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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Southern strike: Drivers vote in favour of action | Southern strike: Drivers vote in favour of action |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK's biggest rail union has voted overwhelmingly to strike in a dispute over driver-only trains. | The UK's biggest rail union has voted overwhelmingly to strike in a dispute over driver-only trains. |
| Members of the drivers' union Aslef are accusing Southern railway of wanting to impose changes rather than reach an agreement. | Members of the drivers' union Aslef are accusing Southern railway of wanting to impose changes rather than reach an agreement. |
| The dispute is separate to long-running row between Southern and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union over changes to the role of conductors. | The dispute is separate to long-running row between Southern and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union over changes to the role of conductors. |
| Aslef said Southern had "dug its heels in" over the changes. | Aslef said Southern had "dug its heels in" over the changes. |
| Southern's drivers who are members of Aslef voted for walkouts by 87%. The union's executive is now deciding its next move. | |
| 'Two to tango' | 'Two to tango' |
| Mick Whelan, Aslef's general secretary, said: "Our trade dispute with the company is that there should be no introduction and/or extension of new driver-only operated routes on Southern without the agreement of Aslef. | Mick Whelan, Aslef's general secretary, said: "Our trade dispute with the company is that there should be no introduction and/or extension of new driver-only operated routes on Southern without the agreement of Aslef. |
| "We have genuinely sought to reach a compromise with Southern. We have always been prepared to talk to the company and we have always been of the view that it should be possible to do a deal, but it takes two to tango and the company has not been prepared to negotiate," he said. | "We have genuinely sought to reach a compromise with Southern. We have always been prepared to talk to the company and we have always been of the view that it should be possible to do a deal, but it takes two to tango and the company has not been prepared to negotiate," he said. |
| "They have dug in their heels and forced us to ballot our members." | "They have dug in their heels and forced us to ballot our members." |
| 'Perfectly safe' | 'Perfectly safe' |
| The union will have to give seven days' notice of any industrial action. | The union will have to give seven days' notice of any industrial action. |
| Charles Horton, the chief executive of Southern's parent company Govia Thameslink, said: "We believe this ballot was wholly unnecessary and unjustified in the first place and we're disappointed that the union is now contemplating industrial action. | Charles Horton, the chief executive of Southern's parent company Govia Thameslink, said: "We believe this ballot was wholly unnecessary and unjustified in the first place and we're disappointed that the union is now contemplating industrial action. |
| "It's perfectly safe for the driver to have sole responsibility for the operation of a modern train and that's how a third of the trains up and down the country - with the full agreement and support of Aslef - already operate today." | "It's perfectly safe for the driver to have sole responsibility for the operation of a modern train and that's how a third of the trains up and down the country - with the full agreement and support of Aslef - already operate today." |
| The RMT has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with Southern over changes to the role of conductors. | The RMT has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with Southern over changes to the role of conductors. |
| More stoppages are planned in the coming weeks, in the run-up to Christmas and over the new year. | More stoppages are planned in the coming weeks, in the run-up to Christmas and over the new year. |
| Southern wants drivers, rather than conductors, to operate carriage doors at certain times. | Southern wants drivers, rather than conductors, to operate carriage doors at certain times. |
| London Underground drivers are to stage a 24-hour strike on 6 and 7 December, coinciding with a walkout by Southern rail guards. | London Underground drivers are to stage a 24-hour strike on 6 and 7 December, coinciding with a walkout by Southern rail guards. |
| RMT strike dates: | RMT strike dates: |