(qlmbusinessnews.com Fri, 1st Sept, 2023) London, UK —
Railway workers unions are set to stage strikes this weekend, leading to potentially severe disruption across the UK's rail network. The strikes come as part of an ongoing dispute over pay, jobs, and working conditions.
Members of the train drivers' union Aslef will embark on a 24-hour strike beginning today, followed by an overtime ban scheduled for Saturday. Simultaneously, up to 20,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) employed by 14 operators are planning to strike on Saturday, citing their own concerns regarding pay, employment, and work conditions.
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The timing of these strikes, which coincide with the final weekend of the school summer holidays, has raised concerns about the impact on travelers and families trying to enjoy the last days of the break.
Today, rail services operated by companies like Northern, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine, Southern, and Thameslink will be entirely halted. On Saturday, less than half of the trains are expected to operate nationwide, with the possibility of short-notice cancellations, as cautioned by rail authorities.
South Western Railway has advised passengers to consider traveling only if absolutely necessary today, noting that most of its network will remain closed.
Both unions are directing blame at the government for the disruption, asserting that ministers have refused to permit train operators to make offers that can be recommended to their members.
Mick Whelan, the general secretary of Aslef, expressed his views, stating, “The government appears content to let passengers and businesses suffer, wrongly assuming they can coerce us into submission. They show little concern for passengers, the UK's railways, but they will not deter us. Train drivers in these firms have not seen a pay increase since 2019, over four years, while inflation has soared.”
Whelan further highlighted the lack of communication with rail operators since late April and with the government since early January, emphasizing the disregard with which companies and the government treat passengers, staff, and public transportation in the UK.
However, the Rail Delivery Group countered Aslef's stance, labeling the strike as “unnecessary” and predicting more disruption for passengers aiming to enjoy the end of the summer holidays.
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group commented, “The union leadership is avoiding the reality and refusing to present our fair and reasonable offer to their members. This offer would raise the average base salary for a four-day workweek without overtime from £60,000 to nearly £65,000 by the end of 2023.”
“We are committed to providing our staff with a salary increase, but it has always been linked to implementing necessary, sensible reforms that would improve services for our customers. We urge the Aslef leadership to recognize the significant financial challenges confronting the rail industry and collaborate with us to create a more dependable and resilient railway system for the future.”
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A spokesperson from the Department for Transport expressed frustration over the strikes, particularly their timing during the last weekend of the summer holidays, given the support provided to rail workers by taxpayers throughout the pandemic.
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