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Aslef offers to suspend Southern strikes in return for new talks Aslef suspends Southern rail strikes in return for new talks
(35 minutes later)
Aslef has offered to suspend industrial action on Southern railway if the company agrees to new talks hosted by the TUC, the union has said. Next week's industrial action by drivers on Southern rail has been suspended ahead of fresh talks on Wednesday, the TUC has announced.
Drivers are due to hold a further three days of strikes next week. It follows an offer by Aslef to suspend the strikes if the company agreed to "engage in intensive talks under the auspices of the TUC".
Mick Whelan, Aslef general secretary, said: "I am proposing a new process to try and find a resolution to our industrial dispute with Southern rail." Drivers had been due to hold three days of strikes next week.
Aslef and Southern should "engage in intensive talks under the auspices of the TUC as soon as possible", he said. Charles Horton, of Southern's parent company GTR, said it was "an important and significant development".
"Efforts now will be on productive talks with the union and trying to find a solution and a way forward," the chief executive said.
Earlier, Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said the union and Southern should "engage in intensive talks under the auspices of the TUC as soon as possible".
In a statement he said: "Given the implications of this dispute for the wider railway industry, I am also asking the Secretary of State for Transport to support this new process.In a statement he said: "Given the implications of this dispute for the wider railway industry, I am also asking the Secretary of State for Transport to support this new process.
"Aslef believes that the best way to resolve the dispute at Southern is for all parties to engage in meaningful talks - without preconditions - aimed at finding an agreed way forward.""Aslef believes that the best way to resolve the dispute at Southern is for all parties to engage in meaningful talks - without preconditions - aimed at finding an agreed way forward."
A Department for Transport spokesman said it welcomed Aslef's offer, but "in order to aid this process, the Secretary for Transport has suggested that these talks be jointly chaired by Andy Meadows, group HR director at Abellio, and Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the TUC".
Both Aslef and the RMT unions are in dispute with Southern's parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), over changes to the role of guards on driver-only operated trains, amounting to Britain's worst rail strike in 20 years.Both Aslef and the RMT unions are in dispute with Southern's parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), over changes to the role of guards on driver-only operated trains, amounting to Britain's worst rail strike in 20 years.
Last week, hundreds of thousands of passengers were hit by three days of strikes by drivers.Last week, hundreds of thousands of passengers were hit by three days of strikes by drivers.
Aslef members have also been operating an overtime ban.Aslef members have also been operating an overtime ban.
The RMT union, which mostly represents guards, has been involved in industrial action since last April.The RMT union, which mostly represents guards, has been involved in industrial action since last April.