A MONTH-LONG strike to defend the role of the guard on South Western Railway (SWR) services started up again yesterday after a 24-hour break. 

Rail workers belonging to the RMT union have resumed their strike and are demanding that SWR management abandon any commitment to driver-only operations (DOO) on their trains.

The union’s general secretary Mick Cash also announced that the union will be balloting the members for a sixth round of strike action.

Talks between company management and workers at conciliation body Acas fell apart a fortnight ago, leading to large picket lines across London and south-west England.

In a message to members, Mr Cash offered his congratulations for their “magnificent show of solidarity” during the dispute, which began earlier this month.

“The industrial action taken to date has been solidly supported and proves how determined our members are to defend the role of the guard and stand against SWR plans to extend DOO,” he said.

“This dispute is and always has been about DOO and the role of the guard. 

“SWR are making this dispute about the doors and if we accept their optimal method of operation, the company will eradicate the role of the guard and extend ‘driver open, driver close’.”

Mr Cash added that the RMT was willing to talk about “the best ways we can improve and provide a safe and accessible railway system for our members and the travelling public.”

The union has stressed that it is available for negotiations to bring the dispute to a close.