UK Rail Services Disrupted as Train Drivers Launch Strike
Train drivers in UK have launched a new strike as rail services have been hit by cost-of-living pressures and decades-high inflation.
Members of the Aslef union representing train drivers are embarking on a three-day rolling strike which will also affect express services to London’s Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow airports.
Union chief Mick Whelan blamed the industrial action on the “cost of living crisis created by the economic ineptitude of the Tories (Conservatives) that have been in power for 14 years”.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to call a general election later this year with current opinion polls putting his government on course for a drubbing at the hands of Keir Starmer’s main opposition Labour party.
Employees spanning various sectors, including healthcare professionals like doctors and nurses, legal practitioners such as lawyers, educators like teachers, and laborers such as dock workers, have initiated strikes demanding salary increases.
The initial day of the most recent Aslef strike was anticipated to impact five primary train operating companies.
Additional train drivers employed by different companies are scheduled to go on strike on both Saturday and Monday, with the implementation of overtime bans as well.
In November of last year, members of the RMT rail union, representing a variety of rail workers, voted in support of a pay agreement, putting an end to over a year of strikes.
"Aslef is the only rail union continuing to strike, targeting passengers and preventing their own members from voting on the pay offer that remains on the table,” a Department for Transport spokesperson said.
Having resolved disputes with all other rail unions, the Transport Secretary and rail minister have ensured that a pay offer is on the table –- taking train drivers’ average salaries from £60,000 up to £65,000 ($75,800-$82,100),” the spokesperson said.
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