- By Michael Race
- Business reporter, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
Train drivers are set to strike again next month as part of a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.
Aslef members at 16 rail companies will take part in rolling one-day walk outs between 5 and 8 April, along with a six-day overtime ban.
The union said the new industrial action was to “increase the pressure” on train companies for a pay rise.
Train companies said “nobody wins” when strikes take place and said they would try to minimise disruption to services.
The latest action is likely to lead to cancellations and delays.
Little progress has been made in solving the row between Aslef bosses and rail companies since the union first started striking in July 2022. Some 14 one-day strikes have been called during the 20-month dispute.
The most recent pay deal put on the table was rejected almost a year ago in April 2023. The offer included 4% pay rises for two years in a row, on condition that drivers would accept industry-wide changes to training, and negotiate changes to work patterns at individual operators.
No formal talks have been held since.
When will the strikes be held?
- Friday 5 April: Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, and CrossCountry
- Saturday 6 April: Chiltern, GWR, LNER, Northern, and TransPennine
- Monday 8 April: c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway main line and depot drivers, and SWR Island Line
As well as the walkouts, Aslef members will refuse to work rest days from Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 April and from Monday 8 to Tuesday 9 April, union said.
Mick Whelan, Aslef general secretary, said the union had called on the train companies and the government to “come to the table for meaningful talks” to negotiate a new pay deal for train drivers, whom he said had not had a salary increase since 2019.
“Our members voted overwhelmingly – yet again – for strike action. Those votes show a clear rejection by train drivers of the ridiculous offer put to us in April last year.
“We have given the government every opportunity to come to the table but it is now clear they do not want to resolve this dispute. They are happy for it to go on and on.”
In 2021, the median salary for train drivers was £59,189 per year.
Train operators have argued drivers need to change ways of working for wages to rise, because of the financial challenge facing the industry and in fairness to taxpayers.
But Aslef has said drivers are being asked to sacrifice working conditions.
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, said it wanted to resolve the dispute, but argued Aslef’s leadership “need to recognise that hard-pressed taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra £54m a week just to keep services running post-Covid.
“Nobody wins when industrial action impacts people’s lives and livelihoods, and we will work hard to minimise any disruption to our passengers.”
While the dispute over pay and conditions is with the private train companies, the government controls how much money is on the table and has the final say over what is offered.
The Department for Transport said Aslef was the only rail union continuing to strike, pointing out other disputes, most notably with the RMT rail workers union, had been resolved.
“Having resolved disputes with all other rail unions, the transport secretary and rail minister have ensured that a pay offer is on the table – taking train drivers’ average salaries from £60,000 up to £65,000,” a statement added.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
