RMT has confirmed that the strike action planned for South Western Railway will go ahead as planned in the continued dispute over rail safety and the role of the guard.

This confirmation comes as RMT confirms they have come to a series of agreements with Greater Anglia that underpin the guard guarantee.

This also puts a halt to their expansion of Driver Only Operation (DOO).

As a result of South Western Railway of not coming to any negiations with RMT, the strikes will go ahead on the following days:

• 0001 Hours and 2359 hours on Thursday 26th July 2018
• 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 28th July 2018
• 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Tuesday 31st July 2018
• 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 4th August 2018
• 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 11th August 2018
• 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 18th August 2018
• 0001 Hours on Friday 31st August 2018 and 2359 Hours on Saturday 1st September 2018

What did the officials say?

‎RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said:

“RMT is making a very simple request of South Western Railway that they take note of what is going on elsewhere in the rail industry and come forward with serious proposals that give a cast iron guarantee of guards on their services and a halt to the rolling out of Driver Only Operation.

“It is RMT’s firm belief that a deal can be done and an agreement reached like we have with other train operating companies but that requires a responsible and serious attitude from SWR towards this dispute which is all about safe and accessible railways for all underpinned by the guard guarantee we have successfully negotuated in Wales, Scotland and other parts of England.

“It is the company failure to get serious that has left us with no option other than to put on these eight days of action through into September.

“RMT remains committed to the principle of genuine and meaningful talks in this dispute.”

• Visit the RailAdvent news homepage
  For the latest railway news
• Visit the RailAdvent Shop
  For railway related goodies!
• Visit LocoStop – Our New Social Network
  Come and share your photo’s and video’s, join the discussion.
  Find out what others are sharing
• Visit the RMT website
  For more information