Updated
10.57

ASLEF


has
announced
a
series
of
strikes
by
train
drivers
between
2
and
8
December,
in
its
continuing
dispute
over
pay.

Unlike
previous
walkouts,
the
strikes
will
affect
different
operators
in
England
each
day,
but
there
will
also
be
a
general
overtime
ban
from
1
to
9
December.

ASLEF
general
secretary
Mick
Whelan
said:
‘Our
members
have
spoken
and
we
know
what
they
think.
Every
time
they
vote,
and
they
have
voted
overwhelmingly,
for
strike
action
in
pursuit
of
a
proper
pay
rise
it
is
a
clear
rejection
of
the
offer
that
was
made
in
April.’

The
drivers’
union
has
already
staged
14
daily
strikes
since
the
dispute
began
in
the
spring
of
last
year.
It
described
the
last
pay
offer,
which
was
made
some
six
months
ago,
as
‘risible’.

The
Rail
Delivery
Group
said:
‘This
wholly
unnecessary
strike
action
called
by
the
ASLEF
leadership
will
sadly
disrupt
customers
and
businesses
ahead
of
the
vital
festive
period,
while
further
damaging
the
railway
at
a
time
when
it
is
still
getting
an
extra
£175
million
a
month
in
taxpayer
cash.

‘The
fair
and
affordable
offer
made
by
industry,
which
would
take
average
driver
base
salaries
for
a
4-day
week
from
£60,000
to
nearly
£65,000,
remains
on
the
table.
We
urge
the
ASLEF
leadership
to
put
it
to
its
members,
give
Christmas
back
to
our
passengers,
and
end
this
damaging
industrial
dispute.’

The
Department
for
Transport
added:
‘It
is
disappointing
that
ASLEF
are
targeting
the
public
and
hospitality
businesses
at
the
beginning
of
the
festive
period,
when
there
is
a
fair
and
reasonable
pay
offer
for
train
drivers
on
the
table
that
would
take
their
salary
up
to
an
average
of
£65,000
for
a
35-hour,
four-day
week.

‘Taxpayers
contributed
£1000
per
household
to
protect
train
drivers’
jobs
during
the
pandemic.
Instead
of
going
on
strike,
ASLEF
should
be
following
in
the
footsteps
of
the
other
rail
unions
and
giving
their
members
a
vote
on
this
fair
pay
deal.’

The
walkouts
will
affect
East
Midlands
Railway
and
LNER
on
2
December;
Avanti
West
Coast,
Chiltern,
Great
Northern,
Thameslink
and
West
Midlands
Trains
on
the
3rd;
c2c
and
Greater
Anglia
on
the
5th,
Southeastern,
Southern,
Gatwick
Express,
South
Western
Railway
main
line,
SWR
depot
drivers
and
Island
Line
on
the
6th;
CrossCountry
and
GWR
on
the
7th
and
Northern
and
TransPennine
Express
on
the
8th.

The
strike
call
has
come
at
a
time
when
the
separate
dispute
involving
the
RMT
could
be
coming
to
an
end.

A
vote
on
the
latest
pay
offer
is
currently
under
way,
and
will
close
on
30
November.