ASLEF strikes: 16 train operators to strike in September

Members of the ASLEF train drivers union have announced walkouts on Friday 1 September and overtime bans on Saturday 2 September, disrupting services across Britain.

So far in the dispute, which has been ongoing since June 2022, 11 days of strikes have taken place.

The RMT also has a strike on Saturday, 26 August.

According to Sky News, a total of 16,000 drivers are to engage in the action next month, ASLEF said, in continuance of the dispute over pay, conditions and safety.

We don’t want to take this action but the train companies, and the government which stands behind them, have forced us into this place because they refuse to sit down and talk to us – @MickWhelanASLEF https://t.co/Uvpi7JPfCK

— ASLEF (@ASLEFunion) August 18, 2023

Here is a list of the affected train companies:

• Avanti West Coast

• Chiltern Railways

• c2c

• CrossCountry

• East Midlands Railway

• Greater Anglia

• GTR Great Northern Thameslink

• Great Western Railway

• Island Line

• LNER

• Northern Trains

• Southeastern

• Southern/Gatwick Express

• South Western Railway

• TransPennine Express

• West Midlands Trains

Roughly 20,000 rail staff of the RMT union are due to strike on 26 August and 2 September.

Train operator representative, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), said the union’s leadership has not put its “fair and reasonable offer” to union members.

“We urge the ASLEF leadership to acknowledge the substantial financial challenges facing the rail industry and work with us,” the RDG said.

Rail: more industrial action announced at 14 train operators in England.
On Friday 1 September, train drivers belonging to Aslef will walk out. Most trains will be cancelled.
RMT union has called national strikes on:
Saturday 26 August
Saturday 2 Septemberhttps://t.co/sfrce1X28U

— Simon Calder (@SimonCalder) August 18, 2023

That offer, the RDG said, would increase the average driver’s base salary, for a four-day week, without overtime, from £60,000 to nearly £65,000.

The last offer of an 8% pay rise over two years was rejected in April.

The union said most drivers have not had a pay increase in four years and said the offer was “risible”.

“We don’t want to take this action but the train companies, and the government which stands behind them, have forced us into this place because they refuse to sit down and talk to us,” ASLEF’s general secretary Mick Whelan said.