Rail passengers to face extra disruption amid practice drivers’ time beyond regulation ban
R
ail providers might be disrupted once more this week due to a ban on time beyond regulation by practice drivers as a part of a marketing campaign of motion in a long-running dispute over pay.
Members of Aslef at 15 practice corporations in England will refuse to work time beyond regulation from Monday to Saturday and once more from August 7 to 12.
The union mentioned its members concerned within the dispute haven’t had a pay rise for 4 years.
The union mentioned the time beyond regulation ban will significantly disrupt providers, including that not one of the practice corporations employs sufficient drivers.
We are decided to get a correct enhance for women and men who haven’t had one for 4 years whereas inflation has been roaring away
The withdrawal of non-contractual time beyond regulation will have an effect on Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, Cross Country, East Midlands Railway, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Island Line, LNER, Northern Trains, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway foremost line, TransPennine Express, and West Midlands Trains.
Aslef normal secretary Mick Whelan mentioned: “We don’t want to take this action, because we don’t want people to be inconvenienced, but the train companies, and the Government which stands behind them, have forced us into this place because they refuse to sit down and talk to us and have not made a fair and sensible pay offer to train drivers who have not had one for four years – since 2019 – while prices have soared in that time by more than 12%.”
Mr Whelan mentioned a proposal made in April was for a 4% pay enhance, with an extra rise depending on drivers giving up phrases and situations.
“We have not heard a word from the employers since then – we haven’t had a meeting, or a phone call, a text message, nor an email – for the three months, and we haven’t sat down with the Government since January 6.
“That shows how little the companies and the Government care about passengers and staff. They are happy to let this go on and on.
“We are determined to get a proper increase for men and women who haven’t had one for four years while inflation has been roaring away.
“Our members, perfectly reasonably, want to be able to buy now what they could buy back in 2019.”
TransPennine Express warned its clients to arrange for disruption, together with delays and short-notice cancellations.
Customer service and operations director Kathryn O’Brien mentioned: “We are disappointed that this action will have such an impact on our customers’ journeys.
“We are anticipating significant disruption to our services for the next two weeks and I’m asking all our customers to be prepared for delays and cancellations across the network.
“We expect the disruption to be widespread and I would advise customers to check very carefully before they travel and to allow extra time for any journeys.“
A Department for Transport spokesman said: “The Government has met the rail unions, listened to them and facilitated improved offers on pay and reform. The union leaders should put these fair and reasonable offers to their members so this dispute can be resolved.”
The time beyond regulation ban follows strikes final week by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union which crippled providers.