Train Drivers For 12 Rail Companies Will Strike On September 15

On Thursday, September 15, Aslef union members will walk out, causing the cancellation of thousands of trains across Great Britain. It will involve more rail businesses and drivers than the most recent strike on August 13. Half of the affected train operators are mainly intercity companies: Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, LNER and TransPennine Express. The remaining six are largely hauliers and shorter haulers: Chiltern Railways, Greater Anglia, London Overground, Northern, Southeastern and West Midlands Trains. Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said: “We regret that, once again, passengers will be inconvenienced. “We don’t want to go on strike. Walking away from our jobs, although a fundamental human right, is always a last resort for a union – but the train companies forced our hand. “They want drivers to take real pay cuts – to work just as hard this year as last year, but 10 per cent less. Because inflation is now in double digits and heading up – much higher, according to some forecasts – and yet the train companies have given us nothing. “And this for the drivers who have kept Britain moving – essential workers and goods across the country – throughout the pandemic and who have not had a pay rise since 2019. “We want companies – which make big profits and pay huge salaries and bonuses to their managers – to make a proper pay offer to help our members keep up with the rising cost of living. “That’s why we’re calling on companies today to do the right thing – the decent thing – and come back to the negotiating table with an offer our members can accept.” A spokesperson for the Department for Transport (DfT) said of the strike: “For the ninth time this summer, union leaders are choosing self-destructive strike action over constructive talks, not only disrupting the lives of millions who rely on these services, but jeopardizing the future of the railways and the livelihoods of their members. “These reforms deliver the upgrades our rail network urgently needs, are essential to the future of rail and will be delivered. strikes won’t change that.” When Aslef announced its strike in August, transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “Drivers are already winning almost 60,000 but it’s clear that’s not enough for Aslef bosses, who have called for more strikes to hurt the people they claim to represent and on average earn far less. “Taxpayers gave £600/household to rail during Covid and they deserve better.” During the previous strike, some train operators – including LNER and Great Western – ran a skeleton service, while others such as Southeastern and London Overground canceled all trains. Several leading operators including South Western Railway, Southern, Thameslink, ScotRail, Transport for Wales and Merseyrail are not affected. Two “open access” carriers on the East Coast Main Line, Grand Central and Lumo, will operate as normal but are expected to be extremely busy. International Eurostar trains from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam are not affected. Another rail union, the white-collar TSSA, is calling a strike by its members working for Network Rail and nine train operators on September 26 and 27. The ongoing dispute with train drivers is affecting passengers on the Avanti West Coast, which is running a reduced timetable until September 11 at the earliest. The biggest reductions are on services linking Birmingham and Manchester to London – reduced to just one train an hour instead of three. The carrier blames “the current industrial relations climate which has led to severe staff shortages in some grades due to increased levels of sickness as well as the majority of drivers not being available for overtime in a coordinated manner and at short notice”. Aslef says Avanti should hire more drivers.

title: “Train Drivers For 12 Rail Companies Will Strike On September 15 Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-10” author: “Laura Hoehn”

On Thursday, September 15, Aslef union members will walk out, causing the cancellation of thousands of trains across Great Britain. It will involve more rail businesses and drivers than the most recent strike on August 13. Half of the affected train operators are mainly intercity companies: Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, LNER and TransPennine Express. The remaining six are largely hauliers and shorter haulers: Chiltern Railways, Greater Anglia, London Overground, Northern, Southeastern and West Midlands Trains. Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said: “We regret that, once again, passengers will be inconvenienced. “We don’t want to go on strike. Walking away from our jobs, although a fundamental human right, is always a last resort for a union – but the train companies forced our hand. “They want drivers to take real pay cuts – to work just as hard this year as last year, but 10 per cent less. Because inflation is now in double digits and heading up – much higher, according to some forecasts – and yet the train companies have given us nothing. “And this for the drivers who have kept Britain moving – essential workers and goods across the country – throughout the pandemic and who have not had a pay rise since 2019. “We want companies – which make big profits and pay huge salaries and bonuses to their managers – to make a proper pay offer to help our members keep up with the rising cost of living. “That’s why we’re calling on companies today to do the right thing – the decent thing – and come back to the negotiating table with an offer our members can accept.” A spokesperson for the Department for Transport (DfT) said of the strike: “For the ninth time this summer, union leaders are choosing self-destructive strike action over constructive talks, not only disrupting the lives of millions who rely on these services, but jeopardizing the future of the railways and the livelihoods of their members. “These reforms deliver the upgrades our rail network urgently needs, are essential to the future of rail and will be delivered. strikes won’t change that.” When Aslef announced its strike in August, transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “Drivers are already winning almost 60,000 but it’s clear that’s not enough for Aslef bosses, who have called for more strikes to hurt the people they claim to represent and on average earn far less. “Taxpayers gave £600/household to rail during Covid and they deserve better.” During the previous strike, some train operators – including LNER and Great Western – ran a skeleton service, while others such as Southeastern and London Overground canceled all trains. Several leading operators including South Western Railway, Southern, Thameslink, ScotRail, Transport for Wales and Merseyrail are not affected. Two “open access” carriers on the East Coast Main Line, Grand Central and Lumo, will operate as normal but are expected to be extremely busy. International Eurostar trains from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam are not affected. Another rail union, the white-collar TSSA, is calling a strike by its members working for Network Rail and nine train operators on September 26 and 27. The ongoing dispute with train drivers is affecting passengers on the Avanti West Coast, which is running a reduced timetable until September 11 at the earliest. The biggest reductions are on services linking Birmingham and Manchester to London – reduced to just one train an hour instead of three. The carrier blames “the current industrial relations climate which has led to severe staff shortages in some grades due to increased levels of sickness as well as the majority of drivers not being available for overtime in a coordinated manner and at short notice”. Aslef says Avanti should hire more drivers.

title: “Train Drivers For 12 Rail Companies Will Strike On September 15 Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-31” author: “Ernest Kohler”

On Thursday, September 15, Aslef union members will walk out, causing the cancellation of thousands of trains across Great Britain. It will involve more rail businesses and drivers than the most recent strike on August 13. Half of the affected train operators are mainly intercity companies: Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, LNER and TransPennine Express. The remaining six are largely hauliers and shorter haulers: Chiltern Railways, Greater Anglia, London Overground, Northern, Southeastern and West Midlands Trains. Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said: “We regret that, once again, passengers will be inconvenienced. “We don’t want to go on strike. Walking away from our jobs, although a fundamental human right, is always a last resort for a union – but the train companies forced our hand. “They want drivers to take real pay cuts – to work just as hard this year as last year, but 10 per cent less. Because inflation is now in double digits and heading up – much higher, according to some forecasts – and yet the train companies have given us nothing. “And this for the drivers who have kept Britain moving – essential workers and goods across the country – throughout the pandemic and who have not had a pay rise since 2019. “We want companies – which make big profits and pay huge salaries and bonuses to their managers – to make a proper pay offer to help our members keep up with the rising cost of living. “That’s why we’re calling on companies today to do the right thing – the decent thing – and come back to the negotiating table with an offer our members can accept.” A spokesperson for the Department for Transport (DfT) said of the strike: “For the ninth time this summer, union leaders are choosing self-destructive strike action over constructive talks, not only disrupting the lives of millions who rely on these services, but jeopardizing the future of the railways and the livelihoods of their members. “These reforms deliver the upgrades our rail network urgently needs, are essential to the future of rail and will be delivered. strikes won’t change that.” When Aslef announced its strike in August, transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “Drivers are already winning almost 60,000 but it’s clear that’s not enough for Aslef bosses, who have called for more strikes to hurt the people they claim to represent and on average earn far less. “Taxpayers gave £600/household to rail during Covid and they deserve better.” During the previous strike, some train operators – including LNER and Great Western – ran a skeleton service, while others such as Southeastern and London Overground canceled all trains. Several leading operators including South Western Railway, Southern, Thameslink, ScotRail, Transport for Wales and Merseyrail are not affected. Two “open access” carriers on the East Coast Main Line, Grand Central and Lumo, will operate as normal but are expected to be extremely busy. International Eurostar trains from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam are not affected. Another rail union, the white-collar TSSA, is calling a strike by its members working for Network Rail and nine train operators on September 26 and 27. The ongoing dispute with train drivers is affecting passengers on the Avanti West Coast, which is running a reduced timetable until September 11 at the earliest. The biggest reductions are on services linking Birmingham and Manchester to London – reduced to just one train an hour instead of three. The carrier blames “the current industrial relations climate which has led to severe staff shortages in some grades due to increased levels of sickness as well as the majority of drivers not being available for overtime in a coordinated manner and at short notice”. Aslef says Avanti should hire more drivers.

title: “Train Drivers For 12 Rail Companies Will Strike On September 15 Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-10” author: “Lessie Davis”

On Thursday, September 15, Aslef union members will walk out, causing the cancellation of thousands of trains across Great Britain. It will involve more rail businesses and drivers than the most recent strike on August 13. Half of the affected train operators are mainly intercity companies: Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, LNER and TransPennine Express. The remaining six are largely hauliers and shorter haulers: Chiltern Railways, Greater Anglia, London Overground, Northern, Southeastern and West Midlands Trains. Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said: “We regret that, once again, passengers will be inconvenienced. “We don’t want to go on strike. Walking away from our jobs, although a fundamental human right, is always a last resort for a union – but the train companies forced our hand. “They want drivers to take real pay cuts – to work just as hard this year as last year, but 10 per cent less. Because inflation is now in double digits and heading up – much higher, according to some forecasts – and yet the train companies have given us nothing. “And this for the drivers who have kept Britain moving – essential workers and goods across the country – throughout the pandemic and who have not had a pay rise since 2019. “We want companies – which make big profits and pay huge salaries and bonuses to their managers – to make a proper pay offer to help our members keep up with the rising cost of living. “That’s why we’re calling on companies today to do the right thing – the decent thing – and come back to the negotiating table with an offer our members can accept.” A spokesperson for the Department for Transport (DfT) said of the strike: “For the ninth time this summer, union leaders are choosing self-destructive strike action over constructive talks, not only disrupting the lives of millions who rely on these services, but jeopardizing the future of the railways and the livelihoods of their members. “These reforms deliver the upgrades our rail network urgently needs, are essential to the future of rail and will be delivered. strikes won’t change that.” When Aslef announced its strike in August, transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “Drivers are already winning almost 60,000 but it’s clear that’s not enough for Aslef bosses, who have called for more strikes to hurt the people they claim to represent and on average earn far less. “Taxpayers gave £600/household to rail during Covid and they deserve better.” During the previous strike, some train operators – including LNER and Great Western – ran a skeleton service, while others such as Southeastern and London Overground canceled all trains. Several leading operators including South Western Railway, Southern, Thameslink, ScotRail, Transport for Wales and Merseyrail are not affected. Two “open access” carriers on the East Coast Main Line, Grand Central and Lumo, will operate as normal but are expected to be extremely busy. International Eurostar trains from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam are not affected. Another rail union, the white-collar TSSA, is calling a strike by its members working for Network Rail and nine train operators on September 26 and 27. The ongoing dispute with train drivers is affecting passengers on the Avanti West Coast, which is running a reduced timetable until September 11 at the earliest. The biggest reductions are on services linking Birmingham and Manchester to London – reduced to just one train an hour instead of three. The carrier blames “the current industrial relations climate which has led to severe staff shortages in some grades due to increased levels of sickness as well as the majority of drivers not being available for overtime in a coordinated manner and at short notice”. Aslef says Avanti should hire more drivers.