Families planning summer holidays and day trips will want to know when the next train strike will be. Here's what we know...
The UK's railways have been intermittently disrupted by train strikes for well over a year now, as train drivers and rail workers stage walkouts and overtime bans in a protest around poor pay and working conditions. The result has been widespread travel chaos, with family holidays disrupted and many parents who were hoping to treat their kids to some time away forced to refund their tickets.
While the dispute around working conditions for rail staff appears to have been resolved - with members of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) voting to accept a pay deal back in November - a separate dispute involving the union Aslef around how much train drivers earn is still ongoing. Here's everything we know about when the next train strikes could be...
When is the next train strike?
There are currently no planned train strikes for June or the following summer months.
However, hopes for a strike-free summer could be dashed, as ASLEF union members previously voted to continue striking until at least August 2024. Therefore, while no strikes have been announced, it's likely they will be at some point unless the ongoing disputes can be resolved - we will keep you updated when we know more.
Mick Whelan, ASLEF general secretary, spoke about the previous April train strikes. He said: "When we announced renewed mandates for industrial action, because under the Tories' draconian anti-union laws we have to ballot our members every six months, we called on the train companies, and the government, to come to the table for meaningful talks to negotiate a new pay deal for train drivers who have not had an increase in salary since 2019.
"Our members voted overwhelmingly - yet again - for strike action."
Meanwhile, a Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: "Nobody wins when industrial action impacts people's lives and livelihoods, and we will work hard to minimise any disruption to our passengers.
"We want to resolve this dispute, but the ASLEF leadership need to recognise that hard-pressed taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra £54m a week just to keep services running post-COVID.
"We continue to seek an agreement with the ASLEF leadership and remain open to talks to find a solution to this dispute."
Which rail companies will be striking?
Currently no rail companies have announced strike dates.
Will the tubes be on strike in the summer?
No, there are currently no strikes scheduled to take place on the London Underground. Industrial action on the tube scheduled for May was called off.
However, it is possible that more tube strikes will take place in the future. Finn Brennan, ASLEF's full-time organiser on the London Underground, previously said in a statement: "Despite a previous commitment to withdraw plans for massive changes to drivers' working conditions, London Underground management has established a full-time team of managers preparing to impose their plans.
"They want drivers to work longer shifts, spending up to 25% more time in the cab, and to remove all current working agreements in the name of 'flexibility and efficiency'."
Meanwhile, Transport for London (TfL) said in a statement: "We have been in long-term discussions with our trade union colleagues on how to modernise procedures and processes on London Underground to improve the experience both for staff and customers.
"We have no plans to impose these changes and have committed to no one losing their job as part of these changes, and we have engaged with our unions to demonstrate that no change will be made that compromises our steadfast commitment to safety on the Tube network.
"We urge ASLEF to continue discussions with us so that disruption for Londoners can be averted."
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