Fresh disruption to rail services in Stamford and Rutland as train drivers join strike
We're being warned to check before travelling
Rail services in Stamford and Rutland will be severely affected by strikes today, as East Midlands Railway train drivers join in with industrial action.
Train drivers from across the union ASLEF are taking part in a week of rolling strike action across the country, in their long-running dispute over pay and conditions.
Widespread disruption's expected, and the public's being warned to check before travelling.
Previous offers
Andy Hourigan is from ASLEF.
He told us why they're striking: "Being a train driver means having a 'high-skill job'.
"In 2019, the Conservatives said that high-skill jobs should have high-skill pay."
He continued, saying the job's "not as simple as pushing buttons and pulling levers... it's about alertness, responsibilities and facing challenges".
Andy explained that the members don't want to strike but "have no other tricks" they can use to be heard, with a lot of ASLEF members "losing money."
What they want
Above all, Andy says ASLEF members 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."
The Transport Department has accused ASLEF leadership of refusing to allow its members to vote on a pay offer made last year.
A spokesperson said: "The Transport Secretary and Rail Minister have already facilitated talks that led to this fair and reasonable offer.
"With passenger revenues not having recovered since the pandemic, the taxpayer has had to prop up the railways with £12 billion in the last year alone.
"These strikes will not change the need for urgent workplace reforms that Aslef continue to block."
ASLEF said drivers have been re-balloted a number of times since the dispute started and have always backed continuing with industrial action.
The Government says it's offered a fair and reasonable pay offer.