SIXTH SOUTH WESTERN BALLOT

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2020 :: RMTnews 4 RMT is being forced to hold another fresh strike ballot on South Western Railways under draconian anti-union laws following the latest 27 days of strike action. The union is balloting for the sixth time to secure a vote to continue with action in the rail safety dispute on South Western Railway after being forced to renew the mandate under the terms of the latest wave of Tory anti-union laws. Members will be voting to continue with the current action in defence of safety, security and access on SWR despite the legal hurdles erected by the Tories. The union has accused SWR, owned by a combination of Scottish based company First Group and the Chinese state, of working hand in glove with the Tory government to block attempts to reach a settlement in a politically motivated effort to open the door to widespread driver-only operation. RMT general secretary Mick Cash paid tribute to members on South Western Railway who have stood absolutely rock solid in an unprecedented month- long strike in the fight for a safe and accessible railway for all. “RMT has been forced under the latest wave of Tory anti- union laws to re-ballot once more in the rail safety dispute on South Western Railway under the six-month rule. “It is a disgrace that South Western Railway, with the connivance of this new rotten Tory government, have opted to play for time over yet another six months rather than acting responsibly and getting round the table with the union to work out a solution to this dispute that puts safety and the guard guarantee centre stage,” he said. RMT members take further 27 days strike action in defence of the role of the guard SIXTH SOUTH WESTERN BALLOT RMT has demanded an urgent public sector takeover of South Western Railway as accounts filed this month show that the current private operator is on course to go bust. Deloitte, the companies own auditors, said that South Western faces “material uncertainty” over whether it can continue operating. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that rather than allowing South Western Railway to collapse into chaos it must stripped of the franchise with the public sector taking over as soon as possible. “The alternative is Britain's biggest rail franchise crashing into the buffers with dire consequences for passengers and staff alike. “This comes the day after the new Managing Director of SWR, Mark Hopwood, openly threatened to sack hundreds of RMT guards and hire in a new army of staff who will bend to his demands on compromising safety. "Instead of threatening our members the SWR company should be packing their things, clearing their desks and making way for a public operator putting safety and services first,” he said. NATIONALISE SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAYS RMT demands public sector takeover of SWR as accounts show private operator is going bust