Only one day after it had started (RBI521 p8), ASLEF announced on November 5 that it was postponing its ballot of drivers at GTR subsidiary Southern over the extension of driver-only operation. This 'cancellation' was welcomed by Southern Passenger Services Director Angie Doll, who said 'this welcome development gives us the time and opportunity to sit down with union officials to resolve their dispute'. This drew a terse response from ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan, who said 'we have not cancelled our ballot for industrial action'. ASLEF had informed GTR that fresh ballot papers were being issued 'after a technical hitch', and the union was 'determined to get this absolutely right because we know just how litigious GTR is'.
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