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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Southern rail strike: Second day of action in conductors dispute | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Passengers using Southern rail services are facing further disruption as the RMT strike enters its second day. | Passengers using Southern rail services are facing further disruption as the RMT strike enters its second day. |
| The 48-hour strike, which began at midnight on Tuesday, is part of a long-running dispute over the role of conductors on trains. | The 48-hour strike, which began at midnight on Tuesday, is part of a long-running dispute over the role of conductors on trains. |
| Southern said 62% of its services are running. | Southern said 62% of its services are running. |
| The RMT said the strike was "rock solid and determined" and called on the government to "force Southern back to the negotiating table". | The RMT said the strike was "rock solid and determined" and called on the government to "force Southern back to the negotiating table". |
| Further stoppages are planned around Christmas and over the new year. | Further stoppages are planned around Christmas and over the new year. |
| 'Pure misery' | 'Pure misery' |
| Govia Thameslink (GTR), Southern's parent company, said on strike days it used "contingency conductors" - members of the management team. | Govia Thameslink (GTR), Southern's parent company, said on strike days it used "contingency conductors" - members of the management team. |
| Commuters took to Twitter to vent their anger. | Commuters took to Twitter to vent their anger. |
| Becky Aston posted: "Between @SouthernRailUK and @RMTunion mornings are a pure misery. Really glad I got up at 4.30am to be stood on the platform for an hour." | Becky Aston posted: "Between @SouthernRailUK and @RMTunion mornings are a pure misery. Really glad I got up at 4.30am to be stood on the platform for an hour." |
| Sam Crabb wrote: "Oh look another 2 days of losing money. Don't worry about the general public tho." | |
| The union had said picket lines would be mounted outside stations including London Victoria and Brighton. | The union had said picket lines would be mounted outside stations including London Victoria and Brighton. |
| But Iain Smith tweeted: "@RMTunion Not even bothering to picket this morning outside Brighton station? Enjoy your day off." | |
| The union said a picket would be at the station on Wednesday. | |
| The RMT has said the dispute can be resolved for less than £1m - a fraction of a £20m fund announced by the government to improve services. | |
| General secretary Mick Cash said filling 20 guard posts which were effectively "deleted" by the company in January would guarantee a second safety-critical person on the trains. | |
| The dispute is over changes in guards' roles on new trains where the driver would take over operating the doors. The union has raised concerns about job cuts and safety. | |
| But a spokesman for Southern said the company had offered the union a guarantee on numbers of on-board supervisors and was recruiting a further 100 people for the role. | |
| He said: "The sticking point isn't the number of staff. It is the RMT's determination to hang on to its union muscle by insisting a train could never leave without an on-board supervisor even if that means stranding hundreds of passengers. | |
| "This isn't about money. This is about muscle." | |
| Further RMT strike dates: | Further RMT strike dates: |
| 00:01 Tuesday 6 December to 23:59 Thursday 8 December | 00:01 Tuesday 6 December to 23:59 Thursday 8 December |
| 00:01 Thursday 22 December to 23:59 Saturday 24 December | 00:01 Thursday 22 December to 23:59 Saturday 24 December |
| 00:01 Saturday 31 December to 23:59 Monday 2 January | 00:01 Saturday 31 December to 23:59 Monday 2 January |