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Train drivers to launch new strikes in long-running pay dispute

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New strikes have been announced by the train drivers’ union ASLEF.

Drivers will stage fresh industrial action and an overtime ban from the end of the month in a long-running pay dispute.

A programme of one-day strikes is designed to “pile pressure” on 16 train companies nationwide.

Full list of dates and lines affected

File photo dated 03/06/2023 of members of the Aslef union on a picket line near to Leeds train station. Rail passengers are being warned to expect disruption over the next week because of strikes and an overtime ban by train drivers in their long-running dispute over pay. Members of Aslef at 16 train operating companies will refuse to work overtime from Friday until December 9 and will stage a series of strikes between December 2 and 8. Issue date: Friday December 1, 2023.

The announced dates and affected operators are:

• Tuesday 30 January: Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, GTR Thameslink, South Western Railway main line and depot drivers, SWR Island Line

• Wednesday 31 January: Northern and TransPennine

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• Friday 2 February: C2C, Greater Anglia, LNER

• Saturday 3 February: Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains

• Monday 5 February: Chiltern, CrossCounty, GWR

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Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan on the picket line at Euston
Image:
ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan

ASLEF members – who account for 96% of train drivers in England, Scotland and Wales – will also refuse to work on their rest days from 29 January to 6 February.

The union claims that train drivers have not had a pay rise since April 2019.

Mick Whelan, ASLEF’s general secretary, said: “We have given the government every opportunity to come to the table, but it is now a year since we had any contact from the Department for Transport. It’s clear they do not want to resolve this dispute.”

He went on to urge the government, and train operating companies, to “come to the table with a realistic offer so we can end this dispute”.

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But Downing Street condemned the union’s decision to support further strikes.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “This is extremely disappointing. Not least to commuters, who have already been so badly hit by ASLEF’s decision to continually strike.

“ASLEF drivers continue to be paid far above what the average person in the UK receives.

“Rail companies have made a fair and reasonable offer, and we would encourage them to step back from this action.”

The strikes, which will cripple train services across England, could be the first test of new regulations brought in by the government which are aimed at ensuring a minimum level of service during strikes, set at 40% in the transport sector.

Mr Whelan has warned that this law “won’t ease industrial strife, it will just make it worse”.