Network
PContributing Writer rail@bauermedia.co.uk
A fresh set of one-day strikes by ASLEF train drivers, co-ordinated on a regional train operator-by-train operator basis on different days, will run for seven days from Tuesday January 30 to Monday February 5.
Drivers will also refuse to volunteer for overtime from Monday January 29 until Tuesday February 6.
It is the latest move by the union in its long-running dispute with the 14 train operating companies (TOCs) in England controlled by the Department for Transport. ASLEF’s previous set of strikes concluded on December 8 2023. The first strike in the dispute was in July 2022.
The DfT called the action “disappointing”.
ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan accused ministers of not wanting to resolve the dispute, calling for the Government to “come to the table with a realistic offer”.
He added that the Government’s Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 “won’t ease industrial strife. It will likely just make it worse.”
As this issue of RAIL closed for press, there was no indication that the operators would seek to use the new law’s provisions.
In a statement, the Rail Delivery Group said: “TOCs are working through plans to manage the
which days? unnecessary disruption. Minimum service levels are one potential tool for that, but they are not a silver bullet.
“In the meantime, we remain committed to resolving this dispute. Our offer, which would take average driver salaries to £65,000 for a four-day week without overtime, remains on the table.”
Meanwhile, in a warning shot ahead of negotiations over a 2024- 25 pay increase, the RMT union has set out details of staff reductions and increases to senior managers’ pay in Scotland.
In a letter to members, it says that a reduction in frontline staff is in contrast to an increase in management/admin and driver grades.
It claims that the number of on-train staff reduced by 43 to 1,107, station staff by 34 to 1,040, and fleet maintenance by 11 to 942.
The RMT has been calling for the Scottish Government to rule out cuts to ticket office hours, which it has not done. The Government also recently put forward proposals to extend Driver Only Operation (DOO) on the newly electrified Barrhead line, on which ScotRail later backed down after a strike threat.
“Now that ScotRail is owned by the Scottish Government, it should be investing and expanding staffing, not making short-sighted cuts or reducing staff numbers by stealth,” said the RMT.
“At the same time as reducing frontline staffing, it’s a different story for the high-paid executives at ScotRail.
“The highest-paid director at ScotRail received £178,000 and total director pay at ScotRail during the year was more than £800,000.
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