PR DISASTER: Southern's attempt to blame shoddy services on unions spectacularly backfires
BELEAGUERED train operator Southern Rail was left with egg on its face after its bid to deflect responsibility for its abysmal service backfired.
The under-fire company attempted to get the public on side as 14 days of strikes loom
The under-fire company attempted to get the public on side as 14 days of strikes loom in the coming months spread over five separate blocks, with the first scheduled from 00:01 on October 11 until 23.59 until October 13.
The operator posted a message on twitter during Monday morning rush hour saying: “Time to get back on track. Tweet @RMTunion & tell them how rail strikes make you feel. #SouthernBackOnTrack.”
The tweet, from the operator’s official account @SouthernRailUk, was accompanied by a poster which read ‘Let’s Strike Back’.
In a move aimed at pointing the finger at the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), which has called the strikes, countless irate commuters reminded Southern of their own track record.
One wrote: “When people waited three hours at Brighton last night, was that because of strikes?”
Another said: “Fully behind them. You, southern rail, are the issue. Not the union.”
@SouthernRailUK You're a shambles and this is embarrassing. I hope you lose your franchise.
— Ferdinand Kingsley (@ferdosnandos) October 3, 2016
.@SouthernRailUK - Fully support @RMTunion. Stop trying to make a professional disagreement emotive. You're making me feel like cringing
— Eleanor (@e_muffitt) October 3, 2016
@SouthernRailUK @RMTunion I support the RMT. You, on the other hand, are a disgrace - see the excuses you have tweeted out this morning.
— Ursula Doyle (@suladoyle) October 3, 2016
The operator posted a message on twitter during Monday morning rush hour
@SouthernRailUK I support @RMTunion's struggle with an employer that after £100m profits AND a govt bail-out still won't treat staff fairly
— Kill The Cool Kids (@davidwynne) October 3, 2016
.@SouthernRailUK Have you been running one of Europe's most delayed and ineffective train services, all year, because of strikes?
— Cr O'Grizimov (@Mr_Ogrizovic) October 3, 2016
Support for the RMT strike was clearly evident, as another posted: “I support @RMTunion's right to strike, and seriously the industrial action is less disruptive than your usual service.”
And another irate passenger tweeted: “But you want people to be angry with @RMTunion. The truth- at least on strike days we KNOW the trains won't run.”
RMT boss: I have every sympathy for Southern rail passengers
A Thursday deadline has been set by Southern for the RMT to accept an offer aimed at avoiding strike action, and if no deal is reached the rail company has said it will end conductors’ contracts and steamroll changes to heir job role.
The eight-point off includes guarantees on conductors’ jobs until 2021, above-inflation pay increase of the next two years, guaranteed levels of overtime and a £2,000 lump sum payment once the dispute is settled and the changes accepted.
A Thursday deadline has been set by Southern for the RMT to accept an offer
This is a pathetic attempt by the basket case Southern franchise
But Mick Cash, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said: "This is a pathetic attempt by the basket case Southern franchise to once again try and blame their frontline staff for their own managerial incompetence.
"Southern have wrecked services across the South East and the passengers know that and that is why the commuters themselves are mounting a legal challenge against the company.”
In a letter to Mr Cash the company said it will ”regretfully proceed without the RMT's involvement" if no agreement can be reached.
A Southern spokesman said: "Our aim was to get the debate going and to let people know exactly what our very fair and comprehensive offer is and how we are trying to modernise the train service for our passengers which the RMT leadership is trying to block.
In a letter to Mr Cash the company said it will ”regretfully proceed without the RMT's involvement"
"Our service has not been good enough and the main reason for that has been the RMT union leadership's refusal to talk and do a deal.
"Thousands of passengers are demanding to know what we are doing to bring this dispute to an end. We felt there was a need to let them know.”