Fresh strikes for SWR in long-running dispute over guards on trains Post Reply

[Community Editor]

Workers on South Western Railway are to stage fresh strikes after voting heavily in favour of continuing with action in the guards on trains dispute.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out on 22nd February and 9th and 16th March, causing disruption to some of the busiest train services in the country, including those into London Waterloo.

Workers voted by 88% to continue with the long-running industrial action, after the union re-balloted its members to comply with legislation.

General secretary Mick Cash said RMT members had stood "united and solid" in the union's campaign to retain guards on all trains. 

The ballot result was announced a day after the union suspended strikes on Arriva Rail North after securing a deal in the same dispute.

Source: https://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/ne ... ef=mr&lp=6

Photo credit: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

[janee]

I fully support the strikes to keep guards on the trains.  I have often boarded a train at night at Wandsworth Town.  There is no one on the station and the driver is not able to see if anything goes wrong either on the platform or while getting on the train.  Many platforms are curved so that, even if the driver looks out, s/he would not be able to see if there were a problem.  Guards are also able to help those with disabilities on unstaffed stations.