Train drivers who are members of ASLEF – the train drivers’ trade union which represents 96% of the train drivers in England, Scotland, and Wales – will walk out at 12 train operating companies for two days of strike action on Saturday 1 and Wednesday 5 October in a dispute over pay.
East Midlands Railway’s services are unaffected.
A spokesperson said:
‘We initially called a strike for Thursday 15 September but immediately postponed that day of action, as a mark of respect, when we heard that the Queen had died at Balmoral on Thursday 8 September.
‘And we made no public announcement – again, as a mark of respect for the monarch – until after the state funeral for Elizabeth II on Monday 19 September. But the Tories’ anti-union laws mean that we have to give the companies 14 days’ notice so the TOCs were notified on Friday 16 September.
‘We have successfully negotiated pay deals with nine train companies this year – and are only in dispute with those companies which have failed to offer their drivers – our members – anything. And these are drivers who have not have an increase since 2019.’
Mick Whelan, ASLEF’s general secretary, said: ‘We would much rather not be in this position. We don’t want to go on strike – withdrawing your labour, although a fundamental human right, is always a last resort for this trade union – but the train companies have been determined to force our hand.
‘They are telling train drivers to take a real terms pay cut. With inflation now running at 12.3% – and set, it is said, to go higher – these companies are saying that drivers should be prepared to work just as hard, for just as long, but for considerably less.
‘The companies with whom we are in dispute have not offered us a penny. It is outrageous that they expect us to put up with a real terms pay cut for a third year in a row. And that’s why we are going on strike. To persuade the companies to be sensible, to do the right thing, and come and negotiate properly with us. Not to run up and say, “Our hands are tied and the government will not allow us to offer you an increase”.
‘Train drivers kept Britain moving – key workers and goods around the country – throughout the pandemic and we deserve to be treated better than this. That’s why we are calling on the companies – which are making big profits, and paying their chief executives enormous salaries and bonuses – to make a pay offer to our members to keep up with the rise in the cost of living.’
ASLEF members at 12 companies – Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; Greater Anglia; Great Western Railway; Hull Trains; LNER; London Overground; Northern Trains; Southeastern; TransPennine Express; and West Midlands Trains – will strike on 1 and 5 October.
