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Will the Aslef rail strikes affect you?
THE UK's rail network has suffered yet another blow to services members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef) are again taking strike action in a long-running dispute over pay. Thankfully Merseyrail is not affected, but many other services will be affected by a series of strikes, that are due to take place between:- Tuesday, 30 January and Monday, 5 February 2024.
Aslef Members will walk out will affect:-
The drivers who are members of Aslef will also refuse to work overtime from:- Monday, 29 January 2024, until Tuesday, 6 February 2024.
In response to this action, the UK Government's Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, has issued this statement:- "Passengers are being targeted by Aslef's decision to go on strike, despite union bosses having an offer on the table that would take train drivers' average salary up to:- £65,000, for a 4 day week. While the RMT, TSSA, and Unite have all agreed on deals for their members, Aslef's leadership isn’t even putting the fair offer on the table for a vote of their members. The taxpayer subsidised the rail sector to the tune of £12bn in the last year alone; the very same taxpayers who are now being forced to miss work, postpone vital medical appointments, and cancel plans with loved ones because Aslef bosses are determined to stand in the way of reform."
ASLEF’s General Secretary Mick Whelan has also said:- "We have given the government every opportunity to come to the table but it has now been a year since we had any contact from the Department for Transport. It's clear they do not want to resolve this dispute. Many of our members have now not had a single penny increase to their pay in half a decade, during which inflation soared and with it the cost of living. Train drivers didn't even ask for an increase during the Covid19 Pandemic when they worked throughout as key workers, risking their lives to allow NHS and other workers to travel. The Government has now tried its old trick of changing the rules when they can't win and brought in Minimum Service Levels legislation. But this new law, as we told officials during the consultation period, won't ease industrial strife. It will likely just make it worse. There's no excuse. The government and train operating companies must come to the table with a realistic offer so we can end this dispute and work together to ensure the future of our railways."
Will this action affect you? what are your thoughts about the action? Please let us know by leaving a comment below...
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