Drivers at eight train operating companies in the UK have voted to take strike action as another industrial dispute looks set to severely disrupt the country’s rail services.
Members of train drivers’ union Aslef at Arriva Rail London, Chiltern Railways, Great Western, LNER, Northern Trains, Southeastern, TransPennine Express and West Midlands Trains have all voted to take industrial action in a dispute over pay, although no strike dates have yet been announced.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said: “Strikes are always the last resort. We don’t want to inconvenience passengers – our friends and families use public transport too – and we don’t want to lose money by going on strike but we’ve been forced into this position by the companies driven by the government.”
Whelan insisted the union was willing to continue to negotiate with the train operating companies and the UK government, which has so far refused to get directly involved in talks.
“We’re happy to talk to anyone to do a deal and make sure Britain’s railways aren’t disrupted,” he added. “The government is restricting what the operators can offer, but then refusing to get involved in negotiations. They seem to have no interest in finding a resolution.”
The UK’s rail network has already seen its largest strike for 30 years when RMT workers walked out for three days last month.
There was better news in Scotland where ScotRail train drivers have voted to accept a new pay deal offered by the train operator to bring their industrial dispute to a close.
The Scottish train operator has been operating a reduced timetable for two months due to the ongoing dispute. But Aslef announced that its members working for ScotRail had agreed to accept a 5 per cent rise in basic pay alongside improved conditions.
ScotRail said: “We will now engage with the union on the work needed to resume the full timetable as soon as possible. Changing a timetable is a complex process which will take time.
“It is also dependent on drivers returning to work rest days and overtime. ScotRail’s teams are working hard to reintroduce it as quickly as we can.”
ScotRail returned to public ownership for the first time in 25 years earlier this year and is now under the control of a Scottish Government-owned company.