RAIL union RMT threw down the gauntlet to Southern Rail senior management yesterday, calling on it to publish the sickness, pay and perks records of senior bosses.

The union accused Southern, which is owned by Govia Thameslink Railway, of displaying a “raw and vicious hatred” for its workforce after “coming within an inch” of releasing the personal medical records of front-line staff in an attempt to justify a series of service cancellations.

The accusation follows the firm’s publication of figures on Wednesday suggesting that train conductors have called in sick more than 1,000 times in a month, and that as a direct result of this services had to be cancelled.