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Aslef Train Drivers To Hold Three-Day Strike In May

By Nithya Bose in Business News, posted April 23, 2024

Train drivers have announced a series of 24-hour walkouts in early May, which are like to paralyse national rail services in Great Britain.

The Aslef union scheduled strikes from Tuesday, May 7, to Friday, May 9, across all national rail operators contracted to the Department for Transport (DfT).

It falls within a six-day overtime ban, likely causing severe chaos on some networks.

The strikes continue a long-running pay dispute, with some drivers not receiving a pay rise for up to five years.

On the days of the strike, most rail operators will cease operations, affecting services not only in England but also impacting cross-border routes to Wales and Scotland.

In February, Aslef members voted decisively to prolong their industrial action.

Mick Whelan, the union's general secretary, said: “It is now a year since we sat in a room with the train companies – and a year since we rejected the risible offer they made and which they admitted, privately, was designed to be rejected.”

Drivers were offered a four percent annual increase proposed over two years, coupled with unfavourable changes to working conditions.

It was subpar compared to what other industry sectors received.

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The strike will commence with walkouts at several rail services, including c2c, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, and South Western Railway, on Tuesday, May 7.

This will be followed by strikes at Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, and West Midlands Trains on Wednesday, May 8.

The strike will conclude at LNER, Northern, and TransPennine Express on Thursday, May 9.

This series of strikes marks the fourth week of rolling actions taken by Aslef since December as part of a revised strategy in a dispute that has persisted for nearly two years.

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, representing train operators, said: “This wholly unnecessary strike action called by the Aslef leadership will sadly disrupt customers and businesses once again, while further damaging the railway at a time when taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra £54m a week just to keep services running.”

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