When are the next train strikes? What we know about if there will be more strike dates and disputes explained
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When are the next train strikes? What we know about if there will be more strike dates and disputes explained

Dec 14, 2023

Britain's rail network was heavily disrupted on three days last week as both Aslef and the RMT staged fresh rounds of strike action.

Train drivers walked out on Wednesday and Saturday – affecting travel around the FA Cup final at Wembley – while 20,000 catering, station staff and train managers represented by the RMT downed tools on Friday.

The strikes are part of the unions’ long-running disputes with rail bosses over pay, jobs and conditions. Disruption has been ongoing since last summer, and looks set to continue for the foreseeable future, with deals yet to be reached.

There is currently no further industrial action planned by either Aslef or the RMT.

However, both unions have a mandate from their members to continue striking, and are expected to do so in order to keep putting pressure on the rail companies.

RMT members voted in favour of further walkouts at the start of May, a mandate which lasts for up to six months. Aslef balloted members in February over further industrial action.

The unions must give 14 days’ notice of any further strike action, meaning there could still be more walkouts in June.

Mick Whelan, Aslef's general secretary, has said the union is "determined to get a resolution" and there is "no waning in enthusiasm" from the union's 12,000 drivers for further industrial action.

He added that he would be willing to keep uo strike action for "four years, five years" in order to achieve a satisfactory resolution.

RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, said the strikes would be called off as soon as there was a "fair" deal from the train companies.

Speaking from a picket line at London's Euston station on Friday, he said: "We’ve pushed them back on all the stuff they wanted to do – they wanted to make thousands of our people redundant, they wanted to shut every booking office in Britain, restructure our engineering workers, cut the catering service.

"What we haven't got is a pay deal, we haven't got any guarantees on our members’ futures, but we have stopped them doing the worst aspects of their proposals and their ideas."

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents the rail companies, said: "There have been three pay deals offered which the RMT executive have reneged despite their negotiators in the room agreeing the terms.

"We’ve said all along we just want railway workers to have their say on the fair and affordable offer of up to a 13 per cent rise over two years, plus guarantees on job security.

"The only thing they have achieved is continuing to take money out of their members’ pockets, inflicting misery on thousands of people and damaging an industry which is vital to Britain's economy and their own members’ livelihoods."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said ahead of last week's action: "These strikes have been coordinated by union leaders to disrupt passengers in a week which will see major events such as the first-ever all-Manchester FA Cup final, the Epsom Derby and a number of concerts and festivals across the UK.

"The Government has facilitated a fair and reasonable pay offer, now union leaders must do the right thing and put this to their members."