strike action I was left stranded in London. |
| People need to stop calling on Southern Rail to be removed. They are trying to modernise their service, the RMT seem to want to keep things exactly as they are, they are not interested in innovation or the enhancement of services through technology. They are the ones causing a nightmare for commuters. Why don’t we let Southern go ahead with their plans and if the service is still poor, then look at removing them. | People need to stop calling on Southern Rail to be removed. They are trying to modernise their service, the RMT seem to want to keep things exactly as they are, they are not interested in innovation or the enhancement of services through technology. They are the ones causing a nightmare for commuters. Why don’t we let Southern go ahead with their plans and if the service is still poor, then look at removing them. |
| It is not the RMT’s place to say what they think is safe and what isn’t. We have rail regulators for that. Southern Rail have been given permission to make these staff contract changes, and should be allowed to do so. | It is not the RMT’s place to say what they think is safe and what isn’t. We have rail regulators for that. Southern Rail have been given permission to make these staff contract changes, and should be allowed to do so. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.08pm BST | at 3.08pm BST |
| 2.51pm BST | 2.51pm BST |
| 14:51 | 14:51 |
| Alice Ross | Alice Ross |
| It appears that Labour and the Lib Dems are lining up behind the RMT in their responses to the Southern rail strike, according to comments obtained from the parties by my colleague Alice Ross. | It appears that Labour and the Lib Dems are lining up behind the RMT in their responses to the Southern rail strike, according to comments obtained from the parties by my colleague Alice Ross. |
| Andy McDonald, Labour’s shadow transport secretary, said: | Andy McDonald, Labour’s shadow transport secretary, said: |
| Last week Govia Thameslink Railway GTR rejected the RMT’s offer to settle a dispute over conductors’ roles on the same basis that a similar dispute was settled earlier in the week at ScotRail. It has become increasingly clear that the barrier to resolving the Southern-GTR dispute is the Tory Government. | Last week Govia Thameslink Railway GTR rejected the RMT’s offer to settle a dispute over conductors’ roles on the same basis that a similar dispute was settled earlier in the week at ScotRail. It has become increasingly clear that the barrier to resolving the Southern-GTR dispute is the Tory Government. |
| The basis for an agreement is there and both sides need to get back round the table – and that’s why it’s extremely concerning that a senior civil servant from the Department for Transport is on the record as saying that the Department wants to ‘break’ rail employees and make them ‘get the hell out of my industry’. | The basis for an agreement is there and both sides need to get back round the table – and that’s why it’s extremely concerning that a senior civil servant from the Department for Transport is on the record as saying that the Department wants to ‘break’ rail employees and make them ‘get the hell out of my industry’. |
| The country’s biggest rail franchise is failing. Passengers are enduring the worst delays in the country, fares are up 25%, and promised investment looks further away than ever, yet Chris Grayling and his officials seem more interested in pursuing an ideological dust-up with rail unions than improving abysmal passenger services. | The country’s biggest rail franchise is failing. Passengers are enduring the worst delays in the country, fares are up 25%, and promised investment looks further away than ever, yet Chris Grayling and his officials seem more interested in pursuing an ideological dust-up with rail unions than improving abysmal passenger services. |
| We have a train operating company unable to make their trains run on time and a Government prioritising a battle with trade unions over fixing a failing franchise, and it is the tens of thousands of passengers having to endure miserable services who are paying the price. | We have a train operating company unable to make their trains run on time and a Government prioritising a battle with trade unions over fixing a failing franchise, and it is the tens of thousands of passengers having to endure miserable services who are paying the price. |
| The comments mentioned by McDonald appear to be from a Private Eye story quoting a senior Department for Transport official, Peter Wilkinson. That story, like much of Private Eye’s content, doesn’t appear to be online, but the Inside Croydon blog has written about it. Wilkinson, who is the DfT’s managing director of passenger services, is quoted as saying of the strike: “I’m furious about it and it has got to change – we have got to break them.” | The comments mentioned by McDonald appear to be from a Private Eye story quoting a senior Department for Transport official, Peter Wilkinson. That story, like much of Private Eye’s content, doesn’t appear to be online, but the Inside Croydon blog has written about it. Wilkinson, who is the DfT’s managing director of passenger services, is quoted as saying of the strike: “I’m furious about it and it has got to change – we have got to break them.” |
| Meanwhile, Jenny Randerson, Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson, has said accused the government of turning a blind eye to customers’ ordeals. She said: | Meanwhile, Jenny Randerson, Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson, has said accused the government of turning a blind eye to customers’ ordeals. She said: |
| The situation with Southern is a total mess. People are being left completely stranded. Some even lost jobs before the strikes because of the poor service, whilst home life is being ruined. | The situation with Southern is a total mess. People are being left completely stranded. Some even lost jobs before the strikes because of the poor service, whilst home life is being ruined. |
| As a member of the Cabinet, Home Secretary Amber Rudd has constituents being directly affected in Hastings and can only criticise the unions; the Government has to take control of this situation. It has the power to impose terms and conditions on franchises and is turning a blind eye to the suffering of high paying customers. | As a member of the Cabinet, Home Secretary Amber Rudd has constituents being directly affected in Hastings and can only criticise the unions; the Government has to take control of this situation. It has the power to impose terms and conditions on franchises and is turning a blind eye to the suffering of high paying customers. |
| 2.42pm BST | 2.42pm BST |
| 14:42 | 14:42 |
| As ever, Twitter has proven a popular forum for commuters who want to vent their frustration at the service provided by Southern rail during the first day of this week’s strike action. | As ever, Twitter has proven a popular forum for commuters who want to vent their frustration at the service provided by Southern rail during the first day of this week’s strike action. |
| According to media monitors Visibrain, there were more than 12,670 tweets mentioning Southern Rail by about 2pm this afternoon, while the hashtag #southernstrike had been used 3,815 times. | According to media monitors Visibrain, there were more than 12,670 tweets mentioning Southern Rail by about 2pm this afternoon, while the hashtag #southernstrike had been used 3,815 times. |
| The only surprising statistic is that there had only been 560 tweets in support of the strike. This didn’t seem to tally with the number that I’d seen scrolling by as I scanned the hashtag, so I asked Visibrain why they had registered so few. Georgina Parsons, head of UK communications at Visibrain, told me: | The only surprising statistic is that there had only been 560 tweets in support of the strike. This didn’t seem to tally with the number that I’d seen scrolling by as I scanned the hashtag, so I asked Visibrain why they had registered so few. Georgina Parsons, head of UK communications at Visibrain, told me: |
| We obtained this statistic by filtering on all tweets containing the words “solidarity”, “support”, “supporting”, “stand with”, or “behind”. This number does not take into account more neutral tweets. | We obtained this statistic by filtering on all tweets containing the words “solidarity”, “support”, “supporting”, “stand with”, or “behind”. This number does not take into account more neutral tweets. |
| We chose this method over a classic sentiment analysis because in cases such as this where a lot of irony is being used, sentiment analysis is not reliable. | We chose this method over a classic sentiment analysis because in cases such as this where a lot of irony is being used, sentiment analysis is not reliable. |
| For example, the most shared tweet of the day so far is this one from David Schneider: | For example, the most shared tweet of the day so far is this one from David Schneider: |
| Southern Rail strike causes severe delays with few trains and misery for commuters - in other words, a slightly better service than normal. | Southern Rail strike causes severe delays with few trains and misery for commuters - in other words, a slightly better service than normal. |
| Although the wording of the message is positive and would register as positive sentiment such in a classic analysis, the tone is ironic. | Although the wording of the message is positive and would register as positive sentiment such in a classic analysis, the tone is ironic. |
| 1.57pm BST | 1.57pm BST |
| 13:57 | 13:57 |
| Carmen Fishwick | Carmen Fishwick |
| Carmen Fishwick has been speaking to Southern rail commuters about how their journey, and lives, have been affected by the strike. For many it is the culmination of months of poor service from the operator. | Carmen Fishwick has been speaking to Southern rail commuters about how their journey, and lives, have been affected by the strike. For many it is the culmination of months of poor service from the operator. |
| “On my line 100% of trains were cancelled” | “On my line 100% of trains were cancelled” |
| Simon Foulkes travels on the Southern service between Appledore to Ashford to access the high speed service to London. He said: | Simon Foulkes travels on the Southern service between Appledore to Ashford to access the high speed service to London. He said: |
| When Southern say they have reduced trains in an amended timetable to 80% service, on my line the number of trains in commuting periods was reduced by 50%. When they say the strike will cut 40% of services, on my line 100% of trains are cancelled. | When Southern say they have reduced trains in an amended timetable to 80% service, on my line the number of trains in commuting periods was reduced by 50%. When they say the strike will cut 40% of services, on my line 100% of trains are cancelled. |
| My local MP took weeks to respond to me on the issue, ignored several follow up emails, and declines to meet me in Westminster where I work. I’d like to see the Tory MPs whose constituents are affected by this issue acting together to cut through the intransigence, and to address the background fact that the DfT is driving the dispute. | My local MP took weeks to respond to me on the issue, ignored several follow up emails, and declines to meet me in Westminster where I work. I’d like to see the Tory MPs whose constituents are affected by this issue acting together to cut through the intransigence, and to address the background fact that the DfT is driving the dispute. |
| “People were stood on the toilets just to have space to stand” | “People were stood on the toilets just to have space to stand” |
| A commuter from Lewes, who asked to remain anonymous, reports months of delays and cancellations. He is worried about the impact this is having on his job: | |
| I wanted to get into the office today for some important meetings, and having started my job relatively recently not wanting to have the strike disrupt the progress I’ve made. For all employers can be sympathetic there is a responsibility for employees to ensure they can get to work too. In my 14 weeks in this job this is the third extended strike, which on top of the regular cancellations and delays could easily be giving people the impression I’m unreliable. | I wanted to get into the office today for some important meetings, and having started my job relatively recently not wanting to have the strike disrupt the progress I’ve made. For all employers can be sympathetic there is a responsibility for employees to ensure they can get to work too. In my 14 weeks in this job this is the third extended strike, which on top of the regular cancellations and delays could easily be giving people the impression I’m unreliable. |
| The only way for me to get to work on time was to catch a bus at my own expense to Brighton, and catch an over-crowded train from there, changing twice. What is normally a journey of an hour taking me twice as long. Already I’ve had to cancel a meeting later this week because changes to the bus service mean I can’t get to Brighton at a time where I can get a train getting me to London before 8.30. Relying on public transport has become impossible. | The only way for me to get to work on time was to catch a bus at my own expense to Brighton, and catch an over-crowded train from there, changing twice. What is normally a journey of an hour taking me twice as long. Already I’ve had to cancel a meeting later this week because changes to the bus service mean I can’t get to Brighton at a time where I can get a train getting me to London before 8.30. Relying on public transport has become impossible. |
| This is all on top of months of delays, cancellations and short formed trains. One day last week we had a 12 coach train reduced to 4 coaches. People were stood on the toilets with others crammed into the cubicle around them just to have space to stand. This is without the air conditioning working properly too. The week before that a woman collapsed on the train and I’ve seen people get off early en-route overcome with the heat and crowding. | This is all on top of months of delays, cancellations and short formed trains. One day last week we had a 12 coach train reduced to 4 coaches. People were stood on the toilets with others crammed into the cubicle around them just to have space to stand. This is without the air conditioning working properly too. The week before that a woman collapsed on the train and I’ve seen people get off early en-route overcome with the heat and crowding. |
| Updated | |
| at 4.36pm BST | |
| 1.46pm BST | 1.46pm BST |
| 13:46 | 13:46 |
| Anger at Southern Rail is still simmering as we await the next bout of commuter chaos, forecast for home-time rush hour today. Here is a selection of some of the pithier tweets targeted at the rail operator’s Twitter account. | Anger at Southern Rail is still simmering as we await the next bout of commuter chaos, forecast for home-time rush hour today. Here is a selection of some of the pithier tweets targeted at the rail operator’s Twitter account. |
| @SouthernRailUK you are a kind of insincere apology sandwich with bread made out of human misery arent you? #southernrail #southernstrike | @SouthernRailUK you are a kind of insincere apology sandwich with bread made out of human misery arent you? #southernrail #southernstrike |
| Southern: "We don't need conductors."Conductors: "We're going on strike"Southern: "Cancel the trains! We need conductors!" #southernstrike | Southern: "We don't need conductors."Conductors: "We're going on strike"Southern: "Cancel the trains! We need conductors!" #southernstrike |
| Dear @SouthernRailUK and @RMTunion : 🖕 | Dear @SouthernRailUK and @RMTunion : 🖕 |
| @SouthernRailUK advice to commuters today... #southernstrike pic.twitter.com/UHKOsSQypH | @SouthernRailUK advice to commuters today... #southernstrike pic.twitter.com/UHKOsSQypH |
| My journey tonight will resemble this classic thanks to @SouthernRailUK I'm - Going - Home!! #southernfail #STRIKE pic.twitter.com/kKFs4PAhsx | My journey tonight will resemble this classic thanks to @SouthernRailUK I'm - Going - Home!! #southernfail #STRIKE pic.twitter.com/kKFs4PAhsx |
| 12.55pm BST | 12.55pm BST |
| 12:55 | 12:55 |
| Business is not happy with the RMT strike. David Leam – infrastructure director at London First, a lobby group for the capital’s businesses – has used an article in the Telegraph to describe the conductors’ withdrawal of their labour as “ludicrous, shameless and wrong”. He writes: | Business is not happy with the RMT strike. David Leam – infrastructure director at London First, a lobby group for the capital’s businesses – has used an article in the Telegraph to describe the conductors’ withdrawal of their labour as “ludicrous, shameless and wrong”. He writes: |
| The underlying issue here is the prevalence of outdated working practices, which contribute to the high-cost culture of Britain’s railways. While Britain’s railways have been tremendously successful in attracting new passengers they have been much less so at improving their efficiency. Government studies have identified a 40% efficiency gap when comparing our railway against other European countries, requiring passengers and taxpayers to pick up the bill. | The underlying issue here is the prevalence of outdated working practices, which contribute to the high-cost culture of Britain’s railways. While Britain’s railways have been tremendously successful in attracting new passengers they have been much less so at improving their efficiency. Government studies have identified a 40% efficiency gap when comparing our railway against other European countries, requiring passengers and taxpayers to pick up the bill. |
| Reviewing the various assurances and commitments made to the workforce by the train operator and government dispels any notion that the employer is being too hot-headed. Rather it raises the question whether government is, in fact, being too timid. Is it really sustainable to go so far in addressing the concerns of a party that appears dead set against a reasonable negotiated outcome? | Reviewing the various assurances and commitments made to the workforce by the train operator and government dispels any notion that the employer is being too hot-headed. Rather it raises the question whether government is, in fact, being too timid. Is it really sustainable to go so far in addressing the concerns of a party that appears dead set against a reasonable negotiated outcome? |
| Workers in all walks of life need to adapt and change as new technologies emerge. Modern trains no more need a guard to close doors than they need a fireman to shovel coal or be preceded by a man with a red flag to alert fearful passersby. The RMT should stop pretending that the railway is somehow different and put an end to this damaging and ludicrous dispute. | Workers in all walks of life need to adapt and change as new technologies emerge. Modern trains no more need a guard to close doors than they need a fireman to shovel coal or be preceded by a man with a red flag to alert fearful passersby. The RMT should stop pretending that the railway is somehow different and put an end to this damaging and ludicrous dispute. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.42pm BST | at 1.42pm BST |
| 12.50pm BST | 12.50pm BST |
| 12:50 | 12:50 |
| A scan of the most popular Southern rail strike-related hashtags shows plenty of tweets backing the RMT’s industrial action, or at least condemning Southern Rail for the service it provides to travellers. | A scan of the most popular Southern rail strike-related hashtags shows plenty of tweets backing the RMT’s industrial action, or at least condemning Southern Rail for the service it provides to travellers. |
| Cheeky git Govia Thameslink CEO says only #RMT #southernstrike making trains unsafe this week when they're already overcrowded & stressful | Cheeky git Govia Thameslink CEO says only #RMT #southernstrike making trains unsafe this week when they're already overcrowded & stressful |
| #southernrail are a frigging disgrace & thus I fully support @RMTunion in strike action #southernstrike | #southernrail are a frigging disgrace & thus I fully support @RMTunion in strike action #southernstrike |
| Happy @SouthernRailUK is finally being exposed for all of it's absolutely tragic. Joke of a company | Happy @SouthernRailUK is finally being exposed for all of it's absolutely tragic. Joke of a company |
| I use railways all over the EUThe UKs is one of the worst in the EUMOST OTHER EU countries railways nationalised #southernstrike | I use railways all over the EUThe UKs is one of the worst in the EUMOST OTHER EU countries railways nationalised #southernstrike |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.40pm BST | at 1.40pm BST |
| 12.35pm BST | 12.35pm BST |
| 12:35 | 12:35 |
| The RMT has issued a statement condemning what it dubs “lies and smears” over the strike ballot, which have apparently appeared in a number of reports this morning, including the influential Today programme on BBC Radio 4. | The RMT has issued a statement condemning what it dubs “lies and smears” over the strike ballot, which have apparently appeared in a number of reports this morning, including the influential Today programme on BBC Radio 4. |
| According to the union, 81% of 393 eligible members took part in the vote, with 306 – 77% – voting in favour of strike action. “These numbers easily outstrip the hurdles proposed for union ballots by the Tory right in terms of both turnout and the majority in favour of action,” the union says. | According to the union, 81% of 393 eligible members took part in the vote, with 306 – 77% – voting in favour of strike action. “These numbers easily outstrip the hurdles proposed for union ballots by the Tory right in terms of both turnout and the majority in favour of action,” the union says. |
| The statement quotes general secretary, Mick Cash, as saying: | The statement quotes general secretary, Mick Cash, as saying: |
| We are appalled that the BBC’s flagship radio news programme is recycling the lies and smears about our ballot. The turnout was over 80% and 77% of our total membership voted yes. That is a mandate the politicians could only dream of and to try and pretend that only a minority back the action as the BBC have this morning is disgraceful and shoddy journalism. | We are appalled that the BBC’s flagship radio news programme is recycling the lies and smears about our ballot. The turnout was over 80% and 77% of our total membership voted yes. That is a mandate the politicians could only dream of and to try and pretend that only a minority back the action as the BBC have this morning is disgraceful and shoddy journalism. |
| A complaint has been lodged. It’s interesting that no one ever challenges the mandate of the unelected and unaccountable GTR [Govia Thameslink Railway] bosses who have unleashed havoc on their passengers for months. | A complaint has been lodged. It’s interesting that no one ever challenges the mandate of the unelected and unaccountable GTR [Govia Thameslink Railway] bosses who have unleashed havoc on their passengers for months. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.40pm BST | at 1.40pm BST |
| 12.27pm BST | 12.27pm BST |
| 12:27 | 12:27 |
| The skilful video editors on the Guardian’s news desk have done up my interviews with Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary, and Paul Cox, the union’s south-east regional organiser, into a lovely package. They say the strike is all about the safety of passengers, and Cox adds that he believes it is time that the Southern franchise is handed to a new operator. | The skilful video editors on the Guardian’s news desk have done up my interviews with Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary, and Paul Cox, the union’s south-east regional organiser, into a lovely package. They say the strike is all about the safety of passengers, and Cox adds that he believes it is time that the Southern franchise is handed to a new operator. |
| 12.09pm BST | 12.09pm BST |
| 12:09 | 12:09 |
| London Mayor calls for TfL takeover of Southern | London Mayor calls for TfL takeover of Southern |
| Transport for London executives should take charge of the Southern franchise to fix the problems that have blighted journeys, the Mayor of London’s office has said. In a statement sent to the Guardian, a spokesperson for Sadiq Khan said: | Transport for London executives should take charge of the Southern franchise to fix the problems that have blighted journeys, the Mayor of London’s office has said. In a statement sent to the Guardian, a spokesperson for Sadiq Khan said: |
| Thousands of Londoners and longer-distance commuters are facing further disruption as a result of this strike action. The government should accept Sadiq’s offer of putting a senior team from TfL in charge of the GTR Southern franchise until we get a permanent resolution. | Thousands of Londoners and longer-distance commuters are facing further disruption as a result of this strike action. The government should accept Sadiq’s offer of putting a senior team from TfL in charge of the GTR Southern franchise until we get a permanent resolution. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.16pm BST | at 12.16pm BST |