Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, responding to the news that private train operating company Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) today rejected the proposal from RMT to use the offer from ScotRail as a basis for finding resolution to the dispute between the union and Southern GTR over the safety-critical role of the guard, said:

“This is a missed opportunity. GTR had the chance to demonstrate a basic commitment to passengers and to improve industrial relations but have instead opted to reject the compromise on offer.

“If, as has been suggested, DfT officials are found to be dictating GTR’s approach to this dispute by introducing unreasonable qualifications and demands at a crucial stage in the negotiations, passengers will be rightly incensed that the Government is intervening in such an unhelpful manner.

“Chris Grayling would do well to set about getting some relief for rail passengers in south east England who are at the sharp end of this dispute, one that his department appears to be preventing from being settled.

“Every day that passes without a settlement, the impression grows that the Government are more interested in picking a fight with trade unions than sorting out the abysmal services on Southern Rail.

“Instead of poisoning industrial relations between GTR and RMT, the Government should set to work on reaching a settlement, in the interests of long suffering rail passengers and embattled staff.”