Many of my constituents are again facing disruption, inconvenience and delays to their journey on Southern Rail due to a strike which has been called by the RMT union. The dispute centres on a decision by Southern Rail to reorganise the manner in which conductors work on trains. The dispute has been caused following Southern Rail's decision to change the role of a conductor, and that of ticket office worker, to one of a front line supervisor, where staff will be more visible on trains and platform and better able to help passengers face-to-face. Southern Rail have offered all staff impacted a new job in this passenger-facing role. Due to the refusal of the RMT to discuss this reorganisation, the existing roles are having to be made redundant with the new roles being offered. This is a legal technicality and not a refusal by Southern Rail to offer a replacement role. Conductors would remain on Southern Rail services which my constituents use (the Marshlink and Uckfield lines) due to the operational nature of these older trains. On other lines, doors can be operated by the driver, as they are on 40% of Southern's existing services, without any issue from the rail regulator as to compromised safety. I deplore the decision of the RMT to cause so much disruption for the change of role as described. The argument that these changes will impact passenger safety are not borne out by the experience of commuters who very rarely see their conductor unless they happen to be near the door which is being opened. Having commuted on Southern Rail for the last ten years, I can recall fewer recent examples of the conductor walking the train, engaging with passengers and rectifying difficulties. I therefore fully support Southern Rail's plans to put staff in to roles where they can better assist passengers. This will improve the experience of passengers, improve personal safety and customer information and provide a more meaningful role in the 21st century for staff. I have attempted to engage both Southern Rail and the RMT on this issue. Southern Rail have explained the changes, and the process by which they have sought to bring the changes about. The RMT have failed to respond to my questions as to how my current experience will be made worse by more passenger interaction with conductors on the line I use. I very much hope that the RMT will engage in a dialogue with Southern Rail in order for these changes to be brought about without further inconvenience to passengers. I say this as a commuter who, being on crutches, had to make alternative plans today due to the strike.