Train workers' strikes called off

Workers had planned two strikes over the role of guards and pay

Two planned strikes by Southeastern railway workers have been called off.

Both 48-hour strikes were set for Monday and Tuesday - one over the role of guards and the other over pay.

The first was called off after a legal challenge by the rail firm. The second strike was suspended so the union could consider a revised pay offer.

Southeastern said it was pleased at the outcome, but the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) said the operator had used "anti-union" laws.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Southeastern's lawyers have pounced on a minor legal technicality that made not one jot of difference to a ballot that returned a massive majority for strike action.

"The anti-union laws were designed to make it as difficult as possible for workers to strike.

"The company has used those laws to frustrate the will of RMT guards and drivers who want to stop the extension of driver-only operation."

Passengers warned

A spokeswoman for Southeastern, which covers Kent, East Sussex and part of Surrey, said she was unable to give further details of the legal challenge.

But she said it meant that no more industrial action could be called using the union ballot in the first dispute.

She also said the firm had tabled new proposals to the union in a bid to resolve the separate dispute over pay.

Workers were balloted last month on whether to strike.

Nearly 500 workers planned strike action over claims that the company intended to "do away" with the role of guards on new 395 Hitachi Javelin trains due to start running between Kent and London next year.

The union said the "cost-cutting" move was an "attack on safety".

A further strike was planned over pay by 750 retail and engineering staff who said a 4.3% pay offer was below inflation.

On Friday, Southeastern had handed leaflets to passengers at stations including London Bridge, Victoria and Charing Cross in London, warning of possible disruption next week.