RMT Union announces yet another day of strikes on disaster-struck Southern Rail
COMMUTERS face yet another day of travel misery on the trains with further Southern Rail strikes announced this month.
A fresh 24-hour walk-out will take place on January 23 - one day before previously announced drivers' strikes on the 24, 25 and 27.
It comes after thousands of commuters struggled to get into work this week after three more strikes on the rail network.
RMT Union members have staged dozens of strikes after Southern changed the role of guards, with the union complaining safety was being compromised.
RMT leader Mick Cash said Charles Horton, chief executive of Southern's owner, Govia Thameslink Railway, had promised during a TV debate earlier this week to retain a second safety-critical member of staff on trains but the pledge "melts away" during direct talks.
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Mr Cash said: "That is the main reason why we are forced again to put on further strike action.
"It is down to the company to end this posturing and to get back into the room with us to kick-start the negotiating process which is what the public are clearly crying out for.
"There is a golden opportunity between now and the next phase of action to get serious and genuine talks under way."
A Southern spokesman said Mr Horton invited the RMT to fresh talks and made a formal written offer to Aslef over a week ago, but had heard "absolutely nothing".
He added: "This wholly unjustified industrial action is causing utter misery and hardship to the travelling public and is having a significant impact on people's work and family lives and the regional economy.
"We remain ready to meet the RMT leadership, as we do Aslef, any time, any place, anywhere to find a way to end their disputes.
"These strikes are not about safety; it's purely about the unions trying to turn the clock back, hang on to outmoded working practices, which technology now eradicates, and union power.
"Every train that previously had a conductor before January 1 now has either a conductor or a safety-competent on-board supervisor rostered to work."
GTR is taking fresh legal action against Aslef by going to the Supreme Court to try to stop the strikes, after losing a court case and an appeal last year.
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