Rail union barons today vowed to continue strikes for up to three years as train drivers rejected a pay rise that would have left them on average £65,000 a year – almost double the average wage in the UK.
Members of Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have walked out again today in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions, but those involved claim talks are “going backwards”.
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan spoke as most of Britain’s rail services were canceled on Friday due to a strike, warning they will be “in this for the long haul”.
Warning that members are set for years of strikes, he said: ‘If we don’t get a pay rise for four years, will it be five, will it be six, will it be seven?
‘Would it be stupid to stop this now and restart it in the future, because you would lose the momentum you’ve gained?’
A commuter looks at the departures board at Paddington station in London on another day of rail strikes.
He told LBC that Aslef has made no progress in negotiations with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators, during six months of strikes.
Asked about the possibility of reaching an agreement during new talks on February 7, he said: “We want a resolution.” My people don’t want to lose money, they don’t want to be left on the streets.’
Rail operators today warned of serious disruption as running trains will start later and finish much earlier than usual, normally between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
Saturday morning services on some lines are likely to be affected because rolling stock will not be in the appropriate depots.
RDG president Steve Montgomery said negotiations with Aslef are “going backwards” and “talks have not progressed as quickly as we would like.”
He told Sky News: ‘We all understand that we want to give our staff a pay rise, (it’s) naturally important, particularly in these economic climates.
“But the average salary for drivers is £60,000 at the moment. We offer up to £65,000 over two years. This is a pretty significant increase for people.’
Aslef says the offer would add a “significant” number of contracted hours to drivers.
Montgomery said “we feel closer to reaching an agreement” with the RMT.
He continued: ‘RMT is currently consulting its members (about an offer) at this time.
‘What we are looking for from RMT is to submit that offer to a referendum among the members and let them decide if it is acceptable as the best and final one.
“I am hopeful that the offer we have made will stop the strikes.”
He apologized to passengers for the “very limited service” on Friday and said the disruption would last “all day”, with some services starting “a little later” on Saturday.
The rail industry said it was working hard to keep as many trains running as possible and criticized the rejection of an offer that would give drivers an 8 per cent pay rise over two years, lifting average salaries by almost £60,000 per year. year at almost £65,000. .
An Aslef picket line outside Victoria station which is closed to the public during the strike
Traffic queues at the access to the A102M Blackwall tunnel in Greenwich during today’s rail strike
Simon Weller, deputy general secretary of Aslef, said the dispute was “backwards” due to a lack of progress in months of talks.
He said: ‘I don’t know whether to point the finger of blame at the ineptitude of the Department for Transport or at the Rail Delivery Group.
“We would find it difficult to recommend a 4 per cent wage increase agreement for last year and 4 per cent this year if conditions were not in place, but we are being asked to abandon collective bargaining and effectively accept a no-strike agreement.” .
“Obviously it was going to be rejected; it was designed to fail.”
Weller said attitudes among Aslef members were “hardening” but believed the blame lay squarely with the DfT and train operators.
He said the latest offer would add a “significant” number of contracted hours to a machinist.
On the question of whether Sunday work should be mandatory, he said: “We have been willing to include Sundays in the working week, but it is cheaper for companies to have drivers work overtime on Sundays.”
A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: “Having made an initial offer that would have increased average driver salaries from £60,000 to almost £65,000, we expected Aslef leaders to engage constructively to take talks forward, rather than organize more unnecessary strikes. .
‘We can only apologize for the interruption.
“To minimize the impact of Aslef’s action, we advise passengers to check before traveling, allow extra time and find out when their first and last train will depart.”
It will be the second strike of train drivers this week, after they participated in the large day of strike on Wednesday, in which teachers, university staff, civil servants, bus drivers and security guards also participated.
Around 1,900 Unite members working as bus drivers for Abellio in London will complete a three-day strike on Friday in a separate dispute over pay.