UNDER-pressure rail operator Arriva Trains Northern will try to ward off the threat of even more strikes at a meeting with drivers' union ASLEF in York today.

Both sides will try and thrash out a new procedure for disciplining drivers, after the treatment handed out to three ASLEF members brought the union to the brink of taking industrial action.

ASLEF threatened to bring its members out on strike after three Arriva drivers, accused of passing signals at danger, were demoted.

A ballot has now been suspended, but ASLEF negotiator Alan Dodd said that could change if talks failed.

"I am quite optimistic this issue will be resolved," he said. "We are trying to agree a new procedure for drivers who become involved in disciplinary action in the future.

"If the talks fail, the ballot could come up again."

An Arriva spokeswoman said: "We understand that the ballot has been suspended and talks are going well."

Should talks fail, Arriva could face the grim prospect of seeing virtually all of its staff taking strike action.

Conductors are already in dispute with the company, while station and clerical staff are being balloted for industrial action.

Meanwhile, conductors have demanded their union leaders take a harder line in pay talks with Arriva.

Stan Herschel, York regional organiser at the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), claims conductors reprimanded union negotiators after discovering concessions had been made in talks with Arriva management.

Mr Herschel said: "When I went round the picket line (last week) and told them how far we had been prepared to go, we were reprimanded by our members.

"They are saying 'we are not selling conditions'. They are telling us to put forward a harder line."

Talks between the RMT and Arriva are expected to resume this week.

stephen.carroll@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 11:27 Monday, February 11, 2002