… while RMT and Greater Anglia reach agreement on guards

Greater Anglia and the RMT union have reached an agreement on the role of guards, ending a long-running dispute between the two sides.

On a turnout of 80%, union members voted by a majority of nine to one to accept an offer made by the train operator, which the union claims guarantees the role of the guard and halts the extension of Driver Only Operation.

The breakthrough comes after a dispute which has lasted almost a year and involved 12 days of industrial action. The company ran a full service on strike days.

The RMT said the agreement shows “what can be agreed through serious negotiations with the train operators”, although General Secretary Mick Cash warned: “The spotlight now shifts to South Western Railway (SWR), where RMT members are preparing to begin a programme of eight days of strike action.

“If we can reach a negotiated settlement on Greater Anglia that has safety, security and access at its core, then there is no reason why we can’t achieve the same on SWR if the company are prepared to get down to business.

“The Greater Anglia agreement comes after similar deals have been done, including negotiated settlements across Scotland and Wales, that have the Guard Guarantee at their core. We now need to roll that principle out to the train companies where we remain in dispute, and deliver the kind of safe, secure and accessible railway for all that the travelling public rightly demand.”

GA Managing Director Jamie Burles said: “We’re pleased that we have reached agreement with the RMT regarding our conductors and the new trains.”

Talks between the two sides will now take place on the detail of the settlement.