Rail passengers are braced for further strikes this weekend after the union ASLEF called a strike for Saturday 26 November over pay.
Train drivers who are members of the union will walk out at 12 train operators this weekend, after no offer on pay was made, despite negotiations with the industry.
Which operators are affected?
- Avanti West Coast – no services on the day
- East Midlands Railway – no services
- CrossCountry – no services
- Northern Trains – no services
- Transpennine Express – very limited service
General Secretary of ASLEF, Mick Whelan said: “We regret that passengers will be inconvenienced for another day. We don’t want to be taking this action. Withdrawing our labour is always a last resort for a trade union.
“We want the companies – which are making huge profits – to make a proper pay offer so that our members can keep up with the cost of living.”
Will there be more strikes?
The RMT union has also announced a series of 48-hour strikes in December and January, causing chaos over the Christmas period.
More than 40,000 members across the network and 12 train operating companies will strike from 13 – 17 December and 3 – 7 January.
It’s over a deal on job security, pay and working conditions, after industry bosses failed to offer any new deals to reach a settlement.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “We have been reasonable, but it is impossible to find a negotiated settlement when the dead hand of government is presiding over these talks.
“The employers are in disarray and saying different things to different people sometimes at the same time.
“This whole process has become a farce that only the new Secretary of State can resolve. When I meet him later this week, I will deliver that message.
“In the meantime, our message to the public is we are sorry to inconvenience you, but we urge you to direct your anger and frustration at the government and railway employers during this latest phase of action.”
Main picture credit: Matt Buck Flickr
