TRAIN DRIVER’S union ASLEF began another series of staggered rail strikes across the train operating companies involved in the long running dispute over pay.
The union announced in mid-January that it would be staging a series of strikes between January 30 and February 5, with a ban on non-contractual overtime across the train operating companies between January 29 and February 6.
As previously reported, ASLEF has been involved in a dispute over pay with the 16 train operating companies and the Rail Delivery Group, with which it has been negotiating. A similar wave of staged strikes took place in early December, bringing large parts of the rail network to a standstill on the days when action was taking place.
ASLEF’s general secretary Mick Whelan said: “We have given the Government every opportunity to come to the table, but it has now been a year since we had any contact from the Department for Transport. It’s clear they do not want to resolve this dispute.
“Many of our members have now not had a single penny increase to their pay in half a decade, during which inflation soared and with it the cost of living. Train drivers didn’t even ask for an increase during the Covid-19 pandemic, when they worked throughout as keyworkers, risking their lives to allow NHS and other workers to travel.
“The Government has now tried its old trick of changing the rules when it can’t win and brought in Minimum Service Levels legislation. But this new law, as we told officials during the consultation period, won’t ease industrial strife. It will likely just make it worse.
“There’s no excuse. The Government and train operating companies must come to the table with a realistic offer so we can end this dispute and work together to ensure the future of our railways.”
