Norfolk MPs urge compromise to prevent further rail strikes
Aslef trade union members have joined RMT workers today in walking out over pay and job losses
Last updated 23rd Jun 2022
Some Norfolk MPs are urging train providers and unions to compromise so that further rail strikes are prevented, this summer.
It come as Aslef trade union members have joined RMT workers in walking out over pay and job losses.
A decision which will leave Greater Anglia without the vast majority of their train drivers - their services will be disrupted further still today.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said of the Greater Anglia strike: “Strike action is always the last resort but many of our members have not had a pay rise since 2019. We will fight to maintain the pay, terms and conditions, and the pensions of our members.
“We are suffering the same lies from the Government as the other rail unions. Companies are saying their hands are tied by the Government and Grant Shapps is saying it’s up to the employers.
“Well, why should we subsidise the privateers that made money whilst we had no pay rises and now make money out of so-called ‘modernisation’, which is just another lie."
"These strikes aren't going to change the arguments for that"
Conservative's James Wild, Peter Aldous and Chloe Smith represent North West Norfolk, Waveney and Norwich North, respectively.
They all told us that compromise is the only way forwards.
Mr Wild says proportionality is vital at this time: "The Unions should sit down with their employers and negotiate a reasonable settlement.
"They are going to get a pay increase and their should be a fair settlement for them and the British taxpayer who have put in £16 billion into the rail services during the pandemic.
"That's the only solution, because these strikes aren't going to change the arguments for that, against modernisation."
"I sense there's a real latent demand to use the railways"
Mr Aldous told us that the network vitally needs to be modernised, as soon as possible: "They have got to look at productivity targets so as to put the railways on a sustainable long-term footing.
"I sense there's a real latent demand to use the railways/ But we are going to realise that if they are run efficiently and we don't have working practices that are 50 years out of date."
"Help to find a better solution"
Ms Smith says empathy at this time is vital: "What I would want to see is that Union leaders understand the impact that their actions are having and help to find a better solution"
Talks between industry bosses and unions are ongoing.
A third day of strike action is planned for Saturday.