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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Southern rail strike to bring 'major delays' | Southern rail strike to bring 'major delays' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Commuters are facing major delays yet again as the latest three-day strike on the Southern rail network is under way. | Commuters are facing major delays yet again as the latest three-day strike on the Southern rail network is under way. |
| The RMT union walked out at midnight in the continuing dispute over the role of conductors. The drivers' union, Aslef, is also beginning an overtime ban. | The RMT union walked out at midnight in the continuing dispute over the role of conductors. The drivers' union, Aslef, is also beginning an overtime ban. |
| Southern warned customers of "severe and significant" disruption as a result of the action by both unions. | Southern warned customers of "severe and significant" disruption as a result of the action by both unions. |
| The dispute has been likened to the "railway's equivalent of the 1984 miners' strike". | The dispute has been likened to the "railway's equivalent of the 1984 miners' strike". |
| Live strike updates | Live strike updates |
| Southern refund: What you need to know | Southern refund: What you need to know |
| Your questions answered | Your questions answered |
| Southern tweeted: "Industrial action is significantly affected services today." | Southern tweeted: "Industrial action is significantly affected services today." |
| Meanwhile, passengers have been venting online. | Meanwhile, passengers have been venting online. |
| Peter Izard tweeted: "Thanks to #southernstrike having to drive to work today then stay in hotel Wed Thursday high costs and family impact huge @delayrepayagent" | Peter Izard tweeted: "Thanks to #southernstrike having to drive to work today then stay in hotel Wed Thursday high costs and family impact huge @delayrepayagent" |
| A 24-hour strike was also due to take place on two London Underground lines from Tuesday evening, but it has been suspended. | A 24-hour strike was also due to take place on two London Underground lines from Tuesday evening, but it has been suspended. |
| Southern's parent company Govia Thameslink Railway is taking legal action to try to stop the Aslef stoppages. | Southern's parent company Govia Thameslink Railway is taking legal action to try to stop the Aslef stoppages. |
| Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, said: "Our guards members on Southern Rail remain rock solid and absolutely determined in their action in defence of rail safety." | Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, said: "Our guards members on Southern Rail remain rock solid and absolutely determined in their action in defence of rail safety." |
| He said the union would "make another attempt to engage" with the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, when he makes a speech about the management of the rail network later. | He said the union would "make another attempt to engage" with the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, when he makes a speech about the management of the rail network later. |
| "Instead of parading around the newsrooms with his lethal scheme to give outfits like Southern a chance to wreck rail infrastructure, as well as our train operations, the transport secretary should be in a room with the unions and GTR sorting out the current shambles," he said. | "Instead of parading around the newsrooms with his lethal scheme to give outfits like Southern a chance to wreck rail infrastructure, as well as our train operations, the transport secretary should be in a room with the unions and GTR sorting out the current shambles," he said. |
| 'Battle for the future' | 'Battle for the future' |
| Mr Grayling responded saying he did not think it was right for him to get involved in a strike which was "politically motivated". | |
| "This is not a dispute between me and the unions," he said. | |
| "I have actually met Aslef, I've met the TUC and I've met other unions but I don't think it's right and proper to insert myself into negotiations between a private company and a trade union." | |
| The rail operator advised passengers to check ahead of travelling and said an amended timetable was in force. Queuing systems may have to be put in place at some stations during the morning rush hour, the company said. | The rail operator advised passengers to check ahead of travelling and said an amended timetable was in force. Queuing systems may have to be put in place at some stations during the morning rush hour, the company said. |
| It is the longest-running rail strike since the railways were privatised in 1996, with the RMT's members having first walked out in April. | It is the longest-running rail strike since the railways were privatised in 1996, with the RMT's members having first walked out in April. |
| Southern commuters' tales of 'hell' | Southern commuters' tales of 'hell' |
| The continuing dispute is increasingly viewed as the railway's version of the 1984 miners' strike, said Paul Clifton, BBC South's transport correspondent. | The continuing dispute is increasingly viewed as the railway's version of the 1984 miners' strike, said Paul Clifton, BBC South's transport correspondent. |
| "It is a battle for the future of the unions on the railways," he said. | "It is a battle for the future of the unions on the railways," he said. |
| "The government is committed to changing working practices and is prepared to see it out." | "The government is committed to changing working practices and is prepared to see it out." |
| On RMT strike days about 50% of the full timetable will operate but if the Aslef strikes go ahead, no Southern services will run. | On RMT strike days about 50% of the full timetable will operate but if the Aslef strikes go ahead, no Southern services will run. |
| Analysis: Paul Clifton, BBC South transport correspondent | Analysis: Paul Clifton, BBC South transport correspondent |
| RMT conductors began their strikes last April. Since the railway was privatised in the 1990s, no other industrial action has come close in either duration or intensity. | RMT conductors began their strikes last April. Since the railway was privatised in the 1990s, no other industrial action has come close in either duration or intensity. |
| It's getting worse. Aslef drivers are joining in with an overtime ban from today. Conductors can disrupt a service, but drivers can stop almost every train from moving. | It's getting worse. Aslef drivers are joining in with an overtime ban from today. Conductors can disrupt a service, but drivers can stop almost every train from moving. |
| Comparisons with the miners' strike now start to stack up. Conductors are protesting about a new grade called on-board supervisor, even though 99% of them have now accepted the new roles. It's as if the original motive for a local strike has been pushed aside in a bigger fight against the government. | Comparisons with the miners' strike now start to stack up. Conductors are protesting about a new grade called on-board supervisor, even though 99% of them have now accepted the new roles. It's as if the original motive for a local strike has been pushed aside in a bigger fight against the government. |
| Everyone realises Southern is simply doing as it is told by the Department for Transport. Neither side can back down with honour intact. | Everyone realises Southern is simply doing as it is told by the Department for Transport. Neither side can back down with honour intact. |
| Insiders tell me ministers will tough it out, overseeing long-overdue modernisation of working practices - as they see it. The unions believe safety will suffer. | Insiders tell me ministers will tough it out, overseeing long-overdue modernisation of working practices - as they see it. The unions believe safety will suffer. |
| If they lose, their grip on the railway will be weakened. Stuck in the middle, passengers are powerless to intervene. | If they lose, their grip on the railway will be weakened. Stuck in the middle, passengers are powerless to intervene. |
| One thing is clear, this battle still has a long way to run. | |
| Southern rail strike dates: | Southern rail strike dates: |
| 00:01 Tuesday 6 December to 23:59 Thursday 8 December (RMT) | 00:01 Tuesday 6 December to 23:59 Thursday 8 December (RMT) |
| 00:01: Tuesday 13 December to 23:59 Wednesday 14 December (Aslef) | 00:01: Tuesday 13 December to 23:59 Wednesday 14 December (Aslef) |
| 00:01 Friday 16 December to 23:59: Friday 16 December (Aslef) | 00:01 Friday 16 December to 23:59: Friday 16 December (Aslef) |
| 00:01 Monday 19 December to 23:59 Tuesday 20 December (RMT) | 00:01 Monday 19 December to 23:59 Tuesday 20 December (RMT) |
| 00:01 Saturday 31 December to 23:59 Monday 2 January (RMT) | 00:01 Saturday 31 December to 23:59 Monday 2 January (RMT) |
| 00:01 Monday 9 January to 23:59: Saturday 14 January (Aslef) | 00:01 Monday 9 January to 23:59: Saturday 14 January (Aslef) |