Southern Railway workers announce MORE strikes as bitter row over guard role rumbles on
SOUTHERN Railway workers are to stage a fresh 48-hour strike in the long-running row over the role of guards.
Southern Rail workers announce more strikes over dispute on the role of guards
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union announced its members will walk out on September 7 and 8, causing fresh travel chaos for beleaguered passengers.
Southern's services have been disrupted for months because of industrial action and staff shortages, blamed by the company on high levels of sickness absence.
Workers have taken several bouts of industrial action in recent weeks and mounted picket lines at stations across Southern's network.
Commuters and other passengers have also staged demonstrations to protest at the level of services.
Changes to the role of guards were imposed from Sunday, transferring responsibility for closing doors to drivers.
Southern Rail services have been disrupted for months over staffing issues
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "This action has been forced on us by the arrogance and inaction of Govia Thameslink and the Government, who have made it clear they have no interest in resolving this dispute or in tackling the daily chaos on Southern.
Our fight is with the company and the Government who have dragged this franchise into total meltdown
"Instead they have begun the process of bulldozing through the drive towards wholesale driver only operation (DOO) without agreement and without any concern for the impact on safety, security and disability access.
"Our fight is with the company and the Government who have dragged this franchise into total meltdown.
"We share the anger and frustration of passengers and we cannot sit back while jobs and safety are compromised on these dangerously-overcrowded trains.
Workers and commuters have protested at Southern Railway for its disrupted services
Commuters vent their fury at Southern Rail
New changes to the role of guards were imposed on Sunday
"It is disgraceful that neither the company nor the Government are prepared to engage and are looking to bully through the extension of DOO and the attack on the guards from last Sunday regardless.
"They should wake up and get round the table now as an urgent priority."