ASLEF union members say the government won't negotiate with them
Train Strikes are expected to continue until the 6th of February
Last updated 2nd Feb 2024
Members of the Union ASLEF say they want to be recognised for the high-skill jobs they do. Industrial action across the railway continues here in Suffolk and elsewhere.
Members of the union have been calling for better pay after not seeing a pay rise for nearly "5 years."
members voted to strike when ballots were released in June last year, there have been several strikes and demonstrations since then and this current round of strikes is expected to continue until the 6th of February.
Previous offers
Last years members of the union did receive an offer of a 4% but it was rejected.
Andy Hourigan an officer from ASLEF told us the conditions that came with this offer are "non-negotiable" and have been portrayed in a "take it or leave it" way.
He goes on to say that the acceptance of this offer would mean giving up a lot of "their own terms and conditions, and since then they've been in a "stalemate."
He then went on to say that being a part of ASLEF means having a "high-skill job" before reiterating that "Conservatives said in 2019, that high-skill jobs should have high-skill pay."
And it's not as simple as "pushing buttons" and "pulling leavers" it's about their "alertness" , their "responsibilities" and facing certain challenges and they want this to be acknowledged. and recognised.
Andy explained that the members don't want to strike but "have no other tricks" they can use to be heard and a lot of ASLEF members are "losing money."
What they want
He explained that many of the Railways have become privatised, and feels this has created less freedom for those involved, he wants the government to allow the companies to regain their "autonomy" or to " negotiate" with them.
Above all Andy said they want the opportunity to sit down and negotiate.
"There are things that we can take off the table, the things we might be able to put on the table."
"I will pay for a cup of tea for Mr Harper. I'll even get him a cookie to get him into the room."
He said there needs to be "a modernization style arrangement" and both sides have to be involved to resolve the issue.
UpComing disruptions
Services that will be affected by this industrial action include Gatwick Express, EMR, Chiltern Railways, C2C, Avanti West Coast
Greater Anglia
Overtime ban on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 5, Tuesday 6.
The train operator says a normal timetable will be in place, with most services operating on all Greater Anglia routes, but there are some planned cancellations.
Drivers strike on Friday.
A very limited train service will only operate on five core routes:
- Norwich – London Liverpool St
- Stansted Airport – London Liverpool St
- Colchester – London Liverpool St
- Southend Victoria – London Liverpool St
- Cambridge – London Liverpool St
Avanti West Coast
Overtime ban on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Monday, 5, Tuesday 6. Despite this, a normal service is expected, according to the train operator's website.
Drivers strike on Saturday and there is an amended timetable on Friday and Sunday.
EMR
Overtime ban on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Monday 5, Tuesday 6. Drivers strike on Saturday.
C2C
Overtime ban on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 5, Tuesday 6. There is a reduced service on all of these days.
Drivers strike on Friday.
Chiltern Railways
Overtime ban on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday 6.
Drivers strike on Monday, 5.
Gatwick Express
Overtime ban on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Saturday, Sunday, Monday 5, Tuesday 6. Drivers strike on Tuesday.
"Fair and reasonable pay deal"
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the Daily Mail: "They're available for train operators to use - a key tool that train operators themselves have asked for - to reduce the impact of disruption on passengers. They should now use them.
"Now, the public rightly expect them to be deployed when strike action is called and for train operators to act in the best interests of their passengers."
Mr Sunak said Aslef should accept the "fair and reasonable pay deal that remains on the table".
"It's frustrating that yet again, Aslef's leadership have shown no interest in resolving this dispute while continuing their campaign of contempt for British passengers and taxpayers, who have subsidised the railways with £12 billion in the past year alone," he said.
"The choice for Aslef is clear - continue this act of self-harm to their industry and drive more passengers away from the railways, or they can accept the fair and reasonable pay deal that remains on the table."
What does the Department for Transport say?
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Aslef's leadership is refusing to let their members vote on an offer that would see the average train driver's salary increase to £65,000.
"The Transport Secretary and Rail Minister have already facilitated talks that led to this fair and reasonable offer from industry. Aslef bosses should put it to their members so we can resolve the dispute, which has already happened with the RMT, TSSA and Unite unions.
"With passenger revenues not having recovered since the pandemic, the taxpayer has had to prop up the railways with £12 billion in the past year alone - these strikes will not change the need for urgent workplace reforms that Aslef continue to block."