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Northern, Southern and Merseyrail strikes set for September Northern, Southern and Merseyrail strikes set for September
(about 2 hours later)
Further rail strikes have been set for next month to coincide with schools going back in the row over driver-only-operated trains. Further England-wide rail strikes have been set for next month in the row over driver-only-operated trains.
Arriva Rail North, Merseyrail and Southern RMT staff will walk out from Friday 1 September with the last strike on Monday 4 September.Arriva Rail North, Merseyrail and Southern RMT staff will walk out from Friday 1 September with the last strike on Monday 4 September.
The RMT said no progress had been made over the future of the role of guards, due to safety and job loss fears. The RMT said it still had concerns over safety and job loss fears.
Arriva Rail North said it is prepared to guarantee jobs. Merseyrail said safety fears were unfounded, Arriva Rail North said it would keep jobs and Southern said it was "disappointed" by the action.
'Round-table talks' Arriva Rail North - which operates under the brand Northern - and Southern workers will walk out on Friday 1 September and Monday 4 September.
Arriva Rail North - which operates under the brand Northern - and Southern workers will walk out on Friday, 1 September and Monday, 4 September. Staff at Merseyrail will be on strike on 1, 3 and 4 September.
Staff at Merseyrail will be on strike on 1 September, 3 September and 4 September. Strikes this year
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: "RMT is bitterly disappointed that Southern Rail have rejected our call for round-table discussions involving all parties with an interest in resolving this dispute."RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: "RMT is bitterly disappointed that Southern Rail have rejected our call for round-table discussions involving all parties with an interest in resolving this dispute."
After a meeting with Northern bosses Mr Cash said the "responsibility for the inevitable disruption lies wholly with the company".After a meeting with Northern bosses Mr Cash said the "responsibility for the inevitable disruption lies wholly with the company".
He added: "It is disgraceful that Merseyrail continue to refuse all reasonable attempts by the union to settle this dispute.He added: "It is disgraceful that Merseyrail continue to refuse all reasonable attempts by the union to settle this dispute.
"RMT has a clear plan for resolving this dispute but that requires round-table talks now to push forwards.""RMT has a clear plan for resolving this dispute but that requires round-table talks now to push forwards."
Alan Chaplin, Northern's managing director said: "Northern is prepared to guarantee jobs and current pay for all our conductors for the next eight years, until the end of our franchise. Our offers to discuss every detail on the future responsibilities and training for on-board colleagues have been rejected by RMT." Alan Chaplin, Northern's managing director said: "Northern is prepared to guarantee jobs and current pay for all our conductors for the next eight years, until the end of our franchise.
Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, Merseyrail's managing director, said: "The RMT say this dispute is about safety. But a recent industry report (RSSB, Risk associated with train dispatch, July 2017) states that: '… there is no additional risk for passengers boarding and alighting driver-controlled operation/driver-only operation trains, and indeed that trains without a guard actually appear to lower overall dispatch related safety risk to passengers." "Our offers to discuss every detail on the future responsibilities and training for on-board colleagues have been rejected by RMT."
Southern has also been approached for comment. Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, Merseyrail's managing director, added: "The RMT say this dispute is about safety. But a recent industry report (RSSB, Risk associated with train dispatch, July 2017) states that: '… there is no additional risk for passengers boarding and alighting driver-controlled operation/driver-only operation trains, and indeed that trains without a guard actually appear to lower overall dispatch related safety risk to passengers."
A spokesperson for Southern said they were "disappointed by this unnecessary action and the RMT's refusal to engage with us in modernising the railway".
"Modernisation is urgently required to future-proof and increase capacity on the busiest parts of the UK railway.
"This modernisation needs three things: investment in better infrastructure, new trains, and changes in working practices. The first two elements are being rolled out but the trade unions need to play their part if passengers are to benefit from service improvements."