Drivers’ union negotiates revised Southern deal

A revised deal aimed at ending the dispute between Southern Railway and its drivers has been negotiated.

Drivers’ union ASLEF is currently balloting its members on the agreement, recommending they accept it. The result is due on April 3 despite there being industrial action planned for the following day.

ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan said the new terms “offer solutions to our concerns, as well as restoring the confidence of all parties, and the travelling public”.

Govia Thameslink Railway Director Andy Bindon said he hoped it would end “an extraordinarily difficult period for passengers, staff and the regional economy”.

The two sides had reached agreement in February. But when ASLEF put the deal to its members, the drivers rejected their union’s recommendation by a majority of 54% ( RAIL 821). The union and the company were both taken by surprise at the result, and held two weeks of further negotiations.

A new four-page agreement reduces the number of circumstances in which trains can operate without a second member of staff. The February deal listed eight situations - these have now been reduced to five. They include: late notice sickness or absence of On Board Supervisors; OBS staff displaced by late running or service disruption; or the need to deal with a customer incident or emergency.

All On Board Supervisors will also receive Personal Track Safety (PTS) training.

There is a greater commitment to improving the cab CCTV systems on older trains, with the company accepting that the

equipment on some Class 377 rolling stock, while meeting safety standards, is less effective than on newer trains. An upgraded unit will be trialled next month, and the intention is to complete the fleet upgrade by autumn 2019.

Drivers have told RAIL that the modifications to the original agreement are minor. ASLEF believes the changes will be sufficient to secure their support.

However, the RMT union dismissed the settlement as “an old deal in a new envelope” because it does not guarantee a second “safety-critical” member of staff on all trains.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT does not believe for one moment that drivers and guards will be hoodwinked. Disabled passengers will be seriously disadvantaged as access to train services is compromised.”

ASLEF members held six days of strikes and a two-month overtime ban. The RMT has held 30 days of strikes since April 2016. It said its dispute over the same issues would continue.