Further strike action has been announced by conductors on the Southern Rail network after a breakdown in talks with the company. 

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT), said on Friday, April 29, that its attempts to speak with Southern management had failed. 

But the company blamed the union for the break down.

April 23: Southern rail conductors plan strike action for TWO DAYS next week affecting services from Clapham Junction

A Southern spokesman said: "We came here for serious constructive talks but sadly the RMT was not prepared to discuss details of the new role.

"We tabled, at their request, high level principles on which to move forward and they have dismissed them out of hand, offering no alternative of their own.

"This is a snub to every commuter on the Southern network who now seem condemned to more days of strikes early next month.

"All we are doing is shifting responsibility for closing a train's doors from the conductor to the driver, so the conductor, in their new role of on-board supervisor, can focus on customer service on the train.

"No-one will be made compulsorily redundant, no-one will get a cut in salary.

"We continue to urge the RMT to review their position and not inflict another totally unnecessary strike on our passengers."

The union is protesting the company's plans to change conductor roles to on board supervisor roles, moving the job of opening the doors to the drivers.

Southern claims this change means staff will be more visible but the RMT believes there are safety risks. 

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The above map shows the effect of the strike action from May 10-13.

General Secretary Mick Cash said: "Not only has Southern management today collapsed the talks process but they have also dished out forms to sign to give an undertaking that our members will not take part in any further industrial action during this dispute.

"RMT has issued guidance to members that they are under no obligation to sign this form and recommending that they bin it. 

"The form asks members to commit to working extra days, extra hours, working rest days and overtime on strike days. It then goes on to say that members won't be guaranteed extra work. In effect, that means that they want staff to put on record that they are willing to break the strike, but that they won’t be needed and won't be paid.

"Southern and GTR management are now stooping so low during this dispute that their actions are not only contemptible but would also be laughable if this dispute was not so serious. Their actions are undermining any attempts to seek a negotiated solution to this dispute as they have put out this form on the very day that important talks are taking place. 

"The union is united nationally behind our members on Southern and determined to win a victory that protects and enhances rail safety."

Further strike action is planned for Tuesday, May 10 until Friday, May 13.

Southern services will be affected between 7.30am and 6.30pm on each of the four days, on services to and from Clapham Junction, Dorking and Horsham, as well as other parts of the Southern network.