LONDON—Rail workers started a five-day strike Monday on services across southeast England, including commuter trains into London, causing major disruption on what could become the country’s longest rail walk-out since 1968.
The RMT union called the strike to protest plans to downgrade the role of the conductor on Southern Trains, causing cancellations across the network. AFP
Southern, which is owned by Govia Thameslink Railway, said it will run 60 percent of services.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said there was “rock solid” support on the first morning of the strike, which, if completed, would be the longest industrial action on the railways since 1968, according to the BBC.
Currently Southern trains require two members of staff to operate—a driver, and a conductor who checks the doors are properly closed at each station.
With the advent of automatic doors controlled by the driver, Southern says conductors are no longer essential, although it denies intending to scrap the jobs altogether.
The RMT, which is fighting a similar battle with Scottish railways operator ScotRail, says the move risks passenger safety.