Disputes between trade unions and train companies in the UK have now been dragging on for well over two years, with rail workers taking action to protest poor pay and working conditions. But while train strikes are officially over for much of the UK after ASLEF negotiated a pay deal, more strikes have now been called for London.
Both the RMT and ASLEF unions are set to walk out in November on the tube to protest a pay deal from London Underground. ASLEF will walk out for two 24-hour periods, while RMT members will walk out over a lengthier period of time.
As for nationwide strikes? Following the last bout of ASLEF strikes in May – which saw train drivers at 16 operators across the UK walk out over three days – no further action has been called for British train services.
Here’s everything you need to know about upcoming industrial action on the UK’s rail network.
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When are the next train strike dates?
The next UK rail transport strikes are on the London Underground, with ASLEF’s walk-outs on November 7 and 12 and the RMT striking from November 1-8. Find out more about the specifics of those strikes here.
On a nationwide level, there are no future strikes planned for now.
What train lines will be affected?
Only the London Underground will be impacted by next month’s strikes.
When ASLEF workers go on a nationwide strike, these are the lines that are typically impacted.
- Avanti West Coast
- CrossCountry
- East Midlands Railway
- Great Western Railway
- LNER
- TransPennine Express
- C2C
- Greater Anglia
- GTR (Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink)
- Southeastern
- South Western Railway
- Chiltern Railways
- Northern Trains
- West Midlands Railway
How will rail travel be affected by the strikes?
During nationwide strikes, rail travel typically comes to a standstill all over the country. You can find out more about how services are affected on the National Rail website.
Often, disruption isn’t just on the day of a strike. There is usually also an impact on services in the afternoon and evening on the day before each strike, as well as on the morning of the day after. This is because trains and drivers are out of their planned positions as a result of the strikes.
Do workers get paid when on strike?
UK law states that employers do not have to pay employees who take part in industrial action. However, some unions keep some money aside to issue strikers with ‘strike pay’ while they occupy picket lines. For example, the RMT has the National Dispute Fund, which is supported by union membership payments as well as donations from members of the public.
When will the rail strikes end?
Rail strikes will end not just when a pay deal is struck between the unions and government: the union members also have to vote to approve the deal.
Why are rail workers striking?
RMT workers are protesting a ‘wholly inadequate’ pay offer from London Underground, saying that current proposals exclude large numbers of staff from collective bargaining.
ASLEF workers, meanwhile, are walking out also in a dispute over pay, specifically about a pay agreement for 2024. ASLEF members going on strike include drivers, instructors, management grades, and members in the engineering section.
What’s the deal with working practices?
Due to changes in travelling habits following the pandemic, with fewer commuters and off-peak train travel, some bosses want to change previous ‘archaic’ working practices and to introduce new technology and run teams more efficiently. Unions fear this may lead to job cuts, and it’s one of the most contentious issues in the dispute.
Can I get a refund if my train is cancelled?
According to National Rail, if your train is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled due to the industrial action, you will:
• Be entitled to a change or refund from the original retailer of your ticket
• Be able to use your ticket with another train company or an alternative route if it is available
Is the Eurostar affected by the train strikes?
Eurostar has said that strikes will not affect its timetable. However, if you’re getting a connecting journey within the UK, make sure that you check whether it is still running before you leave and allow extra time when travelling to and from London on strike days.
What do rail chiefs and unions have to say about the strikes?
Finn Brennan, ASLEF’s organiser on London Underground, said: ‘We don’t want to go on strike – we don’t want to make travelling in and around the capital more difficult for passengers and we don’t want to lose a day’s pay – but we have been forced into this position because LU management won’t sit down properly and negotiate with us.
‘Six months after the date that a pay agreement for 2024 should have been implemented, ASLEF’s executive committee has given notice that our members on London Underground will take strike action to achieve a fair deal on pay and working conditions.’
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘London Underground’s pay offer falls short of what our members deserve. It threatens to remove collective bargaining for a growing portion of staff, pushing them into pay bands that are decided solely by management. This undermines our members’ rights and the core principles of fair negotiation.
‘No trade union can accept any pay proposal where management decide which of our members gets a pay rise and those who do not.
‘We have repeatedly urged London Underground to offer a deal that ensures all staff are covered by collective bargaining, yet management remains fixated on imposing pay structures without our agreement.’
In response, transport commissioner Andy Lord said: ‘I’m disappointed that ASLEF and RMT members have voted in favour of industrial action following our recent discussions over pay.
‘It’s extremely disappointing that ASLEF have announced two days of industrial action in November on London Underground, despite our offer being fair and reasonable.’
Are there any other strikes to be aware of?
There are indeed. Heathrow was recently hit by strikes, and lots of industrial action is taking place in airports across Europe.
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