‘I CAN report that the strike action this morning is rock solid across the Southern Rail network as we fight to put rail safety before the profits of the failed Govia Thameslink operation.’
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash was speaking yesterday on the first day of the union’s ‘Keep the Guard on the Train – Keep the Train Safe’ five-day strike. He continued: ‘This action has been forced on us by the arrogance and inaction of Govia Thameslink and the government who have made it clear that they have no interest in resolving this dispute or in tackling the daily chaos on Southern.
‘We offered to suspend the action on Friday if they matched the offer we secured on Scotrail. They kicked that back in our faces. Our fight is with the company and the government who have dragged this franchise into total meltdown. We share the anger and frustration of passengers and we cannot sit back while jobs and safety are compromised on these dangerously overcrowded trains.’
The RMT also slammed as ‘lies and smears’ the propaganda recycled by a number of news outlets yesterday morning, including the BBC’s flagship Today programme, attacking the union over the Southern Rail guards strike ballot.
The facts are that 393 members were balloted. 321 voted. (81%) 306 voted yes (77% of the total members) These numbers easily outstrip the hurdles proposed for union ballots by the Tory right in terms of both turnout and the majority in favour of action.
Mick Cash said: ‘We are appalled that the BBC’s flagship radio news programme is recycling the lies and smears about our ballot.
‘The turnout was over 80% and 77% of our total membership voted yes. That is a mandate the politicians could only dream of and to try and pretend that only a minority back the action as the BBC have this morning is disgraceful and shoddy journalism.
‘A complaint has been lodged. It’s interesting that no one ever challenges the mandate of the unelected and unaccountable GTR bosses who have unleashed havoc on their passengers for months.’
