Aslef train drivers and government reach deal that could put end to rail strikes
ITV News Political Correspondent Shehab Khan explains the significant step forward in efforts to end the longest-running industrial dispute in the history of Britain’s railways
Train drivers and the government have reached a deal that could put a stop to a two-year dispute over pay that has resulted in countless rail strikes.
Drivers are to vote on a multi-year pay offer, which was made in talks with the Department for Transport (DfT), said their union, Aslef.
The talks started after Labour won the general election following months of stalemate under the Conservatives, with Aslef arguing train drivers hadn't had a pay rise in five years.
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The offer is for 5% for 2019 to 2022, 4.75% for 2022 to 2024 and a further 4.5% for 2024 to 2025, according to Aslef. It would be backdated and pensionable, said the union.
The drivers are being recommended to accept the offer, which would end the two-year-long dispute, during which they have taken 18 days of strike action as well as refusing to work non-contractual overtime, causing huge disruption to passengers.Aslef said it has been the longest-running dispute in the history of Britain’s railways and that after "being treated with utter contempt" for two years, "a fair offer" has finally been put on the table.
Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary, who negotiated the deal with Simon Weller, assistant general secretary, and Dave Calfe, executive committee president, said: “We are pleased that after being treated with utter contempt for the last two years by the privatised train companies, and the previous government that was pulling their strings, we finally have a new government that listens and wants to make the railway work for staff, for passengers, and for the taxpayer.“The offer is a good offer, a fair offer, and it is what we have always asked for – a clean offer, without a land grab for our terms and conditions that the companies, and previous government, tried to take in April last year."
They said they would put the offer to their members with a recommendation that they accept, adding that they had "achieved more in the last four weeks of a Labour government than we managed under a Tory government that set out to destroy us".“We have gone from people behaving dishonestly and deceitfully and trying to rip up all our terms and conditions to a group of people who seem to understand the interests of rail workers, the travelling public, and the taxpayer.”
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said that when she took on the role, she said she "wanted to move fast and fix things", starting by bringing an end to rail strikes.
“The Conservatives were happy to see the taxpayer pay the price as strikes dragged on and on, and passengers suffered. This Labour government is doing the right thing and putting passengers first.
“If accepted, this offer would finally bring an end to this long-running dispute, and allow us to move forward by driving up performance for passengers with the biggest overhaul to our railways in a generation.” Aslef first balloted for industrial action in June 2022 and renewed its mandates for strike action and action short of a strike every six months.The first strike was held in July 2022, followed by regular walkouts and rolling weeks of action until just before the General Election.
Mr Whelan has previously expressed optimism that a deal on pay can be achieved now that “constructive” talks are being held. Wednesday marked the second time Aslef and officials at the DfT have met since Labour won the election.
The union accused the Conservative government of giving up on resolving the row and of “putting the brakes” on efforts to reach a deal.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said poor industrial relations have caused disruption and delay for working people, prevented families from visiting loved ones and stopped the public from attending events, damaging the hospitality sector.
In the financial year of 2022/23 alone, strike action was estimated to cost more than £500 million of economic output thanks to people not being able to work, the DfT added.
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