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COMMUTER CHAOS SHOWDOWN

Southern Railway bosses will meet RMT union chiefs to solve stike chaos as pressure mounts to avoid more problems for commuters

Union chiefs and railway bosses bash it out in a bid to break strike stalemate

UNDER-fire bosses at Southern Railway will meet militant RMT union chiefs next week in a bid to solve the strike chaos on the network.

The move came 24 hours after Southern’s owners GTR divided the unions by striking a peace deal with Aslef, which represents drivers on the services across the south-east.

 Commuters cram into Waterloo Station earlier this year
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Commuters cram into Waterloo Station earlier this yearCredit: Getty Images

Aslef agreed to stop industrial action after a package that gave the union a veto over the introduction of any more driver-only trains on the network.

The dispute was sparked by Southern kicking conductors of dozens of services.

These are now being replaced by on-board supervisors. RMT represents the guards.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Southern GTR has agreed to meet this union over the issues at the heart of this dispute and I have written to the company seeking available dates, which will hopefully commence early next week.”

 RMT Union Chief Nick Cash holds sign at national protest
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RMT Union Chief Nick Cash holds sign at national protestCredit: Alamy
 Platforms swamped by passengers during January's industrial action
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Platforms swamped by passengers during January's industrial actionCredit: Getty Images

Separately RMT called off a devastating three-day Tube strike planned to kick-in on the London Underground on Sunday night. It claimed bosses had reversed yet more job cuts.