South Western Railway strike: Staff to walk out for five days next month
The strike coincides with Royal Ascot
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Your support makes all the difference.Passengers face a fresh wave of disruption next month as South Western Railway (SWR) workers walk out for five days from 18 June in a long-running dispute about guards on trains.
The strike has been called by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).
The union wants the rail operator to guarantee the role of guards onboard its trains.
As “protracted talks” between the two parties broke down, RMT instructed all guards and drivers working for SWR to walk out between 00.01 and 23.59 from 18 to 22 June – five days in total.
South Western Railway runs services from London Waterloo to destinations in Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset and Berkshire.
The walk out coincides with Royal Ascot, during which time around 300,000 descend on the horseracing stadium, which is served by SWR.
This fresh wave of strikes follows similar industrial action in March and April, as well as last Christmas, with the row centring on the same issue.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Our members are angry and frustrated that despite suspending action in good faith, and entering into talks in a positive and constructive manner, South Western Railway have dragged their heels and failed to bolt down an agreement that matches up top our expectations on the guard guarantee.
“For more than three months we have sought to negotiate a conclusion to this dispute and it is wholly down to the management side that the core issue of the safety critical competencies and the role of the guard has not been signed off. It is because of that crucial failure by SWR that we have had no option but to lift the suspension and move back into strike action.”
The Independent has contacted SWR for comment.
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