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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/dec/14/southern-rail-strike-continues-as-unions-and-train-firm-meet-at-acas
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| Southern rail strike continues as train firm and unions meet at Acas Southern rail strike continues as train firm and unions meet at Acas | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Southern rail passengers are facing more misery with no trains running at all for a second consecutive day, as unions and the company meet at Acas to seek a breakthrough in the long-running dispute. | Southern rail passengers are facing more misery with no trains running at all for a second consecutive day, as unions and the company meet at Acas to seek a breakthrough in the long-running dispute. |
| Drivers from Aslef have continued their strike, with a third day planned for Friday. | Drivers from Aslef have continued their strike, with a third day planned for Friday. |
| Talks between Southern’s owner, Govia Thameslink Railway, Aslef, and the RMT union will start at 10am on Wednesday, with hopes that the escalating row and the extreme disruption will push the two sides into some form of agreement. | Talks between Southern’s owner, Govia Thameslink Railway, Aslef, and the RMT union will start at 10am on Wednesday, with hopes that the escalating row and the extreme disruption will push the two sides into some form of agreement. |
| But previous talks broke down swiftly as the company continued to insist on the flexibility to run trains without a second crew member in some circumstances – a red line for the unions who fear jobs will be lost or deskilled, as the company, and more broadly the government, pushes to introduce more driver-only-operated trains. | But previous talks broke down swiftly as the company continued to insist on the flexibility to run trains without a second crew member in some circumstances – a red line for the unions who fear jobs will be lost or deskilled, as the company, and more broadly the government, pushes to introduce more driver-only-operated trains. |
| Talks come after Tuesday saw recriminations from both sides, with the train drivers’ union Aslef accusing the government of blocking serious talks and manipulating the Southern dispute while the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, said the unions had embarked on an unnecessary political strike. | Talks come after Tuesday saw recriminations from both sides, with the train drivers’ union Aslef accusing the government of blocking serious talks and manipulating the Southern dispute while the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, said the unions had embarked on an unnecessary political strike. |
| Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary, said: “The government is underwriting and causing the pain and misery of the travelling public. The reality is that the whole of this has been driven by the Department for Transport and their desire for driver-only operation.” | Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary, said: “The government is underwriting and causing the pain and misery of the travelling public. The reality is that the whole of this has been driven by the Department for Transport and their desire for driver-only operation.” |
| The strike prompted more calls from the Tory right for limits on strikes by transport workers. The Tory MP Chris Philp, who represents the badly affected constituency of Croydon South, called for urgent legislation to end the misery for passengers. | The strike prompted more calls from the Tory right for limits on strikes by transport workers. The Tory MP Chris Philp, who represents the badly affected constituency of Croydon South, called for urgent legislation to end the misery for passengers. |
| Philp, one member of a group that has been meeting regularly with Grayling and the rail minister Paul Maynard, said he wanted a rule that when a strike occurs on critical public infrastructure, at least a 50% service is maintained and the strike should be “reasonable and proportionate”. | Philp, one member of a group that has been meeting regularly with Grayling and the rail minister Paul Maynard, said he wanted a rule that when a strike occurs on critical public infrastructure, at least a 50% service is maintained and the strike should be “reasonable and proportionate”. |
| He also said it should be mandatory to attend mediation at Acas. The Guardian understands that Grayling had an amicable meeting with Tory MPs on Tuesday and has agreed to keep legislation on the table, but it is not his preferred option. | He also said it should be mandatory to attend mediation at Acas. The Guardian understands that Grayling had an amicable meeting with Tory MPs on Tuesday and has agreed to keep legislation on the table, but it is not his preferred option. |
| No 10 meanwhile said that the strikes were “causing misery for hundreds of thousands of commuters” and said it would review recent trade union legislation to see if more legislation was necessary. | No 10 meanwhile said that the strikes were “causing misery for hundreds of thousands of commuters” and said it would review recent trade union legislation to see if more legislation was necessary. |
| “Obviously we have recently passed legislation on unions and it’s right that we review that to see if that is working in practice,” the prime minister’s spokesman said. | “Obviously we have recently passed legislation on unions and it’s right that we review that to see if that is working in practice,” the prime minister’s spokesman said. |
| Grayling on Tuesday said he was willing to meet unions and released a letter to Aslef complaining that he had had no reply to his offer of a meeting, subject to Aslef calling off strikes. | Grayling on Tuesday said he was willing to meet unions and released a letter to Aslef complaining that he had had no reply to his offer of a meeting, subject to Aslef calling off strikes. |
| Whelan responded: “In one breath, he’s saying he won’t get involved; in the other, he’s saying we’re refusing to meet him. But why would we if he’s not going to say anything?” | Whelan responded: “In one breath, he’s saying he won’t get involved; in the other, he’s saying we’re refusing to meet him. But why would we if he’s not going to say anything?” |
| All of Southern’s 2,242 weekday services, which normally carry more than 300,000 passengers, have been cancelled again, causing the worst strike-led disruption since privatisation. Severe congestion was expected at rush hour elsewhere as passengers attempt to use other methods of travel. Southern has advised its customers not to travel. | All of Southern’s 2,242 weekday services, which normally carry more than 300,000 passengers, have been cancelled again, causing the worst strike-led disruption since privatisation. Severe congestion was expected at rush hour elsewhere as passengers attempt to use other methods of travel. Southern has advised its customers not to travel. |
| A commuter group is planning a protest march from Southern’s major London hub, Victoria, to the Department for Transport on Thursday. | A commuter group is planning a protest march from Southern’s major London hub, Victoria, to the Department for Transport on Thursday. |
| If no resolution is found, even without a strike on Thursday, an ongoing overtime ban will seriously disrupt services, while conductors in the RMT union will walk out for two days from Monday. | If no resolution is found, even without a strike on Thursday, an ongoing overtime ban will seriously disrupt services, while conductors in the RMT union will walk out for two days from Monday. |