Nus Ghani is dismayed that the RMT union have taken the decision to undergo further strike action. The strikes commence today and continue until the 5th of October.
The train operator, GTR, have assured customers that they will be running over 90 per cent of regular services. As such, disruption to passengers should be kept at a minimum, despite the best efforts of the RMT union.
This industrial action by RMT marks thirty five days of strikes on Southern since April 2016.
RMT are striking over the implementation of driver-operated train doors, despite the fact that modern trains are built in this way as standard and despite the fact that the jobs and pay of train guards have been guaranteed. Half of all trains in the UK operate in this way already, many having done so safely for thirty years. In spite of this, RMT continue their strikes in an attempt to score political points.
Commenting on the strike, Sean Hoyle President of the RMT said: “The RMT will have a quasi-national rail strike just like 1911 all over again. We will co-ordinate and we must stop the transport system in this country.”
Nus Ghani has campaigned for an improved rail service in Wealden for years. She continues to meet regularly with the Secretary of State for Transport and GTR in order to find a resolution to the issue of continued strikes on Southern services and to seek assurances that they are acting upon the recommendations of the Gibb Report.
Commenting on the strikes, Ms Ghani said: “It is appalling that RMT have declared these strikes as politically motivated, with complete disregard for the impact on passengers and local businesses.
I can assure everyone in Wealden that I continue to work hard, alongside my Ministerial colleagues, to bring this dispute to a close. I have attended meetings with the unions, GTR and the Secretary of State in recent months in an effort to reach a resolution. Unfortunately, RMT seem intent to disrupt passengers’ lives as much as possible in order to score political points.
In better news, GTR and the ASLEF union are currently engaged in constructive talks and I hope that they will reach a successful resolution shortly.
The only people who have the power to end these strikes and deliver the reliable train service that passengers deserve are the members of the RMT union. I would urge them in the strongest terms to cease their industrial action.”
