Aslef

The workers at South West Trains (SWT) walked out at midnight for a 24 hour strike over management scabbing during previous industrial action, when managers drove trains. The striking workers are mostly members of Aslef, with some RMT drivers also involved.

If the strike goes ahead it will be the first national shutdown of the rail network since 1926, involving tens of thousands of workers in every train operator, network rail and maintenance companies.

This action will be co-ordinated with ASLEF, whose members voted for the same action in a separate ballot today.

Workers backed action over issues that include policy on signals passed at danger (Spads), health and safety, bargaining arrangements, harassment, discipline, denial of representation rights and imposition of excessive punishments.

Bob Crow announced new offer yesterday before members or union organisers knew anything about it.

Half of LU's drivers are ASLEF members, and joint action would threaten a complete shutdown of the tube network - a marked difference from the strikes of RMT station staff on the 1 and 9 January.

The ASLEF press release stated:

New year's eve strike account here:
http://libcom.org/news/article.php/underground-new-year-strike-04012006