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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Southern in legal bid to stop strike, RMT says | Southern in legal bid to stop strike, RMT says |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Southern is taking legal action to try to stop a series of strikes from Tuesday, the RMT transport union said. | |
| The RMT revealed it had received a legal challenge just hours before the start of a three-day walkout. | |
| Southern said in a statement it was "considering all possible options to stop the strike and that includes a legal challenge". | Southern said in a statement it was "considering all possible options to stop the strike and that includes a legal challenge". |
| Talks aimed at averting the strikes over changes to the role of conductors ended without agreement last week. | Talks aimed at averting the strikes over changes to the role of conductors ended without agreement last week. |
| The RMT said it intended to continue with the planned action but was examining the paperwork. | The RMT said it intended to continue with the planned action but was examining the paperwork. |
| In a message to union members, RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "The dispute is not over and the strike action... is definitely on. | |
| "Organise the picket lines and protests and continue to show your determination and solidarity in your fight for justice." | |
| 'Passengers baffled' | |
| The strike is due to begin from one minute past midnight on Tuesday, causing fresh travel misery for passengers. | The strike is due to begin from one minute past midnight on Tuesday, causing fresh travel misery for passengers. |
| In talks last week, the RMT said the train operator had rejected a fresh set of proposals that could have resolved the dispute. | In talks last week, the RMT said the train operator had rejected a fresh set of proposals that could have resolved the dispute. |
| But Govia Thameslink CEO Charles Horton said the RMT counter-proposal "didn't come anywhere near our goals of modernising our train service for the benefit of passengers". | But Govia Thameslink CEO Charles Horton said the RMT counter-proposal "didn't come anywhere near our goals of modernising our train service for the benefit of passengers". |
| RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "RMT can confirm the receipt of a formal legal challenge from Southern Rail in the guards safety dispute. | RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "RMT can confirm the receipt of a formal legal challenge from Southern Rail in the guards safety dispute. |
| "It is appalling that rather than sitting down with us at Acas today to seek a resolution the company has chosen to run to the courts under the cloak of the anti-union laws." | "It is appalling that rather than sitting down with us at Acas today to seek a resolution the company has chosen to run to the courts under the cloak of the anti-union laws." |
| On Sunday, it emerged rail staff had been advised by union bosses to accept the new contracts. | On Sunday, it emerged rail staff had been advised by union bosses to accept the new contracts. |
| The RMT said there was "no climb down" but it was their duty to protect staff against mass sackings. | The RMT said there was "no climb down" but it was their duty to protect staff against mass sackings. |
| A Southern spokesman said: "On Friday they told their conductor members to accept a deal and then tomorrow they plan to strike against it. | A Southern spokesman said: "On Friday they told their conductor members to accept a deal and then tomorrow they plan to strike against it. |
| "It is a situation which will leave our passengers baffled and in that context we are presently considering all possible options to stop the strike. | "It is a situation which will leave our passengers baffled and in that context we are presently considering all possible options to stop the strike. |
| "We have written to the RMT about the validity of the dispute in light of recent developments. | "We have written to the RMT about the validity of the dispute in light of recent developments. |
| "We await their response and will consider all possible options to stop the strike and that includes a legal challenge." | "We await their response and will consider all possible options to stop the strike and that includes a legal challenge." |
| Strike dates announced by the RMT: | Strike dates announced by the RMT: |