Train drivers vote to accept pay deal ending more than two years of rail strikes

The move brings an end to "the longest train drivers’ strike in history", the union says, as ITV News Political Correspondent Romilly Weeks reports

Train drivers have backed a pay deal putting an end to more than two years of rail strikes, union Aslef has announced.

Aslef said its members voted overwhelmingly to accept a multi-year pay deal, ending a two-year dispute at 16 train companies.

Drivers voted by 96% in favour of a deal the union said was worth 15% over three years. The turnout was 88.5%.

The offer was made by the new Labour Government within weeks of the party winning the general election.

The ballot result ends what Aslef called the longest train drivers’ strike in recent history, during which drivers took 18 days of strike action.

It is the latest round of industrial action to be brought to an end, after junior doctors accepted a government pay deal on Monday.

Aslef had accused the previous Conservative government of “sitting on its hands” and refusing to negotiate.

Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary, said: “It is with great pleasure that we can announce the end of the longest train drivers’ strike in history.

“The strength and resilience and determination shown by train drivers to protect their hard-won and paid-for terms and conditions against the political piracy of an inept and destructive Tory government has prevailed.

“It was not a fight we sought, or wanted. All we sought after five years without a pay rise, working for private companies who, throughout that period, declared millions of pounds in profits and dividends to shareholders, was a dent in the cost of living."

Mr Whelan said he was grateful "adults", including new transport secretary Louise Haigh, got into the room with the union "and sought an equitable way forward so that trains will perform and run in the interest of the passenger, of the taxpayer and of those who work in and are dedicated to this industry".

He added: “Those who have been lying about this pay offer, and conflating the deal offered to train drivers with decisions on the winter fuel allowance, should be ashamed.

“Although it seems to be the work of those who would not accurately report anything about train drivers over the past two years.

“Now we will get back to our day job of seeking a green, well-invested, vertically-integrated and safe public railway.”

The transport secretary said the agreement was "an important step towards fixing our railways and getting the country moving again" after "two years of chaos on our railways under the Conservatives".

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Ms Haigh added: “It will ensure a more reliable service by helping to protect passengers from national strikes, and crucially, it clears the way for vital reform – including modernising outdated working practices – to ensure a better performing railway for everyone."

Taking a swipe again at the Tories for a £22 billion financial blackhole that Labour say they inherited by surprise, Ms Haigh said "every decision taken is to stabilise the economy and protect working people.

“The cost of not settling would significantly outstrip the cost of this below-inflation deal.

“We won’t make the same mistake as the Conservatives, who deliberately prolonged disputes resulting in the longest strike in the history of the railways – costing our economy and the taxpayer more than £1 billion.

“This Labour Government will always put passengers and taxpayers first.”

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During the dispute 13,000 drivers took 18 days of strike action as well as refusing to work non-contractual overtime at 16 companies: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern, C2C, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Greater Anglia, Great Northern Thameslink, Great Western Railway, LNER, Northern, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway and Island Line, TransPennine Express, and West Midlands Trains.

Aslef said the no strings offer is for 5% for 2022 to 2023; 4.75% for 2023 to 2024; and 4.5% for 2024 to 2025.

The union said that when compounded, the offer works out at 15% and is backdated and pensionable and includes drivers who retired or left the industry during the dispute.

The move comes after transport minister Simon Lightwood said earlier this month that the government is exploring the option of a pay review body for public sector rail workers.

He also committed to reviewing the “overly complicated fare system” and the introduction of a new passenger watchdog, as the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill - which will nationalise the railways - goes through its second reading in the House of Lords.