This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37628110
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Southern Rail strike: Talks planned as action continues | Southern Rail strike: Talks planned as action continues |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The first face-to-face talks between the bosses of Southern trains and the RMT union are to take place later in a bid to avert further strike action. | The first face-to-face talks between the bosses of Southern trains and the RMT union are to take place later in a bid to avert further strike action. |
| The 72-hour walkout which began on Tuesday is due to go on until Friday, despite the RMT advising members to sign new contracts. | The 72-hour walkout which began on Tuesday is due to go on until Friday, despite the RMT advising members to sign new contracts. |
| The union has held a series of walkouts since April over the role of conductors on Southern services. | The union has held a series of walkouts since April over the role of conductors on Southern services. |
| Southern said it would continue to run a revised timetable on Wednesday. | Southern said it would continue to run a revised timetable on Wednesday. |
| A spokesman for Southern said they did not know where or when the talks would take place. | |
| In a letter to RMT general secretary Mick Cash, Southern CEO Charles Horton said: "I'm prepared to free my diary... to meet and to show your serious intent, I would like the RMT to call off the rest of the strike action planned for this week." | In a letter to RMT general secretary Mick Cash, Southern CEO Charles Horton said: "I'm prepared to free my diary... to meet and to show your serious intent, I would like the RMT to call off the rest of the strike action planned for this week." |
| Mr Cash said talks were a golden opportunity to break the deadlock and the union would be present at them. | Mr Cash said talks were a golden opportunity to break the deadlock and the union would be present at them. |
| Transport Focus spokesman Anthony Smith said passengers had "lost the plot as to what the original rights and wrongs of the dispute actually were". | Transport Focus spokesman Anthony Smith said passengers had "lost the plot as to what the original rights and wrongs of the dispute actually were". |
| "It has become so bitter and protracted," he said. | "It has become so bitter and protracted," he said. |
| Analysis: Jack Fiehn, political reporter BBC Surrey | |
| The talks are the first time the two individuals at the top of both the union and Southern have negotiated directly with each other. | |
| The CEO of Govia Thameslink says he hopes they can shake hands on a deal. | |
| Meanwhile the General Secretary of the RMT, Mick Cash, says this is a "golden opportunity" for a breakthrough. | |
| So is this a glimmer of hope for long suffering commuters, caught in the middle of this bitter dispute? | |
| Talks have been going on for months and so far nothing has been resolved. | |
| The question is what exactly could these two men offer each other to break the deadlock. | |
| Passengers have been complaining about trains having less carriages and over crowding. | |
| SonicLady tweeted: "That's it @SouthernRailUK, shortform my train on strike day. Many passengers unable to board again. #SouthernStrike #southernfail." | |
| Beefqueen posted: ".@SouthernRailUK Why is the 0838 from TBG to City Thameslink today shortformed? #SouthernStrike #southernfail." | |
| Others have said services were running better than on the first day of the strike. | |
| Fed tweeted: "The train situation is still bad this morning, though slightly less so than yesterday. Good luck folks - keep your heads :) #SouthernStrike." | |
| Strike dates announced by the RMT: | Strike dates announced by the RMT: |