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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Southern Rail strike: Talks break down as strike continues | Southern Rail strike: Talks break down as strike continues |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The first face-to-face talks between the bosses of Southern trains and the RMT union in a bid to avert further strike action have broken down. | The first face-to-face talks between the bosses of Southern trains and the RMT union in a bid to avert further strike action have broken down. |
| The 72-hour walkout began on Tuesday despite the RMT advising members to sign new contracts. | The 72-hour walkout began on Tuesday despite the RMT advising members to sign new contracts. |
| RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said "a golden opportunity" to resolve the dispute "had been wrecked". | |
| 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. |
| 'Raising hopes' | |
| Mr Cash said: "RMT entered talks with Charles Horton from Southern [on Wednesday morning] in good faith and with every intention of trying to reach an agreement. | |
| "However, it became clear from the outset that Mr Horton is refusing to stick by the assurances he gave to the media yesterday that he can absolutely guarantee a second member of staff on all current Southern services with a conductor." | |
| Mr Cash said the union was "angry and frustrated". | |
| Mr Horton said he had made it "crystal clear" that Southern was going to implement its proposals guaranteeing every train which has a conductor now will have a conductor or onboard supervisor in the future. | |
| He said: "They have absolutely nothing new to say - today, last week, last month - which helps us move forward. | |
| "They raise everyone's hopes by stating they want to end the dispute, but then dash them by their continued head-in-the-sand position." | |
| Train chaos 'dangerous' | Train chaos 'dangerous' |
| The Association of British Commuters, which is seeking a judicial review over the government's handling of the Southern franchise, has written to the Department for Transport raising concerns for passengers' safety. | |
| A spokesman said: "Passengers are having to cope with absolute chaos now. On any day, trains are overcrowded or cancelled and the situation is dangerous." | A spokesman said: "Passengers are having to cope with absolute chaos now. On any day, trains are overcrowded or cancelled and the situation is dangerous." |
| 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. |
| Southern said it would continue to run a revised timetable on Wednesday. | Southern said it would continue to run a revised timetable on Wednesday. |
| Analysis: Jack Fiehn, political reporter BBC Surrey | 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 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. | 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. | 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? | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | 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." | 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. | 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." | 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: |