New rail strike dates announced as train drivers walk out causes travel misery
Fresh strike action has been announced by rail workers as train services were thrown into chaos today due to a walkout by drivers.
Services across southern England were cancelled or reduced as members of Aslef staged another strike in their long-running dispute over pay and conditions. The strike forced people to drive to work, which led to huge traffic jams on roads including the M25.
In fresh misery for commuters, the RMT union announced a strike by London Overground workers in a separate pay dispute. More than 300 security, station, revenue and control staff will walk out for 48 hours on February 19 and again on March 4.
Arriva Rail London (ARL), which has the contract on London Overground, has offered a below inflation pay offer to staff, the union said. Members overwhelmingly voted for industrial action in response.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: "London Overground workers do an important job delivering services for Transport for London and supporting passengers on journeys throughout London.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
"Our members are furious that they have been given a below inflation pay offer and want to see an improvement that represents the value they bring to the company. If this dispute cannot be resolved then RMT is more than prepared for a sustained period of industrial action to get London Overground workers the pay rise they deserve."
It comes as rail services are already being affected by a nine-day ban on overtime by Aslef members, which began on Monday. Drivers went on strike today at Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Thameslink and South Western Railway.
Walkouts follow at Northern Trains and TPE on Wednesday, at LNER, Greater Anglia and C2C on Friday, at West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast and East Midlands Railway on Saturday and at Great Western, CrossCountry and Chiltern on Monday.
It comes as the first test of the Government's anti-strike legislation flopped - as none of the train companies are using the new law. The Tories imposed "minimum service levels" last year, which gives train companies the power to force 40% of their workers to remain on duty to reduce the disruption.
But the train operators involved in this week's dispute have chosen not to use the law, amid fears it could make strikes worse by damaging relations with staff. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said yesterday: "It's something the rail operators called for many months ago and the public would rightly expect them to be used if strike action is taking place."
Asked if No 10 is disappointed with the operators, he said: "Yes, it's something that we and the public expect them to use. It's ultimately up to train operators to effectively manage their services, we have been as clear as possible that they should be as ready to use all powers available to them to reduce the impact of rail strikes on passengers."
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