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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/feb/02/southern-rail-deal-reached-to-end-strikes-over-driver-only-trains
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| Southern rail and union agree deal to end strikes over driver-only trains | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A deal has been agreed between Southern rail and the Aslef union to end a dispute over driver-only trains, the TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady, has announced. | |
| The result of the negotiations held at the TUC between operating company Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and drivers’ union Aslef was announced on Thursday. | |
| A series of strikes by drivers had brought trains to a halt, while an overtime ban saw branch lines closed and services severely disrupted from early December until talks began. | A series of strikes by drivers had brought trains to a halt, while an overtime ban saw branch lines closed and services severely disrupted from early December until talks began. |
| Strikes planned for late January were suspended while Aslef started fresh talks to resolve the row over driver-only operated trains, which drivers said were potentially unsafe. | Strikes planned for late January were suspended while Aslef started fresh talks to resolve the row over driver-only operated trains, which drivers said were potentially unsafe. |
| GTR, along with the Rail Safety and Standards Board, argued that DOO was common practice on much of the rail network, including on Southern’s sister service Thameslink. | GTR, along with the Rail Safety and Standards Board, argued that DOO was common practice on much of the rail network, including on Southern’s sister service Thameslink. |
| But unions have resisted any further extension of the practice. Aslef argues that railways have become more crowded, with longer trains and far more passengers, and the principle of one crew member on board is no longer safe. | But unions have resisted any further extension of the practice. Aslef argues that railways have become more crowded, with longer trains and far more passengers, and the principle of one crew member on board is no longer safe. |
| The union says its drivers cannot process the CCTV screens in the cab as safely as a conductor standing outside the train, before closing the doors. | The union says its drivers cannot process the CCTV screens in the cab as safely as a conductor standing outside the train, before closing the doors. |
| GTR’s dispute with the RMT continues. The union, which represents conductors, who have been rebranded as onboard supervisors, was not involved in the talks. | GTR’s dispute with the RMT continues. The union, which represents conductors, who have been rebranded as onboard supervisors, was not involved in the talks. |
| However, RMT strikes, which began last April, have had a comparatively limited effect on the running of the service. | However, RMT strikes, which began last April, have had a comparatively limited effect on the running of the service. |
| Although the terms of any deal reached between GTR and Aslef have yet to be confirmed, it should avert any more total stoppages. | Although the terms of any deal reached between GTR and Aslef have yet to be confirmed, it should avert any more total stoppages. |
| Performance on Southern, including punctuality and cancellations, had worsened before the industrial action, with staff shortages and engineering works contributing to the company’s problems. Last week, the national rail passenger survey confirmed that Southern was the worst-performing train operator. | Performance on Southern, including punctuality and cancellations, had worsened before the industrial action, with staff shortages and engineering works contributing to the company’s problems. Last week, the national rail passenger survey confirmed that Southern was the worst-performing train operator. |
| Earlier this week, commuters launched a legal claim to attempt to force the Department for Transport to take action over the failing train service. | Earlier this week, commuters launched a legal claim to attempt to force the Department for Transport to take action over the failing train service. |
| GTR has claimed that the responsibility for the breakdown in service was outside its control, which the DfT has yet to respond to. | GTR has claimed that the responsibility for the breakdown in service was outside its control, which the DfT has yet to respond to. |