New rail walkout planned as report blames strikes for Southern chaos
STRIKING rail staff were the “primary c ause” of chaos and miser y for Southern passengers, a report ruled today — as union barons called a ballot on a new walkout which would disrupt the summer holidays.
Industrial action by drivers and crews turned a system which would otherwise have coped with its problems into melt- down, according to the study by veteran railways chief Chris Gibb. It was commissioned by the Government to investigate why Southern was crippled by so many delays and cancellations.
“No element of the system is perfect, and it can all improve,” he wrote. “But I am convinced by what I have seen that if the train crew were to work in the normal manner that they have in previous years, the output of the system, a safe and reliable rail service for passengers, would be delivered in an acceptable manner, which would be similar to other commuter rail services in the South-East.”
Mr Gibb, a Network Rail director with 35 years experience, concluded that the network was “broken” due to unreliable infrastructure, overcrowding and industrial action. But he singled out the unions for pushing a strained service past breaking point.
“Their action is undermining the system,” he said. “Whatever their motives, which are debatable, I do not support their action.”
Southern trains are used by more than 300,000 passengers a day. They have endured 32 walkouts, each of 24 hours, by the RMT in a protest against driveronly operated trains and changes to the role of guards. Aslef train drivers went on strike on six days.
From Thursday next week, an indefinite overtime ban by 1,000 drivers could cancel or delay up to 700 trains a day — a third of the service. Aslef today lodged notice of a strike ballot over pay which could see all trains stop from July 27, just as the summer holidays begin.
Drivers have been offered a 23.8 per cent four-year deal which would take annual pay to £75,000 including overtime. The Standard revealed on Monday that they had rejected the deal.
A Southern spokesman said: “People will be amazed the Aslef leadership has rejected such a significant offer for their members, especially as they have twice before accepted the extension of drivercontrolled operation which has now been in place for over six months.
“Aslef should now suspend the overtime ban due to start on June 29, pending the result of this new ballot, because we won’t be able 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 pay offer and work with us to modernise the congested network.”
The union says the ballot is necessary because of “the company’s failure to make a satisfactory offer in respect of the pay award”.