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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2016/aug/08/southern-rail-strike-begins-live-updates
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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Southern rail strike begins – live updates | Southern rail strike begins – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.55pm BST | |
| 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: | |
| The underlying issue here is the prevalence of outdated working practices, which contribute to the high-cost culture of Britain’s railways.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 per cent 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? | |
| 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 passers-by. The RMT should stop pretending that the railway is somehow different and put an end to this damaging and ludicrous dispute. | |
| 12.50pm BST | |
| 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. | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 12.05pm BST | 12.05pm BST |
| 12:05 | 12:05 |
| (Correction: It has been brought to our attention that this picture was not taken this morning. The image is just being used as a general illustration.) | |
| Commuters travelling in from Brighton and Sussex have borne much of the brunt of the strike action. This picture, tweeted early this morning, captures the scene as hundreds queued to get aboard the train to London. | Commuters travelling in from Brighton and Sussex have borne much of the brunt of the strike action. This picture, tweeted early this morning, captures the scene as hundreds queued to get aboard the train to London. |
| Longest rail strike since 1968 has begun with special thanks to Southern Rail and the RMT Union... pic.twitter.com/fZTQtdaGvy | Longest rail strike since 1968 has begun with special thanks to Southern Rail and the RMT Union... pic.twitter.com/fZTQtdaGvy |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.13pm BST | |
| 11.50am BST | 11.50am BST |
| 11:50 | 11:50 |
| Theresa May has condemned the Southern strike, according to this tweet by BBC political correspondent Chris Mason. | Theresa May has condemned the Southern strike, according to this tweet by BBC political correspondent Chris Mason. |
| Downing St: "The Prime Minister strongly condemns the strike action. We are deeply disappointed." #southernstrike #southern | Downing St: "The Prime Minister strongly condemns the strike action. We are deeply disappointed." #southernstrike #southern |
| Of course, it’s hardly a surprise that the prime minister, who as home secretary expressed her desire to repeal the Human Rights Act, is no fan of workers’ rights either. | Of course, it’s hardly a surprise that the prime minister, who as home secretary expressed her desire to repeal the Human Rights Act, is no fan of workers’ rights either. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.14pm BST | at 12.14pm BST |
| 11.47am BST | 11.47am BST |
| 11:47 | 11:47 |
| The bookies are backing another strike on Southern Rail before the end of the year. According to Lee Power, PR & “mischief champion” at Paddy Power: | The bookies are backing another strike on Southern Rail before the end of the year. According to Lee Power, PR & “mischief champion” at Paddy Power: |
| Incredibly, we make it ODDS-ON that there’s another 5+ day strike this year by Southern Rail. | Incredibly, we make it ODDS-ON that there’s another 5+ day strike this year by Southern Rail. |
| A 2+ day strike is a whopping 1/20 on for this year. | A 2+ day strike is a whopping 1/20 on for this year. |
| While the odds on the 0729 Brighton to London service never leaving on time next year is just 7/2. | While the odds on the 0729 Brighton to London service never leaving on time next year is just 7/2. |
| Oh dear! | Oh dear! |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.47am BST | at 11.47am BST |
| 11.16am BST | 11.16am BST |
| 11:16 | 11:16 |
| Another commuter belt MP weighs in: this time it’s justice minister Sam Gyimah, whose East Surrey constituency is firmly in Southern’s territory. | Another commuter belt MP weighs in: this time it’s justice minister Sam Gyimah, whose East Surrey constituency is firmly in Southern’s territory. |
| Unacceptable disruption. Southern strike is damaging to the local economy. Who shuts the doors is not main concern for fare-paying commuters | Unacceptable disruption. Southern strike is damaging to the local economy. Who shuts the doors is not main concern for fare-paying commuters |
| Last month Gyimah wrote to Charles Horton, CEO of Southern franchise-holder Govia Thameslink, criticising the “intransigence of both parties”. He says some of his constituents tell him their jobs are at risk because of the endemic delays to the service. | Last month Gyimah wrote to Charles Horton, CEO of Southern franchise-holder Govia Thameslink, criticising the “intransigence of both parties”. He says some of his constituents tell him their jobs are at risk because of the endemic delays to the service. |
| Hat-tip to Isabel Togoh for pointing this out. | Hat-tip to Isabel Togoh for pointing this out. |
| 10.29am BST | 10.29am BST |
| 10:29 | 10:29 |
| A few tweets from Tom Tugendhat, the Tory MP for Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Malling: | A few tweets from Tom Tugendhat, the Tory MP for Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Malling: |
| This week's @RMTunion strike is unnecessary-no job cuts, no safety issues-it's just punishing commuters for going to work. #wrong | This week's @RMTunion strike is unnecessary-no job cuts, no safety issues-it's just punishing commuters for going to work. #wrong |
| Please @RMTunion sit down with @SouthernRailUK and stop making people's lives impossible. This strike isn't needed. There are no job cuts. | Please @RMTunion sit down with @SouthernRailUK and stop making people's lives impossible. This strike isn't needed. There are no job cuts. |
| No @redhillfill I back neither. @RMTunion are being opportunist and I've already called for @SouthernRailUK to lose the franchise. | No @redhillfill I back neither. @RMTunion are being opportunist and I've already called for @SouthernRailUK to lose the franchise. |
| Here’s a blog post from last month in which Tugendhat lays into Southern in no uncertain terms: | Here’s a blog post from last month in which Tugendhat lays into Southern in no uncertain terms: |
| Govia Thameslink is clearly incapable of running a major rail franchise, and I would like to see it stripped of the Southern franchise immediately. | Govia Thameslink is clearly incapable of running a major rail franchise, and I would like to see it stripped of the Southern franchise immediately. |
| I, and other residents in Tonbridge, Edenbridge and surrounding villages are fed up with the appalling service which is prevalent across its network. Jobs are at risk as a result of employees being consistently late to work, children are behind in their education due to arriving at school late and families cannot plan from one day to the next. | I, and other residents in Tonbridge, Edenbridge and surrounding villages are fed up with the appalling service which is prevalent across its network. Jobs are at risk as a result of employees being consistently late to work, children are behind in their education due to arriving at school late and families cannot plan from one day to the next. |
| 10.20am BST | 10.20am BST |
| 10:20 | 10:20 |
| Gwyn Topham | Gwyn Topham |
| Our third diarist, Huw Merriman MP, is not commuting in to London during the parliamentary recess, but is attempting to make a journey across his constituency by public transport today when Southern have cancelled all services on several branch lines. | Our third diarist, Huw Merriman MP, is not commuting in to London during the parliamentary recess, but is attempting to make a journey across his constituency by public transport today when Southern have cancelled all services on several branch lines. |
| He is recording a video diary of the ongoing journey from Bexhill to Eastbourne for a meeting, and on to Brighton, with not even a replacement bus on offer from the train operator. | He is recording a video diary of the ongoing journey from Bexhill to Eastbourne for a meeting, and on to Brighton, with not even a replacement bus on offer from the train operator. |
| My rail diary on first day of #southernstrike #bexhill #battle pic.twitter.com/4YxXTLZjHZ | My rail diary on first day of #southernstrike #bexhill #battle pic.twitter.com/4YxXTLZjHZ |
| My rail diary: second video on first day of #southernstrike #bexhill #battle pic.twitter.com/o50MEQiZlR | My rail diary: second video on first day of #southernstrike #bexhill #battle pic.twitter.com/o50MEQiZlR |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.59am BST | at 10.59am BST |
| 10.16am BST | 10.16am BST |
| 10:16 | 10:16 |
| With the morning rush hour over, it seems commuter chaos has not quite occurred – at least in London. As our passenger diaries show, people have had their journeys messed up but have attempted to plan around the disruptions, and my colleague on the frontline, Damien Gayle, reports that Victoria station is quieter than usual. | With the morning rush hour over, it seems commuter chaos has not quite occurred – at least in London. As our passenger diaries show, people have had their journeys messed up but have attempted to plan around the disruptions, and my colleague on the frontline, Damien Gayle, reports that Victoria station is quieter than usual. |
| The fact that the strike is happening in the middle of the summer holidays may have helped. | The fact that the strike is happening in the middle of the summer holidays may have helped. |
| But months of delays and cancellations have created a sense of solidarity among many Southern passengers, who have been venting their frustrations on Twitter at #southernfail. The disruptions have also given rise to a passenger campaign group, the Association of British Commuters (they’re on Facebook here), which organised the protest welcoming would-be travellers to “commuter hell” at Victoria last month. | But months of delays and cancellations have created a sense of solidarity among many Southern passengers, who have been venting their frustrations on Twitter at #southernfail. The disruptions have also given rise to a passenger campaign group, the Association of British Commuters (they’re on Facebook here), which organised the protest welcoming would-be travellers to “commuter hell” at Victoria last month. |
| Let’s see how the evening rush-hour unfolds... | Let’s see how the evening rush-hour unfolds... |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.00am BST | at 11.00am BST |
| 9.54am BST | 9.54am BST |
| 09:54 | 09:54 |
| RMT organiser Paul Cox is calling for Southern to be removed from the franchise, as he speaks to Damien Gayle on the picket line: | RMT organiser Paul Cox is calling for Southern to be removed from the franchise, as he speaks to Damien Gayle on the picket line: |
| It's time for @SouthernRailUK to go, says @RMTunion's Paul Cox #southernstrike #RMTstrike pic.twitter.com/nkqD2Lqx9b | It's time for @SouthernRailUK to go, says @RMTunion's Paul Cox #southernstrike #RMTstrike pic.twitter.com/nkqD2Lqx9b |
| Meanwhile Southern Rail’s Twitter feed says the strike is “unjustified”: | Meanwhile Southern Rail’s Twitter feed says the strike is “unjustified”: |
| Unjustified RMT strike, 8-12 August, over our plans to improve your journeys https://t.co/PjHj6OaCIj | Unjustified RMT strike, 8-12 August, over our plans to improve your journeys https://t.co/PjHj6OaCIj |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.03am BST | at 11.03am BST |
| 9.47am BST | 9.47am BST |
| 09:47 | 09:47 |
| Damien Gayle has spoken to the RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, on the picket line at Victoria station: | Damien Gayle has spoken to the RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, on the picket line at Victoria station: |
| We want to ensure there's a guard on every train says @RMTunion gen sec #southernstrike #RMTstrike pic.twitter.com/SDjKG0xinG | We want to ensure there's a guard on every train says @RMTunion gen sec #southernstrike #RMTstrike pic.twitter.com/SDjKG0xinG |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.01am BST | at 11.01am BST |
| 9.36am BST | 9.36am BST |
| 09:36 | 09:36 |
| Rachel Obordo | Rachel Obordo |
| Whether you’re striking or your commute has been affected we’d like to hear from you. You can share your photos and stories by clicking on the ‘Contribute’ button in the live blog. | Whether you’re striking or your commute has been affected we’d like to hear from you. You can share your photos and stories by clicking on the ‘Contribute’ button in the live blog. |
| You can also fill in our form or contact us on WhatsApp on +447867825056. | You can also fill in our form or contact us on WhatsApp on +447867825056. |
| We’ll include some of your submissions in the live blog and in our reporting. | We’ll include some of your submissions in the live blog and in our reporting. |