Train passengers face disruption at height of school summer holidays as fresh overtime ban announced
The latest announcement comes as train drivers in the ASLEF union launch a week-long overtime ban beginning today, which it warns will “seriously” affect services.
Monday 17 July 2023 13:06, UK
Listen to this article
0:00 / 3:23
1X
BeyondWords
Audio created using AI assistance
A passenger at Waterloo train station in London, during a strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), in a long-running dispute over jobs and pensions. Picture date: Friday June 2, 2023.
Why you can trust Sky News
Train drivers will refuse to work overtime for a week at the height of the school summer holidays, threatening disruption to services.
The action – part of a long-running dispute over pay – will take place from Monday 31 July to Saturday 5 August, the ASLEF union announced.
It will affect services across 15 train operating companies, and marks the fourth week-long ban on overtime since May.
The union said train companies do not employ enough drivers and are dependent on them offering to work on rest days.
Full list of rail and Tube strike dates and services affected
ASLEF’s general secretary Mick Whelan said: “We don’t want to take this action. We don’t want people to be inconvenienced, but the blame lies with the train companies, and the government which stands behind them, which refuse to sit down and talk to us, and have not made a fair and sensible pay offer to train drivers who have not had one for four years – since 2019 – while prices have soared in that time by more than 12%.”
The train companies affected are: Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; Cross Country; East Midlands Railway; Greater Anglia; Great Western Railway; GTR Great Northern Thameslink; Island Line; LNER; Northern Trains; Southeastern; Southern/Gatwick Express; South Western Railway main line; TransPennine Express; and West Midlands Trains.
Read more:
Union boss insists rail strikes ‘have been a success’
‘Sensitive’ leaked report reveals train delays set to worsen
Nearly every railway ticket office in England set to close
Mr Whelan said a 4% pay increase offer on 26 April was “designed not to be accepted” and accused train companies and the government of being content to let the dispute “drift on and on”.
“We have not heard a word from the employers since then – not a meeting, not a phone call, not a text message, nor an email – for the last 12 weeks, and we haven’t sat down with the government since January 6,” he said.
“That shows how little the companies and the government care about passengers and staff.”
Mr Whelan added: “We want a fair resolution. That’s why we are taking this action, to try to bring things to a head.”
The move comes as train driver members of ASLEF launched a week-long overtime ban beginning today, which the union warned will “seriously” affect services.
It follows previous week-long bans on working overtime in May and earlier this month.
preview image1:23
Play Video – Are train drivers paid enough?
3 July: Are train drivers paid enough?
A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: “ASLEF’s leadership continues to disrupt customers’ travel plans. They rejected a fair and affordable offer, without putting it to their members, which would take average driver base salaries for a four-day week without overtime from £60,000 to nearly £65,000 by the end of 2023 pay awards.
“Train companies will work hard to minimise the impact of the overtime ban at 13 train operating companies between July 31 and August 5 that will affect the level of cancellations and the punctuality of some services. Customers are advised to plan their journey in advance and check before they travel.
“We ask ASLEF to recognise the very real financial challenge the industry is facing and work with us to deliver a better, more reliable railway with a strong long-term future.”
Related Topics
Rail
Rail Strikes
