British train drivers announced another day of strikes in January amid a long-running pay dispute.
The Aslef union, which represents 96% of train drivers in England, Scotland and Wales, said its members will resign on January 5. This means there will be five consecutive days of strikes in the first week of the new year as the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) conducts industrial action on January 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th.
The RMT is also on strike over Christmas, while trains are suspended this week because of the union’s ban on overtime.
“We don’t want to go on strike, but companies have pushed us here,” said Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary. “We’re always happy to negotiate – we never refuse to sit down and talk – but these companies haven’t offered us anything. And that is unacceptable.”
The announcement follows the workers’ group, which has secured a new strike mandate from its members, possibly in the next six months. More than nine out of ten union members who took part in the vote supported further strikes.
“The way to stop this is for the companies to make a serious and sensible offer and for the government not to put a spoke in the wheels,” Whelan added.
Bus services in the capital are also facing further disruptions after the Unite union announced another round of strikes on December 24, 27 and 31 and eight more dates in January. The bus drivers work for Abellio in south and west London.
