- Five-day strike hits troubled franchise
- Thousands of commuters set to be affected
- Explainer: seven factors that threw Southern off the rails
- Are you striking or are you affected?
Channel 5 tried to conduct an interview with Southern Rail’s passenger services director Alex Foulds in Brighton but kept getting interrupted by angry commuters.
Video - Angry commuters in #Brighton interrupt our interview with @SouthernRailUK over #southernstrikehttps://t.co/3pxMD6D5Na
Some Southern commuters have said the weeks of disruption and delays on the network have put their jobs at risk - see, for example, Sam Gyimah MP’s letter to Govia Thameslink CEO Charles Horton last month. But is it really legal to sack someone for the misfortune of living on a failing rail line?
Yes, says employment lawyer Aye Limbin-Glassey, a partner at Shakespeare Martineau. “If an employee is regularly late to work, due to known disruptions, as has been the case for Southern Rail commuters affected by consistently poor services over the past few months, failing to find alternative travel arrangements could lead employers to take action arising from persistent lateness.”
The TUC leader has tweeted her support for the industrial action:
#Southern is an utter mess. Time for @SouthernRailUK to sit down with unions and come to a resolution on this, as happened in Scotland.
Southern’s operator and the RMT union are at loggerheads, but where is the Department for Transport in today’s headlines? Saturday’s Brighton Argus ran an eye-catching blank page highlighting its absence, saying it had “cleared the page” for transport secretary Chris Grayling to explain what actions he would be taking to resolve the mess - but answer came there none.
The Argus’s editor Mike Gilson has written an excoriating op-ed shedding light on - and throwing some serious shade at - the Department for Transport’s failure to fix things.
Here are a couple more passenger accounts, as collated and curated from our call-out by my colleague Carmen Fishwick.
Southern are running eight carriage trains every half hour, and I managed to get a seat in the declassified first class.
However, it needs to be pointed out that the service that Southern have provided has been an absolute shambles since Govia took over this part of the franchise in July 2015. I have personally experienced week after week of cancellations and delays for getting on for eight months now.
Nightmare etting into work today, however the strike service that southern rail are running is able to get people to work, albeit a bit late. Well done Southern Rail.
I will leave work early today, as during the last strike action I was left stranded in London.
It appears that Labour and the Lib Dems are lining up behind the RMT in their responses to the Southern rail strike, according to comments obtained from the parties by my colleague Alice Ross.
Andy McDonald, Labour’s shadow transport secretary, said:
Last week Govia Thameslink Railway GTR rejected the RMT’s offer to settle a dispute over conductors’ roles on the same basis that a similar dispute was settled earlier in the week at ScotRail. It has become increasingly clear that the barrier to resolving the Southern-GTR dispute is the Tory Government.
The basis for an agreement is there and both sides need to get back round the table – and that’s why it’s extremely concerning that a senior civil servant from the Department for Transport is on the record as saying that the Department wants to ‘break’ rail employees and make them ‘get the hell out of my industry’.
The situation with Southern is a total mess. People are being left completely stranded. Some even lost jobs before the strikes because of the poor service, whilst home life is being ruined.
As a member of the Cabinet, Home Secretary Amber Rudd has constituents being directly affected in Hastings and can only criticise the unions; the Government has to take control of this situation. It has the power to impose terms and conditions on franchises and is turning a blind eye to the suffering of high paying customers.
As ever, Twitter has proven a popular forum for commuters who want to vent their frustration at the service provided by Southern rail during the first day of this week’s strike action.
According to media monitors Visibrain, there were more than 12,670 tweets mentioning Southern Rail by about 2pm this afternoon, while the hashtag #southernstrike had been used 3,815 times.
We obtained this statistic by filtering on all tweets containing the words “solidarity”, “support”, “supporting”, “stand with”, or “behind”. This number does not take into account more neutral tweets.
We chose this method over a classic sentiment analysis because in cases such as this where a lot of irony is being used, sentiment analysis is not reliable.
Southern Rail strike causes severe delays with few trains and misery for commuters - in other words, a slightly better service than normal.
Although the wording of the message is positive and would register as positive sentiment such in a classic analysis, the tone is ironic.
Carmen Fishwick has been speaking to Southern rail commuters about how their journey, and lives, have been affected by the strike. For many it is the culmination of months of poor service from the operator.
When Southern say they have reduced trains in an amended timetable to 80% service, on my line the number of trains in commuting periods was reduced by 50%. When they say the strike will cut 40% of services, on my line 100% of trains are cancelled.
My local MP took weeks to respond to me on the issue, ignored several follow up emails, and declines to meet me in Westminster where I work. I’d like to see the Tory MPs whose constituents are affected by this issue acting together to cut through the intransigence, and to address the background fact that the DfT is driving the dispute.
I wanted to get into the office today for some important meetings, and having started my job relatively recently not wanting to have the strike disrupt the progress I’ve made. For all employers can be sympathetic there is a responsibility for employees to ensure they can get to work too. In my 14 weeks in this job this is the third extended strike, which on top of the regular cancellations and delays could easily be giving people the impression I’m unreliable.
The only way for me to get to work on time was to catch a bus at my own expense to Brighton, and catch an over-crowded train from there, changing twice. What is normally a journey of an hour taking me twice as long. Already I’ve had to cancel a meeting later this week because changes to the bus service mean I can’t get to Brighton at a time where I can get a train getting me to London before 8.30. Relying on public transport has become impossible.
Anger at Southern Rail is still simmering as we await the next bout of commuter chaos, forecast for home-time rush hour today. Here is a selection of some of the pithier tweets targeted at the rail operator’s Twitter account.
@SouthernRailUK you are a kind of insincere apology sandwich with bread made out of human misery arent you? #southernrail#southernstrike
Southern: "We don't need conductors."
Conductors: "We're going on strike"
Southern: "Cancel the trains! We need conductors!" #southernstrike
Dear @SouthernRailUK and @RMTunion :
@SouthernRailUK advice to commuters today... #southernstrikepic.twitter.com/UHKOsSQypH
My journey tonight will resemble this classic thanks to @SouthernRailUK I'm - Going - Home!! #southernfail#STRIKEpic.twitter.com/kKFs4PAhsx
Business is not happy with the RMT strike. David Leam – infrastructure director at London First, a lobby group for the capital’s businesses – has used an article in the Telegraph to describe the conductors’ withdrawal of their labour as “ludicrous, shameless and wrong”. He writes:
The underlying issue here is the prevalence of outdated working practices, which contribute to the high-cost culture of Britain’s railways. While Britain’s railways have been tremendously successful in attracting new passengers they have been much less so at improving their efficiency. Government studies have identified a 40% efficiency gap when comparing our railway against other European countries, requiring passengers and taxpayers to pick up the bill.
Reviewing the various assurances and commitments made to the workforce by the train operator and government dispels any notion that the employer is being too hot-headed. Rather it raises the question whether government is, in fact, being too timid. Is it really sustainable to go so far in addressing the concerns of a party that appears dead set against a reasonable negotiated outcome?
A scan of the most popular Southern rail strike-related hashtags shows plenty of tweets backing the RMT’s industrial action, or at least condemning Southern Rail for the service it provides to travellers.
Cheeky git Govia Thameslink CEO says only #RMT#southernstrike making trains unsafe this week when they're already overcrowded & stressful
#southernrail are a frigging disgrace & thus I fully support @RMTunion in strike action #southernstrike
Happy @SouthernRailUK is finally being exposed for all of it's absolutely tragic. Joke of a company
I use railways all over the EU
The UKs is one of the worst in the EU
MOST OTHER EU countries railways nationalised
#southernstrike
The RMT has issued a statement condemning what it dubs “lies and smears” over the strike ballot, which have apparently appeared in a number of reports this morning, including the influential Today programme on BBC Radio 4.
According to the union, 81% of 393 eligible members took part in the vote, with 306 – 77% – voting in favour of strike action. “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,” the union says.
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 [Govia Thameslink Railway] bosses who have unleashed havoc on their passengers for months.
The skilful video editors on the Guardian’s news desk have done up my interviews with Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary, and Paul Cox, the union’s south-east regional organiser, into a lovely package. They say the strike is all about the safety of passengers, and Cox adds that he believes it is time that the Southern franchise is handed to a new operator.
Transport for London executives should take charge of the Southern franchise to fix the problems that have blighted journeys, the Mayor of London’s office has said. In a statement sent to the Guardian, a spokesperson for Sadiq Khan said:
Thousands of Londoners and longer-distance commuters are facing further disruption as a result of this strike action. The government should accept Sadiq’s offer of putting a senior team from TfL in charge of the GTR Southern franchise until we get a permanent resolution.
(Correction: It has been brought to our attention that this picture was not taken this morning. The image is just being used as a general illustration.)
Commuters travelling in from Brighton and Sussex have borne much of the brunt of the strike action. This picture, tweeted early this morning, captures the scene as hundreds queued to get aboard the train to London.
Longest rail strike since 1968 has begun with special thanks to Southern Rail and the RMT Union... pic.twitter.com/fZTQtdaGvy
Theresa May has condemned the Southern strike, according to this tweet by BBC political correspondent Chris Mason.
Downing St: "The Prime Minister strongly condemns the strike action. We are deeply disappointed." #southernstrike#southern
The bookies are backing another strike on Southern Rail before the end of the year. According to Lee Price, PR & “mischief champion” at Paddy Power:
Incredibly, we make it ODDS-ON that there’s another 5+ day strike this year by Southern Rail.
A 2+ day strike is a whopping 1/20 on for this year.
Another commuter belt MP weighs in: this time it’s justice minister Sam Gyimah, whose East Surrey constituency is firmly in Southern’s territory.
Unacceptable disruption. Southern strike is damaging to the local economy. Who shuts the doors is not main concern for fare-paying commuters
A few tweets from Tom Tugendhat, the Tory MP for Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Malling:
This week's @RMTunion strike is unnecessary-no job cuts, no safety issues-it's just punishing commuters for going to work. #wrong
Please @RMTunion sit down with @SouthernRailUK and stop making people's lives impossible. This strike isn't needed. There are no job cuts.
No @redhillfill I back neither. @RMTunion are being opportunist and I've already called for @SouthernRailUK to lose the franchise.
Govia Thameslink is clearly incapable of running a major rail franchise, and I would like to see it stripped of the Southern franchise immediately.
I, and other residents in Tonbridge, Edenbridge and surrounding villages are fed up with the appalling service which is prevalent across its network. Jobs are at risk as a result of employees being consistently late to work, children are behind in their education due to arriving at school late and families cannot plan from one day to the next.
Our third diarist, Huw Merriman MP, is not commuting in to London during the parliamentary recess, but is attempting to make a journey across his constituency by public transport today when Southern have cancelled all services on several branch lines.
He is recording a video diary of the ongoing journey from Bexhill to Eastbourne for a meeting, and on to Brighton, with not even a replacement bus on offer from the train operator.
My rail diary on first day of #southernstrike#bexhill#battlepic.twitter.com/4YxXTLZjHZ
My rail diary: second video on first day of #southernstrike#bexhill#battlepic.twitter.com/o50MEQiZlR
With the morning rush hour over, it seems commuter chaos has not quite occurred – at least in London. As our passenger diaries show, people have had their journeys messed up but have attempted to plan around the disruptions, and my colleague on the frontline, Damien Gayle, reports that Victoria station is quieter than usual.
The fact that the strike is happening in the middle of the summer holidays may have helped.
RMT organiser Paul Cox is calling for Southern to be removed from the franchise, as he speaks to Damien Gayle on the picket line:
It's time for @SouthernRailUK to go, says @RMTunion's Paul Cox #southernstrike#RMTstrikepic.twitter.com/nkqD2Lqx9b
Unjustified RMT strike, 8-12 August, over our plans to improve your journeys https://t.co/PjHj6OaCIj
Damien Gayle has spoken to the RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, on the picket line at Victoria station:
We want to ensure there's a guard on every train says @RMTunion gen sec #southernstrike#RMTstrikepic.twitter.com/SDjKG0xinG
Whether you’re striking or your commute has been affected we’d like to hear from you. You can share your photos and stories by clicking on the ‘Contribute’ button in the live blog.
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We asked several Southern commuters to record a diary of their journeys to work when the company first instigated its emergency timetable last month.
Two of them have provided updates today:
A couple of photos from Victoria station as the strike gets under way:
Striking staff from the RMT union have been handing out leaflets on the picket line at Victoria station explaining why they are striking – and Damien Gayle has got his hands on one.
The RMT says Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which runs the Southern franchise, is putting passenger safety at risk with its plans to remove conductors from trains.
Striking @SouthernRailUK conductors' reasons for industrial action #RMTStrikeSN#southernstrike@RMTunionpic.twitter.com/TAsfkfVVKQ
It seems the strike has actually improved things for at least one lucky commuter:
@damiengayle train was on time for once and there was a seat! They can strike more often, it's better than regular service
My colleague Damien Gayle is on the frontlines of the Southern strike:
The height of rush hour yet Victoria station is eerily quiet #RMTStrikeSN#southernstrikepic.twitter.com/0NMP3DdNc6
The Reigate, Redhill and District Rail Users’ Association is placing the blame squarely on the RMT. They’ve released a statement:
The RMT leadership shows utter contempt to the rail users by ruining their daily lives for the honour of pushing a button to close train doors...
Last trains this week to Redhill are around 7pm, meaning that commuters and visitors alike have little choice but to cut their day short in London. GTR Southern and Thameslink will still be running 8 trains per hour to Gatwick straight through Redhill but are unable to plan a service to stop at Redhill.
Victoria Station, Southern’s main terminus, was quieter than usual on Monday morning. Just a few hundred commuters stood waiting as the tannoy announced cancellation after cancellation “due to a shortage of train crew”.
“Southern are sorry for the delay this will cause to your journey,” the plum-voiced announcer said unconvincingly (and ungrammatically) each time.
The RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, is blaming Govia Thameslink (GTR), Southern’s franchise operator, and the government for this week’s strike.
He said: “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.
Southern rail’s CEO, Charles Horton, has been on the Today programme this morning saying he is “deeply sorry for the disruption to people’s lives” caused by the industrial action.
The RMT were “not prepared to compromise” despite three days’ mediation last week, he said.
Commuter misery looms for thousands in the south-east, as a five-day strike hits the troubled Southern rail franchise.
A bitter dispute between Southern’s operator, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union over plans to change the role of conductors and other job changes has led to the walkout, after talks at the mediation service Acas collapsed.
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