UK South Western Railway guards to go on strike for most of December

Train guards on Britain's South Western Railway (SWR) commuter network are planning to go on strike for most of December, including over much of the Christmas holiday period. Strikes will take place between Dec. 2 to 11, Dec. 13 to Dec. 24, and Dec. 27 to Jan. 1, according to their rail union RMT.

The union has been in a long-running dispute with the company demanding guarantees over the guards' future roles amid concerns their jobs could be eliminated as driver-operated new trains come into service. "Our members have been left with no choice but to call a further 27 days of strike action on South Western Railway," Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said in a statement.

"As long as the company continues to refuse to give assurances on the future operational role of the guard we will remain in dispute." There was no immediate comment from SWR.

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