Train strikes 'could continue until Christmas'

Railworkers in England are embroiled in a long-running dispute over pay

Aslef union leader Mick Whelan said stopping strike action now 'is not an option'. EPA

Strikes by train drivers could continue until Christmas, a union leader has warned.

Members of Aslef at 16 train operators in England are embroiled in a long-running dispute over pay, with no sign of a breakthrough.

Train drivers will ban overtime on Friday ahead of two days of strikes which will cause fresh travel chaos for passengers.

Drivers will strike on Saturday and again next Wednesday, coinciding with the annual conference of the Conservative party in Manchester.

Another overtime ban will come into force from October 2 to 6.

Aslef’s general secretary Mick Whelan said the union was willing to talk to the government, but “no one’s interested. They don’t want a resolution”.

Asked by the BBC whether the strikes could carry on into the festive period, he said: “I can't write anything off … We've been doing this [for] 16 months, stopping now is not an option.”

Aslef said the strikes will force train operating companies to cancel all services while the ban on overtime will seriously disrupt the network.

The union said train companies have always failed to employ enough drivers to provide a proper service.

Mr Whelan said: “While we regret having to take this action – we don't want to lose a day's pay, or disrupt passengers, as they try to travel by train – the government, and the employers, have forced us into this position.

“Our members have not had a pay rise for four years – since 2019 – and that's not right when prices have soared in that time.

“Train drivers, perfectly reasonably, want to be able to buy now what they could buy four years ago.”

A spokesperson for Rail Delivery Group, said: “Our offer to Aslef would take average driver salaries to £65,000 for a four-day week – that's more than double the average UK salary and many drivers top up their income further by working overtime.

“We are ready and willing to talk to Aslef's leaders so we can end this damaging dispute but any talks about pay also need to address working practices that date back decades.

“The industry depends on a monthly injection of up to £175 million from the taxpayer because revenue are still 30 per cent below pre-pandemic levels – while simultaneously facing unprecedented changes in customer travel patterns.

“It is obvious that the sector can only fund a pay rise by changing how it delivers services so it can respond to that transformation in how the public use the railway.

“That means putting managers – rather than unions – in charge of planning shifts.

“It means allowing managers to respond to unexpected staff absences so they can reduce the last-minute cancellations that so frustrate our customers.

“It means giving our customers more reliable train services when they actually want to use them – particularly on Sundays. That is how any industry survives and thrives.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The government spent £31 billion of taxpayers' money – £1,000 per household – to protect rail workers' jobs during the pandemic.

“There is a fair and reasonable offer on the table that would take train drivers salaries from £60,000 to £65,000 for a 35-hour, four-day week.

“Aslef's leaders won't put this offer to their members and instead continue to strike – damaging their own industry in the process.”