Two rail unions have announced new strikes date in May and June. Aslef, the train drivers’ union, has announced that about 13,000 drivers are walking out on 12 May, 31 May and 3 June, while the RMT union will walk out on 13 May after it rejected the latest pay deal from 14 train operators.
On Wednesday 26 April, Aslef rejected an offer from 16 train companies, including a 4% pay rise over two years as well as changes to working conditions. Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan called the offer from the Rail Delivery Group “risible”.
He said the proposal did not look as if it had been “designed to be accepted” because it did not keep pace with the cost of living, which soared by more than 10% in the year to March.
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Whelan said: “The blame for this action lies, fairly and squarely, at the feet of the employers who have forced our hand over this by their intransigence.”
The strike will cause major disruption on 3 June, the day of the FA Cup Final and the Epsom Derby. Workers at all 16 major train operators will take part in the strike.
As well as strikes, Aslef said it would withdraw non-contractual overtime from 15 May to 20 May and again on 13 May and 1 June.
Whelan said it was now up to the employers “to come up with a more sensible, and realistic, offer”. He called on the government “not to hinder this process.”
Transport secretary Mark Harper said: “It is deeply disappointing that Aslef has decided to call strikes and ban overtime, targeting thousands of people attending the UK’s first Eurovision event in 25 years [being held the day after the 12 May action] – including Ukrainians displaced by Putin’s war – and the first ever all-Manchester FA Cup final.
“The fair and reasonable offer from the RDG included urgent reform to ensure our railways are financially sustainable for the benefit of passengers, rail workers and the taxpayer as well as delivering a pay rise – for members whose salary already averages £60,000 a year.
“Aslef needs to call off these strikes and give their members a say on this offer.”
The RMT announced its strike, which takes place on the day of the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, after claiming that the RDG had reneged on its original proposals, something the industry body denies.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the RDG has torpedoed the negotiations: “No doubt their decision is due to pressure exerted on them by the Tory government. Therefore, we have no alternative but to press ahead with more strike action and continue our campaign for a negotiated settlement on pay, conditions and job security.
“We are re-balloting our members and if we beat the draconian anti-trade union laws on turnout, we will have a renewed mandate for action. We will then put on a further programme of strike action to make the employers and the government who continue to hold the puppet strings, see sense in this dispute.”
Steve Montgomery, chair of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “We are blindsided by the RMT executive’s announcement – nothing has changed in the offer agreed two weeks ago by the RMT leadership in the negotiating room.
“The RMT are negotiating in bad faith, again denying their members a say on a fair pay deal, needlessly disrupting the lives of millions of our passengers, and undermining the viability of an industry critical to Britain’s economy.”
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This article was updated with details of the RMT’s industrial action on 28 April 2023. Additional reporting by Rob Moss.
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