Tunnel drivers' union calls strike ballot

FOLKESTONE, England (CNN) -- Drivers of Eurotunnel trains between England and France are to be balloted on possible strike action in a dispute over union recognition.

UK train drivers' union Aslef warned on Monday that, depending on the result of the ballot, a series of 24-hour strikes could take place as early as next month.

Aslef said it was canvassing opinion among its 230 members -- drivers and crew -- who work for the Channel Tunnel shuttle train service between Folkestone and Coquelles.

It is not thought that the Eurostar services from Waterloo to Brussels and Paris would be affected.

A Eurotunnel spokeswoman told CNN.com: "We have received notification from Aslef that it intends to hold a postal ballot for a series of discontinuous 24-hour strikes.

"It intends to hold the ballot on September 18. Following the eventual ballot result, Aslef would have to notify Eurotunnel at least seven days in advance of any strike action.

"Given that timetable -- and depending on the result of the ballot -- it is unlikely that any strike action could take place before mid October."

She said she did not know exactly how many of the company's 120 drivers in the UK are members of Aslef, but stressed that the ballot did not affect any of its 110 drivers based in France.

Asked if services through the tunnel would be disrupted if the ballot result was in favour of strike action, the spokeswoman added: "Until we have the result we cannot comment on that.

"But we have a lot of staff in France who are not part of this."

The Aslef ballot comes three months after the Eurotunnel management agreed a single union deal with the Transport and General Workers Union.

Under the agreement the TGWU will represent all Eurotunnel employees, including train drivers.

Aslef general secretary Mick Rix said: "I hope Eurotunnel management will now see sense and avoid the disruption to the travelling public, which follows from their refusal to recognise the union of their train crews' choice."

Eurotunnel
Aslef
TGWU
Trades Union Congress

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