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Aslef rejects new Southern deal by margin of 26 votes

Drivers’ union Aslef has today voted to reject another proposed deal to bring its dispute over driver-only-operated (DOO) trains with Southern Rail to an end.

In the ballot cast today, guards and drivers who were members of the union voted not to accept Southern’s agreement on DOO by a slim margin of 51.8% – with only 26 votes separating the final decision.

In March, Aslef agreed terms to end its dispute with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) for the second time this year, with the union’s executive recommending that its members accept the revised proposals and call a halt to any further problems.

But the decision taken by the wider membership has gone against leaders’ recommendation once again – and could signal the announcement of more strikes and disruption on the Southern network.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said: “We understand and support the decision arrived at in a democratic vote by our drivers and will now seek new talks with the company and work to deliver a resolution to this dispute in line with the expectations of our members.”

Andy Binton of GTR also said that it was “hugely disappointing outcome” for all passengers, particularly considering that Aslef leaders had actually put their backing behind ending the dispute.

“We have shown a willingness and desire to find a solution to their dispute and we will now, once again, sit down with the union, understand the issues which led to this regrettable decision by the drivers and try and find a way forward to resolving it,” said Binton.

Aslef leaders’ continued co-operation with Southern in trying to bring the dispute to an end was something that RMT general secretary Mick Cash had previously described as a “shocking betrayal” of workers and passengers.

Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, also commented: “It’s very disappointing. A stronger railway needs everyone working together to improve services for passengers, employees and businesses across the Southern region and the whole of Britain.

“We would urge Aslef to return to talks and we call on the RMT to call off its planned strikes on Saturday when people will be going to the Grand National – a much-loved iconic British event watched around the world.

“Britain deserves a long-term plan working together to improve services.”

RMT went on strike on 13 March to protest against DOO changes, and will follow that up with another strike on Southern services tomorrow. On Northern and Merseyrail services, RMT has also provoked uproar after it decided to strike on 8 April, the day of the Grand National, which will inevitably cause maximum disruption on the network.

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