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Rail strikes: train drivers’ union names three more dates in May and June RMT joins train drivers’ union in announcing fresh rail strikes
(about 5 hours later)
Aslef announces 24-hour stoppages as well as overtime bans across Great Britain in long-running dispute Eurovision and FA Cup final to be hit by strikes which are likely to stop all trains running at affected companies
The train drivers’ union Aslef has announced three more days of rail strikes in May and June, dashing hopes that the long-running dispute could be coming to an end. The long-running standoff on the railway has escalated once again after both major unions called fresh strikes, accusing train operators of “torpedoing negotiations”.
Drivers at England’s government-contracted train operating companies will stage three separate 24-hour strikes after the union rejected what it called a “risible” pay offer of 4% a year for two years. The RMT called a 24-hour rail strike in May, just hours after the train drivers’ union Aslef announced three separate days of rail strikes in May and June, dashing hopes that the long-running dispute could be coming to an end.
The strikes are likely to stop most, if not all, trains at the affected companies, which include the main intercity operators and commuter services around England, and also some cross-border services to cities and towns in Scotland and Wales. Major events including the FA Cup final at Wembley and Eurovision final in Liverpool will be affected by the strikes, which are likely to stop most, if not all, trains at the affected companies.
The strikes will take place on 12 May, 31 May, and 3 June, the day of the FA Cup final when many fans will be travelling from the north-west to London to see two Manchester teams play at Wembley. Those include the main intercity services and commuter trains around England, and also some cross-border services to cities and towns in Scotland and Wales.
An overtime ban will also be put in place for the week of 15-20 May, as well as on 13 May – when the Eurovision final will be held in Liverpool – and 1 June. This is likely to cause significant disruption to train operators, which to a greater or lesser degree, rely on voluntary rest-day working to operate their full schedule. The RMT’s leader, Mick Lynch, said that negotiators at train operators had been pressured by government to renege on a 9% offer the union had been considering for several weeks, by making the first year’s pay deal contingent on it withdrawing its mandate for strike action.
The affected companies are Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Great Western Railway; Greater Anglia; GTR – Great Northern and Thameslink; LNER; Northern; Southeastern; Southern/Gatwick Express; South Western Railway; SWR depot drivers; SWR Island Line; TransPennine Express; and West Midlands Trains. The RMT strike will take place on 13 May, when the Eurovision final will be held in Liverpool, and follows the first Aslef strike on 12 May. Further drivers’ strikes will be held on 31 May, and 3 June, the day of the FA Cup final when many fans will be travelling from the north-west to London to see two Manchester teams play at Wembley.
Lynch said: “The RDG have reneged on their original proposals and torpedoed these negotiations. No doubt their decision is due to pressure exerted on them by the Tory government.
“Therefore, we have no alternative but to press ahead with more strike action and continue our campaign for a negotiated settlement on pay, conditions and job security.”
Meanwhile, Aslef rejected what it called a “risible” pay offer of 4% a year for two years.
Aslef’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, said: “Our executive committee met this morning and rejected a risible proposal we received from the Rail Delivery Group [RDG].Aslef’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, said: “Our executive committee met this morning and rejected a risible proposal we received from the Rail Delivery Group [RDG].
“The proposal – of just 4% – was clearly not designed to be accepted as inflation is still running north of 10% and our members at these companies have not had an increase for four years.”“The proposal – of just 4% – was clearly not designed to be accepted as inflation is still running north of 10% and our members at these companies have not had an increase for four years.”
An overtime ban will also be put in place by Aslef for the week of 15-20 May, as well as on 13 May and 1 June. This is likely to cause significant disruption to train operators, which to a greater or lesser degree, rely on voluntary rest-day working to operate their full schedule.
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The affected companies those in England contracted by the government: Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Great Western Railway; Greater Anglia; GTR – Great Northern and Thameslink; LNER; Northern; Southeastern; Southern/Gatwick Express; South Western Railway; SWR depot drivers; SWR Island Line; TransPennine Express; and West Midlands Trains.
The union has staged eight one-day strikes over the course of the year-long rail dispute, but rarely called such extensive action in a single announcement, underlining anger felt by drivers at the offer.The union has staged eight one-day strikes over the course of the year-long rail dispute, but rarely called such extensive action in a single announcement, underlining anger felt by drivers at the offer.
The two-year deal with a 4% annual pay rise – as well as changes to working conditions – runs short of the offer to members of the RMT union of 9% over two years with a bigger rise for the lowest paid. However, Aslef drivers are paid much more than train crew and station staff in the RMT.The two-year deal with a 4% annual pay rise – as well as changes to working conditions – runs short of the offer to members of the RMT union of 9% over two years with a bigger rise for the lowest paid. However, Aslef drivers are paid much more than train crew and station staff in the RMT.
The RMT has yet to formally respond to the RDG’s proposal, and the union’s national executive committee is still considering next moves. It accepted a similar offer for Network Rail staff after a referendum.
An eventual deal for drivers is expected to be negotiated at individual train companies because of the wide disparity in pay and working arrangements, including Sunday rosters. However, Aslef was expecting a guaranteed national minimum rise nearer inflation as a starting point for all its drivers.An eventual deal for drivers is expected to be negotiated at individual train companies because of the wide disparity in pay and working arrangements, including Sunday rosters. However, Aslef was expecting a guaranteed national minimum rise nearer inflation as a starting point for all its drivers.
Whelan said the union had been discussing a national resolution and arrangements and principles for talks with each company, before the RDG’s unexpected offer.Whelan said the union had been discussing a national resolution and arrangements and principles for talks with each company, before the RDG’s unexpected offer.
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He added: “We do not want to go on strike, but the blame for this action lies, fairly and squarely, at the feet of the employers who have forced our hand over this by their intransigence.He added: “We do not want to go on strike, but the blame for this action lies, fairly and squarely, at the feet of the employers who have forced our hand over this by their intransigence.
“It is now up to them to come up with a more sensible, and realistic, offer and we ask the government not to hinder this process.”“It is now up to them to come up with a more sensible, and realistic, offer and we ask the government not to hinder this process.”
An RDG spokesperson said: “This is disappointing news for our customers and staff, more strike action is totally unnecessary and will only heap more pressure on an industry already facing an acute financial crisis.”An RDG spokesperson said: “This is disappointing news for our customers and staff, more strike action is totally unnecessary and will only heap more pressure on an industry already facing an acute financial crisis.”
The spokesperson said the “revised and fair offer”, of 4% a year for two years, would have “introduced overdue, common-sense improvements” to improve services for passengers.The spokesperson said the “revised and fair offer”, of 4% a year for two years, would have “introduced overdue, common-sense improvements” to improve services for passengers.
They added: “We urge the Aslef leadership to rejoin us at the negotiating table and work with us to find a solution to the issues our industry faces and so we can give our people the pay rise we have always said we wanted to do.”They added: “We urge the Aslef leadership to rejoin us at the negotiating table and work with us to find a solution to the issues our industry faces and so we can give our people the pay rise we have always said we wanted to do.”
The transport secretary, Mark Harper, said the news was “deeply disappointing” and urged Aslef to call off the strikes, accusing the union of “targeting thousands of people attending the UK’s first Eurovision event in 25 years – including Ukrainians displaced by Putin’s war – and the first ever all-Manchester FA Cup final”.The transport secretary, Mark Harper, said the news was “deeply disappointing” and urged Aslef to call off the strikes, accusing the union of “targeting thousands of people attending the UK’s first Eurovision event in 25 years – including Ukrainians displaced by Putin’s war – and the first ever all-Manchester FA Cup final”.