Govia Thameslink strikes: Commuters face more disruption as rail walkouts announced next month

Strike action: The announcement follows a stream of walkouts organised by the union
Yui Mok/PA

London rail passengers are facing more travel disruption after the RMT announced that workers at Govia Thameslink Railway will strike on September 7.

The strikes are in protest of ticket office closures and will coincide with a walkout by Southern staff in the long-running row over the role of guards.

Govia Thameslink operates the Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Great Northern, as well as Southern.

The announcement comes after weeks of travel disruption for commuters following Eurostar and Southern strikes earlier in the month.

Govia Thameslink: The company operates the Gatwick Express, above, Thameslink, Great Northern, and Southern
Train Photos/Wikicommons Images

RMT Union general secretary Mick Cash said: "The Govia Thamelink franchise is in meltdown and not fit for purpose.

“Not content with axing catering services, closing ticket offices and attacking the role of their guards, they now want to threaten 130 station jobs and compromise the safety of both their passengers and staff alike.

"Our members have made it clear that they will not stand by while this basket-case franchise unleashes yet another attack on jobs and services in the drive for profits and that is why we have no option but to take strike action.

RMT strike: Union members at Southern went on strike earlier in the month and have announced another strike in September
Alex Lentati

"These cuts plans fly in the face of the response from the thousands of passengers who objected to the closure of ticket offices and the de-staffing of stations as Govia Thameslink drives on with plans for a 'faceless railway' where the public are left to fend for themselves on rammed-out, dangerous and unreliable services.

"It is about time Govia Thameslink started acting responsibly, halted their cuts plans and got round the table with the union in serious and genuine talks."

Seventy per cent of union members voted for the strike after Govia Thameslink proposed to create the new role of Station Host.

The RMT argued that the proposed changes would lead to the closure of or reduced hours at 83 ticket offices.

Strike action: RMT members voted to walkout over ticket office closures
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

A union statement said: "RMT is totally opposed to ticket office closures, and cuts in hours, as this will have a devastating impact on both staff and the safety and services offered to the travelling public.

“The latest proposals from the company will also result in a massive increase in lone working, including late at night.

"Govia Thameslink are also totally ignoring the thousands of passengers who clearly indicated in our high-profile public campaign that they are appalled by the planned closure of ticket offices and the swingeing cuts to opening hours.

Travel chaos: Commuters will have to endure more disruption
Rex

"They have failed to address the views of station staff and have ignored the objections from RMT and our sister rail unions.

“If these changes come in, the union believes it will mean all station staff could be forced on to flexible working with an increased workload."

Rail firm GTR reacted furiously to the RMT’s “shameful and pitiful” announcement that station staff would strike on the same day as conductors, causing “maximum disruption”.

“This is a cynical and deliberate stunt by the RMT to try and bring our trains to a standstill by co-ordinating strike action on two fronts on the same day to cause maximum disruption, delay and damage to our passengers’ everyday lives and the economy,” said Alex Foulds, GTR’s Passenger Services Director.

“The RMT leadership is playing politics with innocent people who are simply seeking to go about their business with employers, family and friends.

“It is a shameful and pitiful act and shows everyone their true colours and motivation, come what may and whoever they hurt.”

GTR claimed that a truce over ticket office closures agreed with local union reps had been overturned by militant RMT national union officials

“During face-to-face discussions with local union officials from the RMT and TSSA last Monday, we took our original proposals off the table, and agreed new proposals with them - a six months pilot at eight stations using volunteer staff,” said Mr Foulds.

“It was a very productive meeting and the RMT officials present were content to put the revised pilot proposal forward to the RMT leadership for endorsement. We are therefore perplexed that they have decided to call this strike day in protest at proposals that no longer exist and when a solution had been found. The only conclusion is they are determined to strike even if there is no longer any justification.

“The Station Staff who voted in this ballot may now be asking, like us, why there is no mention of the revised pilot proposals in their statement today. They have ignored the will of their members, with only one in four voting for strike action and are now attempting to drag station staff out on strike over proposals which we have already withdrawn.

“These pilots would be manned by volunteers on a secondment basis and would allow concerns around personal safety and cash handling to be addressed. Staff would keep their jobs, get more money and many would work fewer hours.

“To call a strike over proposals that no longer exist is a stunning own goal by the RMT leadership.”

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