Three days of strikes next week and an overtime ban by drivers on Southern Rail are set to be scrapped, opening the way to new talks.
Drivers’ union ASLEF said it had offered to suspend strikes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday next week if Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which runs Southern services, agreed to new talks hosted by Trades Union Congress (TUC) leader Frances O'Grady.
In response, GTR chief executive Charles Horton said: ‘We've always made clear our willingness to engage in meaningful talks with ASLEF to find a route forward to end their dispute.
‘So, together with our passengers and businesses, we warmly welcome their decision to suspend next week's planned industrial action. This is an important and significant development for the travelling public and the regional economy and our focus and efforts now will be on productive talks with the union and trying to find a solution and a way forward.
‘We are grateful to Frances O'Grady and Andy Meadows for agreeing to chair jointly this important new round of talks and they have our unequivocal endorsement and support.’
ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan said that ‘given the implications of this dispute for the wider railway industry’ he was calling on transport secretary Chris Grayling ‘to support this new process’.
Mr Grayling has previously refused to meet the unions in the long running dispute over driver only operation and the role of guards while they are engaged in industrial action.
Transport Network understand that on Wednesday (18 January) ASLEF will suspend both next week's strikes and an overtime ban, which has disrupted Southern services on days when strikes are not taking place.
However, a Department for Transport spokesperson said that while the Govenrment welcomed the move, Mr Grayling had 'suggested that these talks be jointly chaired by Andy Meadows, Group HR Director at Abellio, and Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC'.
Southern guards who are members of the RMT union are due to strike on Monday (23 January).
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