Picture: Alan Mak MP with Govia Thameslink Chief Operating Officer Dyan Crowther
Havant MP Alan Mak has called for the striking railway unions to get back to work and end the travel chaos for users of Southern trains.
With all trains between Havant and Chichester cancelled, causing misery for those who rely on the rail network, Mr Mak has demanded trade unions get back to the negotiating table.
Branding the huge disruption as “unacceptable”, he joined with the new rail minister Paul Maynard in saying that the introduction of modernised trains should not be prevented by the unions.
It comes after Mr Mak met with members of the RMT and Aslef unions to discuss the ongoing industrial dispute. Both unions cite safety concerns as the reason for the ongoing strike action, a claim rejected by Mr Mak.
The Conservative MP says he has been assured that no staff members will lose their jobs and the 115 new trains that will be introduced by Southern owner, Govia Thameslink, are already in use across a third of the rail network. Safety regulator, the Office of Rail and Road, say driver-only operation is safe and the new model will allow guards to focus on improving customer service.
Mr Mak said: “The trade unions need to call off their strikes, get staff back to work, and get back around the negotiating table with Southern and GTR. Trade union strikes are causing huge disruption to passengers across Havant and the wider region which is totally unacceptable.
“I’ve met trade union leaders alongside other MPs to deliver the same message, and I’ll continue to work with Ministers to keep up the pressure of the trade union leaders who’ve made travelling such a misery.”