Trains drivers are gearing up for a new wave of strikes after rejecting a pay offer.
The Aslef union announced that members will stage a walkout on February 1 and 3. The strikes are expected to cause more disruptions on the railway across the country.
The first strike date will coincide with another walkout being staged by 100,000 civil servants due to a dispute over pay and jobs. A strike by teachers over pay as well as nationwide protests against the government's controversial industrial action law will also be taking place.
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Mick Whelan, Aslef general secretary, said: “The offer is not acceptable but we are willing to engage in further discussions with the train operating companies.”
The companies affected by the industrial action include 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 (depot drivers only); SWR Island Line; TransPennine Express; and West Midlands Trains.
Mr Whelan added: “Not only is the offer a real-terms pay cut, with inflation running north of 10%, but it came with so many conditions attached that it was clearly unacceptable.
“They want to rip up our terms and conditions in return for a real-terms pay cut. It was clearly a rushed offer, made just before our meeting with the minister, and not one, it seems to me, that was designed to be accepted.
“Our members at these companies have not had an increase since 2019, despite soaring inflation, and it is time the companies – encouraged, perhaps, by the Government – sat down with us and got serious. That is the way – and the only way – to end this dispute.“
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