Lockerbie rail passengers are set to be hit by a double whammy of industrial action.
Train drivers in the Aslef union will refuse to work overtime next week as a row over pay continues.
And members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have announced three more days of strike action in their long-running dispute over pay and conditions.
Both disputes involve a number of rail firms including Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express – now operated by a Government department subsidiary – both of whom operate services through Lockerbie.
Aslef members at the company had been due to strike this Sunday in a row over sick notes but that has now been resolved.
However, drivers will not work on rest days from Monday to Saturday next week, which will affect both Avanti and TransPennine Express.
Aslef general secretary, Mick Wheelan, said: “Sadly, it is clear from the actions of both the train operating companies and the government that they do not want an end to the dispute. Their goals appear to be to continue industrial strife and to do down our industry.
“We don’t want to inconvenience the public. We just want to see our members paid fairly during a cost of living crisis when inflation is running at above 10 per cent and to not see our terms and conditions taken away.
“It’s time for the government and the companies to think again and look for a resolution.”
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group said: “Aslef’s leadership continues to disrupt customers’ travel plans.
“They rejected a fair and affordable offer without putting it to their members which would take average driver base salaries for a basic salary for a four-day week without overtime from £60,000 to nearly £65,000 by the end of 2023 pay awards.
“Train companies will work hard to minimise the impact of the overtime ban but the impact of Aslef’s action will vary across the 16 train operators and customers are advised to check their travel plans before setting off.”
Meanwhile, RMT members are due to strike on July 20, 22 and 29 in their dispute, with their first walk outs now having taken place more than a year ago.
RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, said: “This latest phase of action will show the country just how important railway staff are to the running of the rail industry.
“My team of negotiators and I are available 24/7 for talks with the train operating companies and Government ministers.
“Yet quite incredibly neither party has made any attempt whatsoever to arrange any meetings or put forward a decent offer that can help us reach a negotiated solution.”
A Department for Transport spokesman said: “After a year of industrial action, passengers and rail workers alike are growing tired of union bosses playing politics with their lives. It’s high time the union leaders realised that strikes no longer have the impact they once did and are simply driving people away from the railway.
“Union leaders should do the right thing and give their members a chance to vote on these pay offers.”
“We remain open to talks and we have said repeatedly that we want to give our people a pay rise, but until the union leadership and executive is united in what it wants and engages in good faith with the 30 per cent shortfall in revenue the industry is continuing to grapple with post-Covid, it is difficult to move forward.”
