Train drivers will take part in a fresh wave of strikes due to a long-running dispute over pay.
Members of the Aslef union will stage a walkout on May 12, May 31, and June 3 - when Wembley will host the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United. The union said it rejected a "risible" 4 per cent pay offer from the 16 train companies involved in the dispute.
General secretary Mick Whelan highlighted that drivers had not received a pay rise from those train companies since 2019. "Our executive committee met this morning and rejected a risible proposal we received from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG)," he said.
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"The proposal – of just 4% – was clearly not designed to be accepted as inflation is still running north of 10% and our members at these companies have not had an increase for four years. The RDG, in turn, rejected our proposals to modernise Britain’s railways and help them run more efficiently, for passengers and for businesses, in the 21st century.
“Consequently, we have today announced three more days of strike action on Friday May 12, Wednesday May 31 and Saturday June 3 at the companies with which we are in dispute, and which are letting down passengers, and taxpayers, so badly. We are also withdrawing non-contractual overtime from Monday May 15 to Saturday 20 inclusive, as well as on Saturday May 13 and Thursday June 1.”
All upcoming train strike dates
- Friday, May 12 - Strike day on the same day as the Eurovision final in Liverpool
- From Monday, May 15 to Saturday, May 20 - Withdrawal of non-contractual overtime
- Saturday, May 12 - Withdrawal of non-contractual overtime
- Wednesday, May 21 - Strike day
- Thursday, June 1 - Withdrawal of non-contractual overtime
- Saturday, June 3 - Strike day on the same day as FA Cup final
Currently, the RMT planned rail strikes have been suspended.
Which train companies are affected?
In total, 16 train companies are involved in the dispute with Aslef, including the following:
- Avanti West Coast
- Chiltern Railways
- CrossCountry
- East Midlands Railway
- Great Western Railway
- Greater Anglia
- GTR Great Northern Thameslink
- London North Eastern Railway
- Northern Trains
- Southeastern
- Southern/Gatwick Express
- South Western Railway
- SWR depot drivers
- DWR Island Line
- TransPennine Express
- West Midlands Train
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