Call off strikes or deal is off table, Southern tells union

GTR, parent company of Southern Railway, has today told the RMT union it will rescind its "full and comprehensive offer" if further strike action goes ahead.

The union is planning a two-day strike later this week, (Friday November 4 and Saturday November 5 which includes Bonfire night) and five further days of industrial action.

The company has today written to Mick Cash, general secretary of the union, urging him to call off the strike action and accept GTR's eight-point offer and previous assurances given to settle the nine month old dispute.

The offer, on the table for nearly three months, includes a five-year jobs guarantee, above inflation pay rises for two years, guaranteed minimum levels of overtime and more trains than today having a safety-trained person on board.

GTR is calling on the RMT to "reconsider its position" given "there have been 15 days of wholly unjustified strikes" and a further seven days of "disruption and misery" on passengers in the coming weeks.

GTR's HR Director, Andy Bindon tells Mr Cash: "Your unnecessary action is continuing to have a material and negative impact on people's work and family lives as well the regional economy and I urge you to stop".

He ends his letter by informing the union that the company is ready to meet this week "if they want to discuss our offer".

Ends

Andy Bindon's letter to the RMT is below in full:

Mick Cash
General Secretary
RMT
Unity House
39 Chalton Street
LondonNW1 1 JD

31 October 2016

Dear Mick,

Role of Conductors - Offer of 3 October 2016

I wrote to you on 3 October 2016 setting out a full and comprehensive offer to settle your dispute.

We have left this offer available, in the hope that you would further consider, once it was clear that we are continuing to implement our plans and your advice to members of 7 October that those conductors affected by the move to OBS should sign their new contracts by 4 November. However, this offer cannot continue to be available indefinitely whilst you continue to call strike action.

Therefore, the offer will remain available until the commencement of any further strike action.
For the avoidance of doubt, should your next planned action proceed at 00.01 on
4 November the offer is withdrawn in its entirety and will no longer be available for the RMT to accept.

We will subsequently confirm arrangements direct with our employees. Please be clear that any future attempt by the RMT to reopen negotiations will not result in this full offer being repeated.

There have now been 15 days of wholly unjustified strikes, with your union now set to inflict a further seven days of disruption and misery on passengers in the coming weeks. Your unnecessary action is continuing to have a material and negative impact on people's work and family lives as well the regional economy and I urge you to stop.

I hope you will reconsider your position. We are ready to meet you any time this week should you want to discuss our offer.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Bindon
Human Resources Director