Strikes may be stepped up, train drivers’ union warns

Train drivers may intensify their campaign of industrial action as they seek a breakthrough in the ongoing wage dispute, their union leader said.

Drivers from 15 rail companies will be phased out on Thursday, leaving some operators unable to run trains.

Mick Whelan told the BBC his union now has a stronger mandate than before.

Frustrated members told him that Aslef is currently “not tough and fast enough,” he said.

A wave of industrial action is affecting sectors from health and postal services to driving tests as people seek wage increases that keep pace with rising living costs.

Rail workers from the RMT and other unions have been involved in a series of large-scale strikes spanning more than six months.

Thursday is the sixth day of action since last summer by members of Aslef, which represents most train drivers. The union expects 12,500 drivers from 15 rail companies to attend.

“We may have to take more action in the future to get people to listen,” the union boss said.

“There is a great will among our members to keep going,” added Mr. Whelan. “We’re in it for the long haul.”

The Aslef leader said a pay rise was years overdue and no offer had yet been made by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), the body representing railway companies.

The group’s chairman said they were approaching the possibility of making an offer.

Steve Montgomery told the BBC that “reasonable and sensible reforms” must be on the table.

“I think we’ve worked with Aslef, which can get us there,” he told the BBC. “But it means both sides need to start having meaningful discussions. So I think we’re closer, but there’s more work to do.”

Both sides are striving for a broad agreement, which would then have to be agreed at local level with all 15 railway companies involved. Mr Whelan said it was possible that no agreement would be reached within the next year.

Aslef and the RMT are expected to meet with railway companies and the railway minister on Monday to try to find a way forward.

The government and rail operators said changes in labor practices were needed to modernize the railroad and make it more efficient – to fund higher wages.

But in an interview with the BBC, Aslef’s Mr Whelan said he did not believe what had been discussed would amount to reform. “They talked to us about a long wish list of productivity for nothing,” he said.

RDG’s Mr Montgomery said they weren’t asking drivers to “work longer hours and pay less” but were “asking people to be more flexible within that 35-hour week”.

However, Mr Whelan said there had been discussions about rosters and “tinkering around the edges” in talks with the Rail Delivery Group. But there have been no “big tickets” that would change the current situation, he said.

The RDG chairman replied, “Yes, there is reluctance, but that’s because we’re using taxpayers’ money at this stage, and we believe we can bring about sensible reform that doesn’t cost taxpayers anything more.”

Asked about the unions’ claims that the government was holding back on a deal, RDG’s Mr Montgomery said there was “reluctance” but said: “It’s because we’re using taxpayers’ money at this stage,” he added : “We believe that we can bring about a sensible reform that will not cost the taxpayer anything.”

Mr Whelan said that because inflation has “gone through the roof” since Aslef first called in a bid, what had been acceptable six months ago “may not be acceptable to our members now”.

“We are aiming for a salary increase that at least puts a damper on inflation,” he said.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said that both the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Railways have so far had “polite, constructive” meetings with a number of union leaders.

“Passengers are rightly fed up with rail strikes and want the disruption to end. Unions should pull back from strikes so we can start 2023 by ending this damaging dispute.”

The RMT union previously rejected an initial offer from the Rail Delivery Group, saying the terms involved were unacceptable.