Train drivers are holding a fresh strike ballot, Southern said this morning (Thursday 22 June).
The train company said that the train driver’ union ASLEF had notified the company that voting would start next Thursday (29 June) and close on Thursday 13 July.
If drivers vote to strike, the first date that could walk out would be a fortnight later on Thursday 27 July.
The announcement of another strike ballot came as a long-awaited report – the Gibb report – was due to be published this morning.
The urgent report by industry expert Chris Gibb was commissioned almost a year ago and is believed to have been with officials for the past six months.
Drivers are due to begin an overtime ban next Thursday as part of their long-running dispute with Southern and its owner Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).
The dispute centres on the introduction of new trains with driver-only operation of the doors.
Unlike older trains on the network, a guard is not needed before the train can leave a station.
GTR already has driver-only operated trains on the network but has been accused of imposing terms and conditions on staff instead of by mutual agreement.
The approach has led to a similar row with the guards union, the RMT, which fears for members’ jobs and says safety will be compromised. It also believes that people with disabilities will find it harder to travel by train.
Southern said that it had offered drivers a pay deal worth more than 23 per cent over the next four years but it the offer would be withdrawn if the overtime ban went ahead.
