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| Southern rail strike: Grayling offers to meet RMT union for talks Southern rail strike: Grayling offers to meet RMT union for talks | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, has offered to meet the RMT union only if it suspends its industrial action in its dispute with Southern rail, as commuters on the troubled network suffered further disruption in the latest overtime ban by drivers and strike by conductors. | The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, has offered to meet the RMT union only if it suspends its industrial action in its dispute with Southern rail, as commuters on the troubled network suffered further disruption in the latest overtime ban by drivers and strike by conductors. |
| Members of the RMT are on strike for three days, while industrial action by Aslef members, including the refusal to work additional shifts, will run indefinitely. | Members of the RMT are on strike for three days, while industrial action by Aslef members, including the refusal to work additional shifts, will run indefinitely. |
| Southern, which has admitted to parliament that it does not have enough drivers to operate its timetable, has told customers it expects services “to be severely disrupted on every day from Tuesday 6 December until further notice”. | Southern, which has admitted to parliament that it does not have enough drivers to operate its timetable, has told customers it expects services “to be severely disrupted on every day from Tuesday 6 December until further notice”. |
| The RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, said his union had been seeking talks with Grayling since he became secretary of state in June. “He has refused to meet us because we are taking industrial action,” Cash told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. | The RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, said his union had been seeking talks with Grayling since he became secretary of state in June. “He has refused to meet us because we are taking industrial action,” Cash told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. |
| Asked if he would agree to suspend the strike if Grayling offered to meet the union, Cash said: “If he says he wants to meet us, I will certainly put that suggestion back to our executive, yes.” | Asked if he would agree to suspend the strike if Grayling offered to meet the union, Cash said: “If he says he wants to meet us, I will certainly put that suggestion back to our executive, yes.” |
| Within an hour, Grayling said he would meet the union if it suspended strikes. “Call it off and we will work together for the future of the railways,” he told Today. | Within an hour, Grayling said he would meet the union if it suspended strikes. “Call it off and we will work together for the future of the railways,” he told Today. |
| But he made it clear that he sided with the company in the dispute and said it would be wrong for him to interfere in the negotiations. Grayling said: “I don’t think it is right and proper for me to insert myself into a negotiation between a private company and a trade union over a strike I think is politically motivated.” | But he made it clear that he sided with the company in the dispute and said it would be wrong for him to interfere in the negotiations. Grayling said: “I don’t think it is right and proper for me to insert myself into a negotiation between a private company and a trade union over a strike I think is politically motivated.” |
| Southern is changing the role of conductors and bringing in more driver-only operated trains, which unions argue threatens safety as well as jobs. | Southern is changing the role of conductors and bringing in more driver-only operated trains, which unions argue threatens safety as well as jobs. |
| Grayling said the strike was unnecessary. He said: “I am very happy to meet the unions ... They don’t have to carry out this action. Nobody is losing their job, nobody is losing any money. It is perfectly safe as judged by the independent rail inspectorate. There is no reason for this strike to be happening.” | Grayling said the strike was unnecessary. He said: “I am very happy to meet the unions ... They don’t have to carry out this action. Nobody is losing their job, nobody is losing any money. It is perfectly safe as judged by the independent rail inspectorate. There is no reason for this strike to be happening.” |
| Cash, however, took further aim at Grayling, who has been announcing separate proposals to reform how railways are run. The RMT general secretary 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 [Southern] sorting out the current shambles.” | Cash, however, took further aim at Grayling, who has been announcing separate proposals to reform how railways are run. The RMT general secretary 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 [Southern] sorting out the current shambles.” |
| The long-standing dispute has reached the point where even a group of Church of England bishops has attempted to intervene. In a letter, the bishops in Sussex called for an end to the “circle of blame”, saying the dispute was threatening the economic health and development of communities. | The long-standing dispute has reached the point where even a group of Church of England bishops has attempted to intervene. In a letter, the bishops in Sussex called for an end to the “circle of blame”, saying the dispute was threatening the economic health and development of communities. |
| The church leaders said those responsible for the trains had a “moral duty to alleviate the damage that the disruption is causing”. The RMT said it was willing to attend any talks brokered by the bishops. | The church leaders said those responsible for the trains had a “moral duty to alleviate the damage that the disruption is causing”. The RMT said it was willing to attend any talks brokered by the bishops. |
| The RMT said the action that started on Tuesday was “rock solid”. The train company said there was major disruption to trains on the mainline to Brighton and to Redhill, and some disruption to the Gatwick Express, while some branch lines were partially closed. | The RMT said the action that started on Tuesday was “rock solid”. The train company said there was major disruption to trains on the mainline to Brighton and to Redhill, and some disruption to the Gatwick Express, while some branch lines were partially closed. |
| Southern is hoping to run about 50% of scheduled trains this week, but has warned of “severe and significant disruption” and that “stations will be incredibly busy”. It has advised customers to avoid travelling if possible. Southern does not expect to run any trains on three days next week when drivers are planning to strike. | Southern is hoping to run about 50% of scheduled trains this week, but has warned of “severe and significant disruption” and that “stations will be incredibly busy”. It has advised customers to avoid travelling if possible. Southern does not expect to run any trains on three days next week when drivers are planning to strike. |
| “If passengers can make alternative travel arrangements they should, and if they don’t have to travel they shouldn’t,” Southern said. | “If passengers can make alternative travel arrangements they should, and if they don’t have to travel they shouldn’t,” Southern said. |
| Southern’s owner, Govia Thameslink Railway, has launched legal action to block Aslef’s strike, and a hearing is due at the high court in London on Wednesday. | Southern’s owner, Govia Thameslink Railway, has launched legal action to block Aslef’s strike, and a hearing is due at the high court in London on Wednesday. |
| More strikes by the RMT, along with the overtime ban, are planned in the run-up to Christmas and over the new year. A week-long strike by drivers will halt Southern operations again in January. | More strikes by the RMT, along with the overtime ban, are planned in the run-up to Christmas and over the new year. A week-long strike by drivers will halt Southern operations again in January. |