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Southern train drivers vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action Southern train drivers vote in favour of strike action
(about 1 hour later)
Drivers on Southern rail trains have voted overwhelmingly to go on strike in a dispute over the operation of train doors, the union Aslef has said. Drivers on Southern rail trains have voted overwhelmingly to strike in a dispute over the operation of train doors, Aslef union has said.
The ballot for industrial action is likely to spell more serious disruption on Britain’s biggest commuter franchise. Conductors in the RMT union have held a series of strikes this year, with more walkouts planned for next week and the Christmas period. Three days of strikes in December will be followed by a six-day walkout in January, spelling more serious disruption on Britain’s biggest commuter franchise. Conductors in the RMT union have staged a series of strikes this year, with more walkouts planned for next week and the Christmas period.
The dispute is over the extension of driver-only operation on Southern trains, a move which sees conductors renamed as onboard supervisors, giving the driver responsibility for closing the doors. Unions say there are safety risks, a claim denied by Southern and rail industry bodies.The dispute is over the extension of driver-only operation on Southern trains, a move which sees conductors renamed as onboard supervisors, giving the driver responsibility for closing the doors. Unions say there are safety risks, a claim denied by Southern and rail industry bodies.
Aslef held a ballot to strike earlier this year, but it was ruled unlawful in a high court challenge brought by the company.Aslef held a ballot to strike earlier this year, but it was ruled unlawful in a high court challenge brought by the company.
In the latest ballot, 87% of drivers backed a strike. The turnout was 77%. Aslef is now considering its next move, with seven days’ notice needed for a strike. In the latest ballot, 87% of drivers backed a strike. The turnout was 77%.
It could coincide action with the RMT’s pre-Christmas walkout, severely affecting the ability of Southern to run any sort of service. The company has operated about two-thirds of trains during recent strikes, but the franchise has been plagued by problems ranging from understaffing to delays caused by engineering works. Aslef’s drivers will strike on 13, 14 and 16 December, and again from 9-14 January. The drivers will also refuse overtime and additional duties from 6 December.
Charles Horton, the chief executive of Southern’s operating company, Govia Thameslink Railway, 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. Although the action will not coincide with the RMT’s planned pre-Christmas walkout, it will severely affect the ability of Southern to run any sort of service. RMT members are due to stage three-day walkouts on 6, 22 and 31 December in their long-running row over changes to the role of conductors.
“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.” Southern has operated about two-thirds of trains during recent strikes, but the franchise has been plagued by problems from understaffing to delays caused by engineering works.
Meanwhile, Southern is investigating a fire that broke out on a train on Monday morning shortly before rush hour. The fire, discovered at 5am in an empty carriage at Eastbourne, caused delays and cancellations in the area. Mick Whelan, the general secretary of Aslef, said: “We have done our level best to try to reach a sensible, workable compromise with Southern in the interests of passengers as well as staff. We have always been happy to talk to the company, and we have always believed it is, or should be, possible to do a deal – as we did with ScotRail in Scotland –­ but it takes two to tango and the company has not been prepared to negotiate.
“The company – and I see the DfT’s fingerprints all over this dispute; it’s as if the DfT [Department for Transport] is the ventriloquist and Southern the ventriloquist’s dummy – doesn’t want to talk, it wants to bully; it doesn’t want to discuss, it wants to impose. Because it doesn’t care about passenger safety, only about profits for shareholders.”
Charles Horton, chief executive of Southern’s operating company, Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “Passengers will be rightly furious that these wholly unnecessary and unjustified strikes have been called in the run up to Christmas and in the New Year. The travelling public has endured months of misery and seen their work and family lives turned upside down by RMT’s futile industrial action with conductors. Now Aslef and the drivers want to compound that suffering by joining the fray in launching more pointless strikes.
“These strikes will have a devastating impact on the south-east economy and people’s everyday lives which will bring Southern to a standstill. 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.”
However, Aslef argues that huge increases in passenger numbers mean that safety agreements made in the days of British Rail should be reviewed. Whelan told MPs at the transport select committee last month that driver-only operation was “not fit for purpose. There are blind spots all over the place.”
Meanwhile, Southern was investigating a fire that broke out on a train on Monday morning shortly before rush hour. The blaze, discovered at 5am in an empty carriage at Eastbourne, caused delays and cancellations in the area.