Commuters at Piccadilly and Victoria were greeted by an increasingly familiar sight this morning: picket lines.
However, today’s (January 5) industrial action was not caused by Mick Lynch’s RMT union. This time, train drivers from the ASLEF union walked out.
It means that only one in five trains are running in the UK today, after a long battle between union bosses and the government over pay. The Manchester Evening News understands that the union believes the ‘ball is in the government’s court’ in negotiations.
That’s because they say their members have not had a pay increase since April 2019. That’s hitting train drivers’ finances at a time when inflation is topping 10 percent, according to ASLEF’s general secretary, Mick Whelan.
“We don’t want to go on strike but the companies have pushed us into this place,” he said. “They have not offered our members at these companies a penny – and these are people who have not had an increase since April 2019.
“That means they expect train drivers at these companies to take a real-terms pay cut – to work just as hard for considerably less – when inflation is running at north of 14 percent. The train companies say their hands have been tied by the government.
“While the government – which does not employ us – says it’s up to the companies to negotiate with us. We are always happy to negotiate – we never refuse to sit down at the table and talk – but these companies have offered us nothing. And that is unacceptable.”
The companies affected by today’s strike include Avanti West Coast, who run services from Piccadilly to London Euston. Northern TransPennine Express, which run trains across the north, have also seen drivers walk out.
Other firms affected are Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Great Western Railway; Greater Anglia; GTR Great Northern Thameslink; London North Eastern Railway; Southeastern; Southern/Gatwick Express; South Western Railway (depot drivers only); SWR Island Line; and West Midlands Trains.
The Prime Minister was asked on Wednesday about the wave of strikes sweeping across the country, replying that his Government’s door was always open for dialogue.
He said: “We’re very keen on dialogue. The Government’s door is always open.”
“You’ll hear more from the Government in the coming days about our approach,” Mr Sunak said, adding: “My view is people should always behave reasonably and fairly and make sure that what we’re doing is centred around what is responsible for the country, what’s affordable for the country.
“I think that’s the right dialogue to be having, and I hope we can have that dialogue.”
He said “people should have the right to strike”, adding “that has to be balanced with the right of the British public to go about their lives without suffering completely undue disruption in the way we’ve seen recently”.
Mr Sunak added: “And that’s why I have said we will introduce new legislation that restores that balance and crucially protects people’s lives as well as their livelihoods.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson added: “The Transport Secretary and Rail Minister have held polite, constructive meetings with a range of union leaders since taking office. They have had open and honest conversations about the serious challenges facing the railways.
“Passengers have rightly had enough of rail strikes and want the disruption to end. Unions should step back from strike action so we can start 2023 by ending this damaging dispute. Inflation-matching pay increases for all public sector workers would cost everyone more in the long-term - worsening debt, fuelling inflation, and costing every household an extra £1000.”
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
- "I don't care about his age... there is no way this man is safe": Victim of Greater Manchester's worst serial rapist says he should never be released
- Families slam 'rip off' event saying children were bored within 30 minutes
- Mum's tip to save £600 this month by taking part in 'no spend January'
- Manchester's streets, people and life 30 years ago in brilliant photos
- Violent thug strangled mum in 'terrifying' assault as her screaming children watched on
