ASLEF union announces new January strike date

The ASLEF Union, which represents train drivers, has announced a new one-day strike on Thursday 5th January 2023.

Members at 15 train operating companies will walk out in the long running dispute over pay.

The strike action will affect Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, London North Eastern Railway, Northern, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, South Western Railway (depot drivers only), SWR Island Line, TransPennine Express and West Midlands Trains.

Five ASLEF strikes have already been taken in 2022, with pay deals successfully negotiated with DB Cargo, Eurostar, Freightliner, GB Railfreight, Grand Central, Merseyrail, MTR Elizabeth Line, Nexus, PRE Metro Operations, ScotRail and Transport for Wales. An offer from Arriva Rail London has been put to members with a recommendation to accept.

‘We don't want to go on strike but the companies have pushed us into this place,' said Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, which represents 96% of the train drivers in England, Scotland, and Wales. ‘They have not offered our members at these companies a penny – and these are people who have not had an increase since April 2019.

‘That means they expect train drivers at these companies to take a real-terms pay cut – to work just as hard for considerably less – when inflation is running at north of 14%.'

Mick added: ‘The train companies say their hands have been tied by the government. While the government – which does not employ us – says it's up to the companies to negotiate with us. We are always happy to negotiate – we never refuse to sit down at the table and talk – but these companies have offered us nothing. And that is unacceptable.

‘The resolve of our members is rock steady,' said Mick. ‘A 93% “Yes” vote – up on the very high figure last time – on an average turnout of 85% shows that our members are in this for the long haul. It shows just how angry – and determined – we are.

‘We now have a new mandate for industrial action for the next six months. The way to stop this is for the companies to make a serious and sensible offer and for the government not to put a spoke in the wheels.

‘We don't want to inconvenience passengers – our friends and families use the railway, too, and we believe in investing in rail for the future of our country – and drivers don't want to lose a day's pay. That's why strikes are always a last resort. But the intransigent attitude of the train companies – with the government acting, with malice, in the shadows – has forced our hand.

‘Because these drivers – who were, don't forget, the people who moved key workers and goods around the country during the pandemic – have not had a pay rise for nearly four years.

‘With inflation running at 14% the companies – and the government – are saying that they want us to take a real-terms pay cut. The companies need to come to the table with a proper proposal to help our members, their drivers, buy this year what they could buy last year. That is the way to prevent another strike and all the disruption that causes. The ball is now firmly in the train companies' court. And we are calling on the government to help – and not hinder – the negotiating process.'

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, said: “Further strikes – on top of those already announced by the RMT – will disrupt the new year travel plans of millions, taking even more money out of the pockets of railway staff.

“Industrial action has already cost the industry millions in lost revenue, and  more strikes threaten the industry's long-term sustainability. No one wants to see this strike go ahead, and we can only apologise to passengers and to the many businesses who will be hit by this damaging disruption.

“We want to work with Aslef to end this dispute that is harming passengers, the industry, and their members.”