More disruption to rail services is likely to go ahead after eight rail companies voted for strike action, union Aslef has announced.
Members of the drivers’ union Aslef at eight train companies voted today (Monday July 11) on whether to launch campaigns of industrial action over pay.
Aslef members at Chiltern, LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express, Arriva Rail London, Great Western, Southeastern and West Midlands Trains voted by around 9-1 in favour of strikes on turnouts of more than 80%.
The Transport Salaried Staffs Association is also balloting its members at Network Rail and a number of train operators in England for industrial action.
The outcome could lead to walkouts over the summer, following strikes by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) last month which crippled services. Talks between the RMT and rail companies are set to resume this week.
At Scotrail, members of the Aslef train drivers union voted to accept an improved pay offer, paving the way for weeks of train disruption to come to an end.
It has accepted proposals on pay and conditions from the newly nationalised rail operator, which includes a 5% pay increase, drivers will also get more money for rest day and Sunday working, driving instructor and maternity pay along with a policy of no compulsory redundancies for the next five years.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said many of its members have not had a pay rise since 2019.
He said: “We will fight to maintain the pay, terms and conditions, and the pensions of our members. The train companies are doing very well out of Britain’s railways – with handsome profits, dividends for shareholders, and big salaries for managers – and train drivers are not going to work longer for less.
“We’re not asking for a pay rise. We’re asking for our pay not to be cut for a third year in a row. We’ve accepted real-terms pay cuts for two or three years now, but whilst huge sums of money continue to slosh around our industry, we won’t accept another cut for another year."
