A
series


of
weekend
strikes
which
had
been
called
by
ASLEF
on
LNER
has
been
called
off,
after
a
resolution
was
reported
by
the
union.

Drivers
belonging
to
ASLEF
had
been
set
to
walk
out
every
weekend
between
now
and
mid-November,
in
a
dispute
about
agreements
which
the
union
said
had
been
broken.

The
dispute
is
not
connected
with
the
national
pay
dispute
on
which
drivers
are
currently
being
balloted,
with
a
recommendation
to
accept.

LNER
had
already
published
a
reduced
timetable
for
this
weekend
but
said
it
would
now
see
how
it
could
strengthen
its
service.

The
operator
said
the
latest
talks
with
ASLEF
had
been
‘constructive’
and
that
it
was
pleased
the
strikes
had
been
suspended.

ASLEF
general
secretary
Mick
Whelan
said:
‘Once
again
we
have
demonstrated
that
by
sitting
round
the
table
and
negotiating,
issues
on
the
railway
can
be
resolved
in
a
way
that
means
better
workplace
practices
for
rail
workers
and
a
better
service
for
the
travelling
public.
ASLEF
will
continue
to
campaign
for
a
fully-staffed
railway
that
doesn’t
rely
on
excessive
use
of
driver
overtime.

‘We
continue
to
operate
in
good
faith
and
we
are
pleased
to
have
finally
resolved
this
long-standing
issue
with
LNER
of
abuse
of
our
agreements.
We
look
forward
to
normal
working
resuming.’