That's the thing really. The dispute is not really with SWR its with DfT who are just hiding behind SWR. Unless DfT back down SWR just have to live with it. That's why SWR insisted on a clause in the contract that means DfT must compensate SR for their losses due to the strikes and also why DfT agreed to that clause.
Which makes you wonder what the RMT hope to achieve as they aren’t fighting First/MTR but a Tory government who don’t give in to strikes.
It’s not worked on Southern, it’s not working at Northern either. The government just have to sit it out until the RMT run out of steam (or money) if you’ll excuse the pun.
I will be interested to see how SWR handle a five day strike mind. Will stretch their resources to the limit I suspect. Coping with one or two day strikes is one thing; five could be a very different challenge.