This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jun/22/southern-rail-drivers-balloted-on-fresh-strikes
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Southern rail drivers balloted on fresh strikes | Southern rail drivers balloted on fresh strikes |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Southern rail drivers are to be balloted for strikes over pay, threatening disruption at the start of the school holidays. | Southern rail drivers are to be balloted for strikes over pay, threatening disruption at the start of the school holidays. |
| The company said the drivers’ union Aslef had notified it that voting would start on 29 June and close on 13 July, so the first walkout could be on 27 July. | The company said the drivers’ union Aslef had notified it that voting would start on 29 June and close on 13 July, so the first walkout could be on 27 July. |
| Aslef members are due to start a ban on overtime on 29 June in the long-running dispute over driver-only trains, which will cause fresh misery for Southern’s 300,000 passengers. | Aslef members are due to start a ban on overtime on 29 June in the long-running dispute over driver-only trains, which will cause fresh misery for Southern’s 300,000 passengers. |
| News of the new ballot came before the publication of a long-awaited report for the government into Southern, which has been hit by strikes, staff shortages and other problems for over a year. | News of the new ballot came before the publication of a long-awaited report for the government into Southern, which has been hit by strikes, staff shortages and other problems for over a year. |
| The report, by the Network Rail director Chris Gibb, will criticise Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union for the series of strikes they have taken. | The report, by the Network Rail director Chris Gibb, will criticise Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union for the series of strikes they have taken. |
| The Department for Transport and Southern’s owners, Govia Thameslink Railway, will also be criticised. | The Department for Transport and Southern’s owners, Govia Thameslink Railway, will also be criticised. |
| The report, which Gibb gave to the government last year, will also lay some of the blame on long-term problems such as under-investment. | The report, which Gibb gave to the government last year, will also lay some of the blame on long-term problems such as under-investment. |
| Southern said it had offered drivers a deal worth more than 23% but it would be withdrawn if the overtime ban went ahead. | |
| A spokesman said: “People will be amazed the Aslef leadership has rejected such a significant pay offer for their members, especially as they have twice before accepted the extension of driver-controlled operation which has now been in place for over six months. | A spokesman said: “People will be amazed the Aslef leadership has rejected such a significant pay offer for their members, especially as they have twice before accepted the extension of driver-controlled operation which has now been in place for over six months. |
| “Aslef should now suspend the overtime ban pending the result of this new ballot because we won’t be able to keep our pay offer on the table if they press ahead with interim industrial action. | “Aslef should now suspend the overtime ban pending the result of this new ballot because we won’t be able to keep our pay offer on the table if they press ahead with interim industrial action. |
| “This ballot is a real chance for drivers to end this dispute by showing they want to accept the 23.8% pay offer and work with us to modernise the congested Southern network as updated infrastructure, trains and working practices provide the service passengers need and deserve.” | “This ballot is a real chance for drivers to end this dispute by showing they want to accept the 23.8% pay offer and work with us to modernise the congested Southern network as updated infrastructure, trains and working practices provide the service passengers need and deserve.” |