RMT and Southern Rail talks break down
Talks between Southern Rail and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have broken down.
The two groups have been in disagreement about the role of the guard on Southern Rail services, and the dispute has led to days of strike action, over several months.
Southern had come to an agreement with Aslef, the union representing drivers, on 2 February. Today, the company met with RMT, which is representing guards.
Read more: RMT staffing row flares ahead of fresh talks with Southern rail tomorrow
Nick Brown, chief operating officer of Govia Thameslink Railway, Southern Rail's parent company, said: "We came to today’s meeting hopeful we could find a way forward to end the RMT’s dispute and we’re saddened it’s ended so prematurely.
"The travelling public will find the union’s obstinate refusal to engage in meaningful and constructive talks disappointing, disheartening and increasingly destructive."
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said Southern had only been interested in "bulldozing through driver-only operation further and faster" and that safety issues were "not even on their agenda".
"That pig-headed attitude has today wrecked the talks process," said Cash. "Not only have Southern refused point blank to give a guarantee on a second safety critical member of staff but the company have also made it clear that the deal set up by the TUC in the drivers' dispute is even worse than we first expected and gives Southern a free run to kick the legs from under our members who have fought for nearly a year on the principles of safety and access."
Aslef union members are being balloted until 16 February on whether the drivers should accept the deal it has struck with Southern.