Have things moved on in the Southern rail dispute since my post of 13 August? Not much, but the situation is even more nonsensical.
Southern's Chief Executive says the Union has set "new standards in union militancy" after the RMT called for last ditch talks to avert a 3 day strike this week. I'm not sure he's quite got that right....new standards of ineptitude more like.
Southern had offered a £2,000 bonus for employees to sign up to the new deal, which changes the role of conductors, by Thursday of last week. Bizarrely the RMT chose to reject that offer but then, one day later, after the offer had lapsed, advised its members to sign the new contracts agreeing to the new role of on-board supervisor. Then, over the weekend, the union urged its members to go ahead with the 3 day strike starting tomorrow and called for further talks at ACAS, several previous rounds of which have been fruitless.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said "Our dispute remains on and the fight for safety continues despite the bullying and threats from Southern. We have a duty to issue our members with clear legal advice that protects their position in the teeth of the threat of mass sackings. That is what we have done." Southern had actually guaranteed jobs till 2021 with no loss of pay or overtime and above inflation pay rises for the next 2 years, though they now intend to serve notice letters to conductors to end their contracts if agreement is not reached within 4 days and is taking legal action to try to stop the strikes. The union mandate for strikes is 6 months old and the dispute has been going on for even longer.
As a reminder this dispute is not about safety (the Rail Accident Investigation Branch say there is no evidence to suggest driver-only operated trains are less safe) and it's clearly not about money, given that Southern seem to be throwing money at the relevant employees. It's about power and the RMT's concern that they will be in a position of less influence in the future.
And some people think that, not only is further trade union reform unnecessary, they would roll back previous reform. After listening to some of the rhetoric at the Tory conference last week, it seems everyone wants to take us back to the 1970s. I can think of some reasons to be nostalgic for the 70s - mainly musical (from Pink Floyd and prog rock to Steely Dan, punk and new wave, what's not to like?) but the economy and industrial relations aren't amongst them. No we don't want to go back there, kids.....
Sources: RMT calls for further talks to avert Southern rail strike, Guardian.com 9 October
Southern Railway taking legal action to stop strikes, News.Sky.com, 10 October
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