Hundreds of thousands of Southern Railway passengers face even worse disruption than forecast from next week because of a ban on train driver overtime, it was revealed today.
As well as nine days of strike action by drivers in the coming weeks, union Aslef has ordered members not to carry out any “non-contractual” work, including an “indefinite” ban on overtime.
Southern confirmed it relied on overtime to keep a full service running.
The ban will begin next Tuesday, timed to coincide with the start of a further three days of strikes by RMT guards in the ongoing dispute over changes to staff roles and driver-operated trains.
Passengers face 24-hour strikes every week until the middle of January — 18 strikes in total.
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Neither the RMT nor Aslef will rule out further walkouts. Southern admits the strikes by drivers “will bring it to a standstill” but says it is proceeding with staff changes and denies accusations these are unsafe.
Aslef has ordered its drivers to strike on December 13, 14 and 16, before a six-day strike from January 9 to 14.
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RMT guards will strike next Tuesday through Thursday, and then two further three-day-strikes, from December 22 to 24 and December 31 to January 2.