London Underground and 16 other rail companies are facing potential disruptions due to strikes by train drivers. This could severely impact passengers across the UK and result in the temporary closure of the tube network in the capital.
Unless there is a resolution to the disagreement over modifications to their work requirements, tube operators will hold two strikes lasting one day each in April and May.
On April 8th and May 4th, train drivers from the Aslef union, who make up 96% of Britain’s train drivers, are scheduled to go on strike. The strikes will take place from 12:01am to 11:59pm.
The union has announced that some Aslef members will participate in a series of one-day strikes and a six-day overtime ban in the upcoming month in protest of their wages. According to the union, drivers have not received a pay increase since April 2019, which totals five years.
Train drivers will strike at Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, and CrossCountry on Friday 5 April; at Chiltern, GWR, LNER, Northern, and TransPennine on Saturday 6 April; and at c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR’s Great Northern, Thameslink and Southern/Gatwick Express, Southeastern, South Western Railway mainline and depot drivers, and SWR Island Line on Monday 8 April.
Participants will decline working on their designated off-days, which include any extra time not outlined in their contract, starting from Thursday, April 4th until Saturday, April 6th, as well as from Monday, April 8th to Tuesday, April 9th.
Aslef’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, said: “Our members voted overwhelmingly – yet again – for strike action. Those votes show – yet again – a clear rejection by train drivers of the ridiculous offer put to us in April last year by [the train operators’ body] the Rail Delivery Group which knew that offer would be rejected because a land grab for all the terms and conditions we have negotiated over the years would never be accepted by our members.
“We have provided the government with multiple chances to come to a resolution, but it is evident that they are not willing to do so. It seems they are content with prolonging this conflict.”
The labor union has staged 14 strikes lasting for one day each during the 20-month-long disagreement.
A representative from the Rail Delivery Group stated: “We are hoping to find a resolution to this disagreement, however, the Aslef leadership must understand that taxpayers are already burdened by contributing an additional £54m per week to maintain services after the pandemic. We are still willing to engage in discussions in order to reach a resolution.”
Finn Brennan, the full-time representative for Aslef on the London Underground, has stated that Aslef’s tube train drivers will go on strike in April and May due to a ongoing disagreement with London Underground. Their main concern is that the company has not provided any guarantees that any changes to their contracts will be made with their consent and that all current agreements will be respected.
According to his suggestions, employees would be required to work longer hours, increasing their time in the cab by up to 25%. Additionally, existing work agreements would be eliminated in order to achieve “flexibility and efficiency.”
Brennan stated that the management team did not follow through on their promises to the union involving the safety of driver cabs, police presence during night tube hours, and training. The union is open to discussions, but they are looking for tangible efforts from the management rather than empty assurances. Both parties are not currently engaged in talks.
A representative from TfL stated: “We have engaged in ongoing discussions with our union partners to update practices and protocols for London Underground. There are currently no intentions to enforce these changes, and we have promised that no employees will be laid off due to these changes … Our plea to Aslef is to keep communicating with us to prevent any disruptions for London residents.”
The Department for Transport representative stated that only Aslef is currently striking. After successfully resolving conflicts with all other rail unions, the transport secretary and rail minister have made sure that a pay proposal is available, which would increase train drivers’ average salaries from £60,000 to £65,000.
Source: theguardian.com
