New strikes loom on South Western Railway as union ballots members

PASSENGERS could be facing a fresh round of strikes on South Western Railway after the RMT union balloted members for further industrial action.

The dispute, which has been running since 2017, last led to staff walking out on New Year’s Eve on the network that includes the New Forest and Christchurch.

The sticking point between the two sides is that while SWR has promised to “roster” a guard on every train, the RMT wants a guarantee that if staff do not turn up then a replacement must be found or the service does not run. The union insists the post is “safety critical” to operations.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “I am confident that once again our members will return an overwhelming mandate to carry on the fight to put public safety before private profit.

“It is a disgrace that South Western Railway, with the connivance of this rotten Tory government, have opted to play for time over yet another six months rather than acting responsibly and getting round the table with the union to work out a solution to this dispute that puts safety and the guard guarantee centre stage.

“That is the package we have successfully negotiated elsewhere. It defies belief that we are being denied the same positive outcome on the South Western Railway routes.”

The vote is the fourth time the RMT has had to renew its mandate for the campaign under union legislation.

A South Western Railway spokesperson said: “Passengers will be disappointed that yet again the RMT union is pushing for further industrial action under the pretext of safety. The claim that what we are proposing is unsafe is simply untrue.

“We have guaranteed to roster a guard on every SWR service, including on new trains being introduced later this year. In future, we will run more services so will need more guards, not fewer.”

As reported in the A&T, the ongoing dispute prompted a warning in November by Anthony Climpson, chief executive of local tourism group Go New Forest, that strikes were “undermining” efforts to attract visitors from London.

SWR later came under fire for its performance by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable who has called for stronger conditions on the company – or be stripped of franchise.

The RMT strike ballot opened yesterday (Thursday) and will close on Thursday 7th February.