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From The Socialist newspaper, 12 June 2019
South Western Railway guards to strike again
South Western rail workers on strike last year, 26.7.18, photo Declan Clune (Click to enlarge)
Nick Chaffey, Socialist Party Southern secretary
Talks between the RMT transport union and South Western Railway (SWR) at conciliation services Acas have failed to achieve an acceptable agreement. RMT guards have voted to recommence strike action - this time for five days beginning on 18 June.
While SWR agreed to the presence of a guard, it has refused to agree the duties that guards will perform - a guard in name only. For RMT this fails to address the key issues of safety and access for passengers.
What happens when an accident occurs? Will SWR guards be trained in their safety critical role and have control to open doors and take passengers to safety, if the driver has been disabled? What happens to passengers who need help with assisted access on the network? Who will SWR provide to ensure there is trained staff to assist?
SWR has pushed RMT guards into 35 days of strike action over the last two years by its intransigent refusal to reach an agreement. Failing to ensure safety, SWR has also failed in their franchise delivery to provide increased timetable capacity and new rolling stock resulting in losses of over £100 million.
With rising ticket prices on overcrowded trains, support for rail renationalisation continues to grow.
As car congestion and concerns over air pollution and associated health problems grows, the case for rail renationalisation also grows. A fully funded, integrated public transport system providing safe, accessible and affordable travel must be a key part of the campaign for an immediate general election to bring an end to the failed decades of privatised rail.
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In The Socialist 12 June 2019:
Safe homes for all
Fire tears through Barking flats - cladding off now!
Grenfell two years on - Still fighting for safety and justice
Nationalise to stop closures
Ford closure announcement must be met with united response of defiance
Nationalise Ford to prevent closure
Fight the closures save every job!
News
Widespread condemnation of horrifying, violent, homophobic assaults
Terrible child murders linked to cuts
Workplace news
Scottish airport strikes - fight for better pay and pensions
Stagecoach strike - bus workers show how it's done
Socialists in Unison hold positions in elections
South Western Railway guards to strike again
Socialist Party members make big impact at trades council conference
Southampton hospital workers win
Sellafield nuclear workers' strike
International socialist news and analysis
Sudan: Military crackdown to break revolution
Nigeria: Stop police harassment of Abbey and Azeez!
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
D-Day for fighting Trump attack on NHS
Edmonton joins Enfield North Labour in supporting 'no cuts' fightback strategy
Opinion
TV Review: Chernobyl - Workers' heroism vs sclerotic Stalinism
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