Aslef members vote for rail strikes in January and February Photo: Danny Lawson/PA Wire
Commuters face new wave of strikes and rail disruptions later this month as train drivers stage rolling strikes and ban overtime.
The disruption is the latest blow to travelers who have suffered disruptions for 20 months since Unions have launched a wage dispute with the Government and train companies.
Here's everything you need to know about the latest strikes…
When will the train strikes take place and which train companies will be affected?
Members of the Aslef union will strike for five days from Tuesday, January 30 to Monday, February 5 — and will ban overtime for nine days, starting January 29.
In addition, Aslef announced that train drivers LNER will go on strike for five days in February due to a long-running wage dispute.
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Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: «We have given LNER management — and their government counterparts who hold the purse strings — every opportunity to come to the negotiating table, but they have yet to make any realistic proposals to our members.»
“We have not heard from the Minister of Transport since December 2022 or from the railway companies since April 2023.
“It is time for them to come to the table and work with us to resolve this dispute so that we can all move forward and get our railroad back on track.”
A total of 16 train operators will be affected by the strike, although each will only be affected by the strike for one day. Below you will see which operators will be affected on different days:
Tuesday 30 January:Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, Great Northern, GTR Thameslink, Main Line and South Western Depot Railway. drivers and SWR Island Line
Wednesday 31 January:Northern and Transpennine trains
Friday 2 February:C2C, Greater England and LNER
Saturday 3 February:West Coast Avanti, East Midlands Railway and West Midlands Trains
Monday 5 February:Chiltern, CrossCountry, LNER and GWR.
From Monday 5 February to Friday 9 February:LNER
LNER trains will operate. Please also eliminate non-contractual overtime fromWednesday, February 7 to Saturday, February 10which may result in further disruption.
I thought the train strikes were over — why are there more of them?
The ongoing Aslef wage dispute has been affecting travelers for the past 20 months, and train drivers, represented by the Aslef union, have voted overwhelmingly to continue the strike for the next six months. , potentially leading to further passenger suffering in 2024.
Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members 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 strike 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.
A bill on minimum standards for passenger rail, ambulance and fire and rescue services was passed in July to ensure essential services remain intact. This means employers will be able to fire employees who refuse to come to work when ordered, and unions that fail to meet minimum requirements could face legal action.
However, the union responded by warning that legislation could make any strike worse.
Mr Whelan said: “Having seen the determination of our members and the support of train drivers among our passengers and the public since this dispute began in June 2022, the Tories have now tried their old trick of changing the rules.”
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“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.»
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan (centre) says some members haven't earned «a penny»; for half a decade more. Photo: James Manning/PA Wire. Travel tips during train strikes
National Rail has previously warned passengers that there will be no services on strike days and significant disruption in the days before and after the strike.
National Rail has advised passengers to use its journey planning tool to check alternative routes. Passengers should check the time of each strike, the message said.
Why is Aslef on strike?
The Aslef pay dispute has been ongoing since the first ballot papers were published in June 2022, with the union accusing the Government of failing to end the row.
Mr Whelan said: “We have given the Government every opportunity to sit down to the negotiating table, but it has been a year since we have had any contact with the Department of Transport. It's clear they don't want to settle this dispute.
“Many members have failed to get a penny of a pay rise in half a century during which inflation has soared, 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.»
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