Train drivers’ union ASLEF and Southern Railways are to hold further talks on the issue of driver only operation after the union suspended an overtime ban that was due to start on Sunday.
ASLEF said it has suspended the overtime ban for two weeks to allow time for negotiations to find a resolution to the long-running dispute ‘and to allow all outstanding issues to be discussed’.
It will also sit down with the company in ‘parallel, but separate, talks to try to resolve a range of issues’, including drivers’ terms and conditions, industrial relations, and pay.
ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan said: ‘We met Southern today, ahead of our overtime ban, which was due to start on Sunday. The company has indicated that it is prepared to negotiate with us on a range of outstanding issues and, therefore, we have suspended our overtime ban.’
The union has twice previously reached agreement with the company only to see the proposed deal rejected in ballots of its members.
Nick Brown, chief operating officer of Southern’s parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway, said: ‘This will allow talks to continue, on a wide range of issues including pay. We aim to continue to find a way forward over the next few weeks and finally bring matters to a conclusion.’
Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said: ‘On board supervisors have already been successfully introduced on Southern services and it’s right that the industry should work together to harness new technology and smarter ways of working to deliver a long-term improvement plan for customers and communities across route.’
Last week, following the Manchester attack. the RMT union cancelled 24-hour strikes on three separate rail services, including Southern, over driver only operation.
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