03 Mar 2020 | 07:25 AM UTC
UK: Transport union plans South West Railway strike March 9-13 /update 2
Transport union members plan South West Railway strike on March 9-13; rail transportation disruptions expected
Event
Members of the Rail, Maritime, and Transport (RMT) union plan to strike on South Western Railway (SWR) between 10:00 (local time) on Monday, March 9, through 10:00 on Tuesday, March 10, and between 10:00 on Thursday, March 12, through 10:00 on Friday, March 13. A similar strike in December 2019 caused disruptions to approximately 600,000 passengers daily for 27 days.
Transportation disruptions, including SWR service delays and an increased demand for alternative means of transportation, are expected during the work stoppages.
Context
The RMT union has held several industrial action demonstration since 2018 to protest SWR's introduction of new trains that allow drivers to operate the doors instead of guards. The union is demanding that the railway maintains a guard on every train.
Advice
Individuals in London, and in southwestern England more generally, are advised to monitor the situation, anticipate transportation disruptions, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.
