Please find below an update letter from Dyan Crowther, Chief Operating Office at GTR, regarding the service GTR provided during the RMT’s industrial action this week. The letter also includes the latest information regarding ASLEF balloting Gatwick Express train drivers:
Good afternoon
Following my email to you last Friday, I am writing to give you further information on the impact on our customers of the RMT’s industrial action of this week, and what measures were put in place to support them on their journey. I also wanted to update you the latest developments regarding the ASLEF ballot of Southern and Gatwick Express train drivers.
Southern – RMT Strike
A contingency timetable operated at a satisfactory level and we delivered around two thirds of services on Wednesday 18 May. We provided the best service we could but inevitably, our passengers’ journeys were severely disrupted on a number of routes. We updated customers with travel information online, at stations, through media advertising and also re-deployed a number of head office employees to support front line teams in delivering support and travel advice to our customers.
Working closely with the Department for Transport, an enhanced compensation agreement is in place and we are pro-actively encouraging any passengers whose journeys were impacted as a result of the strike to claim. We have also issued an apology to our passengers thanking them for their patience over the strike, and took this opportunity to further promote our delay repay scheme. May I ask you to also encourage your constituents to claim their compensation on our website - http://www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/strike/compensation/.
Unfortunately, we continue to have higher than usual levels of sickness at some of our conductor depots. This has meant we are having to cancel some of our services. Of course under our proposals and the introduction of the on board supervisor role, many of these trains would be able to run as the driver would take full operational responsibility for the train, as they already do on 40% of Southern services. Please note that claims by the RMT that we are deliberately cancelling trains are completely illogical because every cancelled train costs Southern money under its punctuality and reliability commitments.
We remain open to talks with the RMT Union. We have met with the union about the changes eight times and written to them repeatedly. As the RMT Union are refusing to enter into meaningful discussions, further strikes are likely. However, we are committed to doing everything we possibly can to avert further unnecessary strikes which just cause misery for our passengers.
To be absolutely clear, we are not removing conductors from trains. Under our plans, everyone who wants a job will have one, with no reduction in salary, whilst passengers would benefit by having more visible staff on trains. The changes are the right thing to do for our customers and from a modern railway perspective.
ASLEF - legal action
I also wanted to take this opportunity to inform you that yesterday, we reluctantly issued papers at the High Court to challenge the ASLEF ballot of Southern and Gatwick Express train drivers for industrial action (this ballot is in addition to the ongoing conductor dispute with the RMT, as outlined above).
The reason for this legal action is that we believe ASLEF has selected which drivers it has balloted in a way that breaches the strict rules on balloting, and that, because it induced drivers to refuse to drive trains in advance of conducting the ballot, it cannot now lawfully ask them to take industrial action. This matter is likely to be considered at a hearing at the High Court next week. I will of course keep you updated on the latest developments.
As you are aware from previous correspondence, on 22 April, GTR successfully secured an injunction to enable the introduction of 12 carriage Gatwick Express services to provide a better travelling environment for passengers. Since then, we have been introducing these services and intend to run 50% of weekday Gatwick Express trains with 12 carriages by the end of May.
I would again like to repeat my apology for the disruption that this week’s RMT strike had on you and your constituents, and reiterate that we are doing everything we can to avert further industrial action. Please do get in touch if you would like to arrange a meeting to brief you on potential further disruption.
Yours sincerely,
Dyan Crowther
Chief Operating Officer