RMT claim that their members’ work/life balance was being “repeatedly undermined”.
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According to Cash, members of Eurostar’s union are determined to sit at the negotiation table until the company guarantees them a harmonious work-life cycle.
Strikes by Southern Railway workers set for Thursday and Friday will be suspended if the company agrees to urgent talks without pre-conditions, the union at the centre of the dispute has offered.
The RMT, one of Britain’s most militant unions, says train operator Southern wants to extend the use of driver-only operated trains and so reduce the safety role that conductors play.
Grayling points out the subtle irony of the situation, as the union called for additional strike action on the same day the government announced a railway investment program.
Mr David Horne, managing director for Virgin Trains on the east coast said: “We have worked hard to ensure there are comprehensive contingency plans in place and I want to reassure our customers that the timetable will be unaffected, should any strike go ahead”.
A spokesman from Eurostar, which runs services between the capital and mainland Europe, said the company’s focus has been to seek a joint resolution with unions. Passengers on affected services will be offered alternative bookings, it added.
Southern rail admitted that services will continue to be hit until the weekend as it struggles to open routes closed during the previous three days of strikes caused by a walkout of 400 train guards.
But he accused the DfT of sabotaging a potential settlement of the dispute at talks with the company through the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) on Friday.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said he had contacted Southern with a way forward to resolve the dispute.
Strikes by workers on Southern Railway have been called off to allow fresh talks to take place..
Summer Dean from the Association of British Commuters said: “We are sick and exhausted of this constant blame passing between Southern Rail and the Government and are fed up to the back teeth of the constant delays, cancellations and poor excuses”.
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“Passengers on Southern rail services are being made to suffer unnecessary inconvenience and disruption to their journeys because of the actions of RMT who are holding them to ransom”.
