Train drivers, who are causing disruption this week by refusing to work overtime, will stage another week of overtime ban later this month.
Aslef, the train drivers’ union, announced on Monday that its members at 15 train operators will refuse to work overtime from July 17 to 22.
This follows a week-long overtime ban which began on Monday until July 8.
Union Wants ‘Fair Deal’
Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary, said: “We want to resolve this dispute. Train drivers don’t want to be inconveniencing the public.“That’s why we have given the government and the rail operators plenty of opportunities to come to the table and talk to us, but it is clear that they do not want a resolution.
“Our members—the train drivers who keep the railway running day in, day out, from early in the morning until late at night, all the year round—have shown they are not prepared to accept the government’s attempts to force our industry into managed decline.
“Rail travel is a vital part of our country’s fight against climate change and rail connectivity is essential to the UK economy.
Disruption
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents rail companies, said the union bosses are continuing to “disrupt customers’ travel plans.”A spokesman said: “They rejected a fair and affordable offer without putting it to their members which would take average driver base salaries for a basic salary for a four-day week without overtime from £60,000 to nearly £65,000 by the end of 2023 pay awards.
“Train companies will work hard to minimise the impact of the overtime ban but the impact of Aslef’s action will vary across the 16 train operators and customers are advised to check their travel plans before setting off.
Coordinated Actions
The Aslef overtime ban will overlap with the strike action organised by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), whose members at 14 train companies will walk out on July 20, 22, and 29.The government has previously accused the RMT of “targeting two iconic international sporting events” by coinciding strikes with the fourth and fifth Ashes Test and The Open golf championship.
The RMT said train operators had failed to make a new pay offer to resolve the long-running dispute.
Commenting on the Aslef announcement on Monday, a Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Calling a ban on overtime the same week that RMT is striking will impact families at the beginning of the summer holidays and those planning on attending the Ashes, representing a coordinated effort by both unions to prolong the disruption.
“The government has played its part to try and end this dispute by facilitating a fair and reasonable pay offer that would see train drivers’ already high salaries increase from an average of £60,000 to £65,000. Aslef now needs to do the right thing and put the offer to its members for a vote.”
Industrial action in the rail sector has lasted for more than a year.
RMT members in train companies walked out on June 21 last year.
There have been a series of rail strikes since then, as well as industrial action by hundreds of thousands of other workers including nurses, junior doctors, and teachers.
