Rail strikes: Aslef and RMT train drivers announce two more days of strikes

ITV News' Martha Fairlie reports on the upcoming strikes by train driver members after union bosses rejected an offer from rail companies

Train driver members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will join thousands of other workers next month, as industrial disputes over pay drag on.The union said its members at 14 train operators join members of the drivers Aslef union and walk out on February 1 and 3.Earlier on Tuesday, Aslef announced their members would strike again in early February after rejecting a pay offer.

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, said: “Our negotiations will continue with the rail operators to create a package on jobs, conditions and pay that can be offered to our members.”

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 first strike will coincide with a walkout by 100,000 civil servants in their dispute over pay and jobs, a strike by teachers over pay and nationwide protests against the government’s controversial new strike law.

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan talking to the media on a picket line earlier this month Credit: PA

The companies affected by the strike:

  • 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

  • West Midlands Trains

  • LNER

  • c2c

Unions brand anti-strike legislation 'draconian' as government sets out plans
Rail strikes: Government 'hopeful' for resolution despite union bosses critcism

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.“

A Rail Delivery Group spokesman said: “It’s disappointing our fair and affordable offer, which would take average driver base salaries from £60,000 to nearly £65,000 by the end of 2023 pay awards, wasn’t put to the Aslef members.

“With taxpayers still funding up to an extra £175 million a month to make up the shortfall in revenue post-Covid, it provided a significant salary uplift while bringing in long overdue, common-sense reforms that would mean more reliable services for passengers.

“Rather than announcing further unnecessary strikes, we ask Aslef to recognise the very real financial challenge the industry is facing and work with us to deliver a better railway with a strong long-term future.”

It was one of the biggest news stories of our time - and it's still not over. So what did Boris Johnson know about Downing Street’s notorious parties? With fresh revelations from our Number 10 sources, in their own words, listen to the inside story...