Aslef Whelan says the 4 percent payout offer was “clearly not meant to be accepted.” Credit: HENRY NICHOLLS/REUTERS
Railway passengers will face another disruption to travel this week after unions call for more strikes.
Members of both the Amalgamated Society of Locomotive and Firemen (Aslef) and railroad, maritime transport and transport (RMT) unions will go on strike. England today and this weekend.
Aslef Secretary General Mick Whelan said no talks were under way to resolve the dispute, while the Department for Transport insists it has “promoted a fair and reasonable wages.
20,000 rail workers are participating in the RMT strike. 14 train drivers, including station workers, train supervisors and catering workers. Aslef's planned strikes will cause additional inconvenience to passengers.
Here's National Rail's advice for travelers:
Tips for traveling during a train strike
National Rail has warned passengers that “significant disruptions” are expected during the strike days, which will likely result in limited or no train service on large sections of the network.
Trains may also be aborted and sent later. the following day.
Train operators are still assessing how the massive strikes will affect their ability to operate services on each strike day, meaning passengers may have to wait longer to see if specific trips are affected.
The National Railway recommended to passengers:
- Use a travel planner. Passengers should check the information shortly before the date of each strike.
- Use the Live Trains page for the most up-to-date information on arrivals and departures.
- Plan ahead and check in advance to travel. This includes checking your entire journey, especially if you are on the first and last train on strike days.
When is the next train strike?
The drivers go on strike for four days at :
No overtime for drivers Aslef trains, which may result in last-minute cancellations, will also operate on:
- Saturday, May 13
- Monday, May 15 to Saturday, May 20
- Thursday, June 1
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Passengers have also been warned that traffic is likely to be interrupted and re-start later the day after the strike.
The combination means the country's railroads will be in disarray for most of the weekly half term. school holidays.
The last day of the strike on 3 June coincides with the FA Cup final at Wembley, the Epsom derby and Beyonce's “Renaissance” world tour concert at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
Which the railway companies hit by strikes?
The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firefighters (Aslef) represents UK train drivers. 16 railway workers to go on strike:
- Avanti West Coast
- c2c (2 June only)
- Chiltern Railways
- CrossCountry
- East Midlands Railway
- Gatwick Express
- Great Western Railway
- Greater England
- GTR Great Northern Thameslink< /li>
- Heathrow Express
- London North Eastern
- Northern Trains
- South Eastern
- Southern/Gatwick Express
- South Western Railway
- SWR Depot Drivers
- SWR Island Line
- TransPennine Express
- West Midlands trains
Liverpool Lime Street will be the main destination for Eurovision fans later this month Photo: Eleanor Barlow/PA Wire Why are RMT members on strike? 
The RMT strikes in January canceled almost 75% of trains as people returned to work after Christmas. Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock pay and working conditions.
RMT described the previous pay offer and related conditions as “unacceptable”.
The union said it was not received a revised offer despite being with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators, after last week's strike.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “The government is once again preventing the Rail Delivery Group from making an improved proposal that we can consider. Therefore, we must continue our industrial campaign to reach a negotiated settlement over jobs, pay and conditions.”
RDG accused the RMT of dragging out the wage dispute by “never giving its members a chance to speak out.” at their own suggestion.”
An RDG spokesman added: “Instead, they will face more lost wages due to strikes, customers will suffer more disruption and the industry will continue to suffer huge damage at a time when the railroad is taking in more than its fair share. taxpayers to keep trains running after COVID.”
RMT members voted to extend the union's industrial mandate to strike earlier this month, meaning passengers could face another six months of work interruption.
Why are the Aslef drivers on strike?The train drivers' union is embroiled in a year-long wage dispute. He has already been on strike for eight days since last summer.
The RDG figure suggested a 4% increase in 2022 and then another 4% in 2023.
Mr Whelan of Aslef said the proposal was “clearly not meant to be passed” as inflation is much higher, meaning the proposal represents a pay cut in real terms.
General Secretary Mick Whelan Aslefa rejected a wage offer presented to the union because in real terms it meant a pay cut. Photo: Dinendra Haria/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images. , he added.
To qualify for the first 4 percent increase, companies need to make a commitment to drivers to learn new routes faster to help fill service gaps, and use technology to train new staff faster.
Second year of salary hike will depend on the “successful completion” of reform negotiations whereby drivers who work on Sundays will be required to work under contract unless there is an alternative cover.
The RDG said the change is vital as leisure travel has recovered much stronger than commuter and business travel and is now at 116% of its pre-pandemic levels.
The group also demanded that workforce controls work and training schedules were put back “in the hands of the employers”.
Do you support the ASLEF drivers' strike?
However, the machinists' union said the 8% offer over two years, which would raise the average machinist's salary from about £60,000 to just under £65,000, was not enough.
Since then inflation was mostly in double digits. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in July last year, this figure remained at 10.4% in March.
This means that the pay proposal will continue to be a significant reduction in wages in real terms.
An RDG spokesman said: “Further strikes are completely unnecessary, they will only increase pressure on an industry that is already facing a severe financial crisis.”
This article is updated daily with the latest news .
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