Southern train drivers strike threat lifted

Train drivers have called off a strike which would have affected services from stations in Brighton and Hove.
Shoppers planning to head for the sales and commuters due to have worked on the bank holiday Monday (28 December) have been given a respite.
ASLEF said that drivers on Southern Railway were prepared to take action on Sunday 27 and Monday 28 December and Sunday 3 January.
The union said that the strike threat was made because the company had refused to recognise Monday 28 December as a bank holiday.
It said that its drivers had called off the strike because the company had accepted the union’s case.
Southern said that the RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport) union had also dropped its plans to strike over the same issue. It held a ballot which closed on Monday (21 December).
Southern added: “We welcome these decisions as our passengers will not now be inconvenienced through industrial action.”