Aslef members voted for five more days of strikes. Photo: James Manning/Pennsylvania
Commuters are facing a new wave of strikes and rail disruptions. Train drivers are staging rolling strikes this week and introducing an overtime ban.
The disruptions are the latest blow to travelers who have suffered 20 months of strikes since unions began a wage dispute with the government and train companies.
In a separate dispute, RMT union members working on London Overground will go on strike over pay. More than 300 workers will take part in the strike, which includes strikes and non-strike actions.
Here's everything you need to know about the latest strikes.
When will the train strikes happen and which rail Are companies affected?
Members of the Aslef union will strike for five days from Tuesday, January 30 to Monday, February 5, and will also ban overtime for nine days, starting January 29.
Aslef announced that train drivers on the LNER would go on strike for five days in February over a long-running wage dispute, but those strikes have now been called off, although separate actions on February 2 will still take place.
RMT union members on the London Underground will also strike from February 19-20 and March 4-5.
A total of 16 train operators are affected, although each will only be affected by one day of strike action. Below you will see which operators will be affected on different days:
Tuesday 30 January:South Eastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, Great North, GTR Thameslink, Mainline drivers South Western Railway lines and depots and SWR Island line
Wednesday 31 January:Northern and TransPennine trains; overtime ban
Thursday 1 February:Overtime ban
Friday 2 February: C2C, Greater Anglia and LNER; overtime ban
Saturday 3 February:Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway and West Midlands Trains; no overtime
Monday 5 February:Chiltern, CrossCountry and GWR; ban on overtime work
Tuesday, February 6:no overtime
Monday 19 February:London Overground
Tuesday 20 February:London Overground
Monday 4 March: Overland London
Tuesday 5 March: Overground London
CANCELLED: Monday 5 February to Friday 9 February:LNER
I thought the train strikes were over — why are there more of them?
Aslef's ongoing wage dispute has hit travelers over the past 20 months, with train drivers represented by the Aslef union voting overwhelmingly to continue the strike for the next six months, potentially causing more suffering for passengers in 2024.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have also been on strike since June 2022.
But they voted overwhelmingly in December to accept an agreement that would end their long-running dispute over wages and working conditions. Under the agreement, the union will suspend industrial action until at least April 2024 in exchange for a backdated payment offer that would put all members in line for a one-off Christmas payment of at least £1,750.
What about minimum service levels?
The Aslef rail strikes could be the first test of new rules aimed at ensuring a minimum level of service during strikes, set at 40% in the transport sector.
Bill on minimum standards for passenger rail services, ambulance services, fire and rescue services was enacted in July to ensure essential services were maintained. This means employers will be able to fire employees who refuse to come to work when ordered to do so, and unions that fail to meet minimum requirements could face legal action.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said his workers were «furious» over the latest pay proposal. Photo: Lucy North/PA
However, the union responded by warning that such legislation could worsen any strikes.
Mr Whelan said: «Having seen the determination of our members and support for train drivers being enjoyed by our passengers and the public since this dispute began in June 2022, the Tories have now tried their old trick of changing the rules.
» When they couldn't force us to back down, they introduced minimum service levels — designed to effectively ban strikes, rendering them ineffective — but this new law will not ease labor struggles. This will only make the situation worse.»
Tips for traveling during train strikes
National Rail had previously warned passengers that there would be no services on strike days and that there would be significant disruption in the days before and after the strike.
National Rail advised passengers to use its journey planning tool to check alternative routes. Passengers should check the time of each strike, it said.
Why is Aslef on strike?
The dispute over Aslef's wages has been ongoing since the first ballot papers were published in June 2022, with the union accusing the government of failing to end scandal.
Mr Whelan said: “We have given the Government every opportunity to come to the negotiating table, but it has been a year since we have had any contact with the Department for Transport. It is clear that they do not want to resolve this dispute.
“Many members have failed to raise their wages even a penny over the past half century, during which inflation has risen sharply and with it the cost of living. We did not ask for an increase during the pandemic when we worked through lockdown as key workers, risking our lives to move goods around the country and enable the NHS and other workers to get to work.
“ Frankly, there is no justification for all this nonsense. The Government and [train operators] must do the right thing and come to the table with a realistic offer so we can end this dispute and work together to secure the future of our railways.”
Why is the RMT union on strike? ?
Regarding the London Underground strike, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “London Underground workers do important work delivering TfL services and supporting passengers to travel across London.”
“Our members are furious at that they have been offered below-inflation wages and want to see an improvement that reflects the value they bring to the company.
“If this dispute cannot be resolved, then RMT is more than prepared for an extended period of industrial action to get the pay rises London Underground workers deserve.»
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