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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/04/rail-strikes-to-go-ahead-after-talks-over-role-of-guards-break-down
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Rail strikes to go ahead after talks over role of guards break down | Rail strikes to go ahead after talks over role of guards break down |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Talks between the RMT union and two of the biggest train operators have collapsed, leaving passengers facing widespread disruption next week in the ongoing row over the role of guards. | Talks between the RMT union and two of the biggest train operators have collapsed, leaving passengers facing widespread disruption next week in the ongoing row over the role of guards. |
| Negotiations with Arriva – which runs Northern – and South Western Railway broke down without agreement, meaning guards will strike on Monday, Wednesday and Friday next week. | Negotiations with Arriva – which runs Northern – and South Western Railway broke down without agreement, meaning guards will strike on Monday, Wednesday and Friday next week. |
| Strikes will also take place on the same days on Greater Anglia and Merseyrail, and on Monday on Southern, in protest at moves or possible plans to cut guards from trains. | Strikes will also take place on the same days on Greater Anglia and Merseyrail, and on Monday on Southern, in protest at moves or possible plans to cut guards from trains. |
| Several operators have said they do not plan to reduce staff numbers overall, but are refusing to give the guarantees over roles and responsibilities that the union seeks. | Several operators have said they do not plan to reduce staff numbers overall, but are refusing to give the guarantees over roles and responsibilities that the union seeks. |
| Northern said it would run around 1,350 services on strike days, more than half of its normal timetable, between 7am and 7pm, to cover the morning and evening peaks. South Western, which operates all trains into Britain’s busiest station, Waterloo, said it hopes to run more than 70% of its normal weekday service. | Northern said it would run around 1,350 services on strike days, more than half of its normal timetable, between 7am and 7pm, to cover the morning and evening peaks. South Western, which operates all trains into Britain’s busiest station, Waterloo, said it hopes to run more than 70% of its normal weekday service. |
| South Western’s managing director, Andy Mellors, said: “We are sorry that our passengers will once again suffer due to this unnecessary strike action called by the RMT executive. | South Western’s managing director, Andy Mellors, said: “We are sorry that our passengers will once again suffer due to this unnecessary strike action called by the RMT executive. |
| “We have repeatedly guaranteed that no one will lose their job and that we will roster a second person on board every train. | “We have repeatedly guaranteed that no one will lose their job and that we will roster a second person on board every train. |
| “However, what we have been trying to talk to the RMT about is what happens if a guard is unavailable at short notice, perhaps due to illness or disruption; and how we might keep passengers moving rather than leave them stranded.” | “However, what we have been trying to talk to the RMT about is what happens if a guard is unavailable at short notice, perhaps due to illness or disruption; and how we might keep passengers moving rather than leave them stranded.” |
| Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, said the union had offered to suspend next week’s strikes if talks could take place to guarantee a guard, with safety critical competence, on every train. | Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, said the union had offered to suspend next week’s strikes if talks could take place to guarantee a guard, with safety critical competence, on every train. |
| But, he said in a message to union members: “I was concerned at the response from the company which indicated to the union that ... the firm want to change the operating model so that with the advent of any new trains they can run such trains without the need for a second safety-critical guard. In short, no guard’s job is safe.” | But, he said in a message to union members: “I was concerned at the response from the company which indicated to the union that ... the firm want to change the operating model so that with the advent of any new trains they can run such trains without the need for a second safety-critical guard. In short, no guard’s job is safe.” |
| Cash said that the union was prepared to discuss operational models on Northern similar to those already established in Scotland, which ended stand-offs and strikes on ScotRail. The union accused Arriva of “refusing point-blank to enter into serious and genuine negotiations”. | Cash said that the union was prepared to discuss operational models on Northern similar to those already established in Scotland, which ended stand-offs and strikes on ScotRail. The union accused Arriva of “refusing point-blank to enter into serious and genuine negotiations”. |
| He added: “This dispute is about putting public safety before private profit and that is the message we will be sending out on the picket lines from Monday.” | He added: “This dispute is about putting public safety before private profit and that is the message we will be sending out on the picket lines from Monday.” |
| Richard Allan, Northern’s deputy managing director, said the firm had offered to guarantee jobs and pay for conductors for the rest of the franchise to 2025 if they could reach agreement with the union. | Richard Allan, Northern’s deputy managing director, said the firm had offered to guarantee jobs and pay for conductors for the rest of the franchise to 2025 if they could reach agreement with the union. |
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