RMT vote in favour of station staff strikes on Govia network following planned ticket office closure

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The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) announced 70 per cent of members had voted in favour of further strike action on the Govia Thameslink (GTR) network.

The total number of people balloted was 407 of which 120 voted against the action with a further six spoilt votes – a sizeable increase in the "no" vote compared to recent votes on industrial action.

The latest dispute is in relation to changing the role of station staff and closing ticket offices.

The RMT said that GTR plan to close 83 ticket offices across the network and introduce a new multifunctional role entitled "Station Host" for station staff.

“In light of this strong mandate from our members our National Executive Committee will be considering the course of industrial action.

“Not content with axing catering services, closing ticket offices and attacking the role of their guards they [GTR] now want to threaten 130 station jobs and compromise the safety of both their passengers and staff alike," said RMT assistant general secretary Steve Hedley.

A GTR spokesman said: "We note that only one in four (26.9 per cent) voted for strike action, with more than half of RMT station staff members ignoring the ballot.

"While disappointed we urge the union to stop this dispute and save our passengers and staff further pain by becoming part of the solution rather than the problem."