Talks between union and Southern Rail aimed to end dispute

Talks to be held between union RMT and Southern Rail to end the long-running dispute

TALKS to tackle a long-running dispute at Southern Rail over the role of guards are to be held today.

Leaders of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will meet with bosses at the rail operator.

RMT members have taken almost 30 days of strike action since the dispute flared almost a year ago causing misery for many commuters across the south coast.

Aslef, another drivers union which has also been involved in the dispute, recently began talks of a deal with Southern, ending its own strike action.

Conciliation service Acas will chair the talks today, which come just days before Aslef announces the result of a ball of members on its proposed deal with Southern with the union leaders recommending the agreement for acceptance.

Ahead of the talks, the RMT said new figures showed that the equivalent of 1,000 services a year continue to operate without a second member of staff, despite promises made by Southern’s owners Govia Thameslink Railway.