Passengers have been warned that Friday’s train strikes will cause significant disruptions.
Members of the Aslef train driver’s union are striking at sixteen companies, with some operating no trains at all.
TransPennine Express, Northern, Avanti, East Midlands Railway, Thameslink, and Southern are some examples.
Aslef says Friday’s strike, the first of four by two unions, will not interrupt Eurovision events.
Aslef strikes on Friday, Wednesday, and the day of the FA Cup final, Saturday, June 3rd.
On Saturday, May 13, the RMT union will strike fourteen train operators during the Eurovision final in Liverpool.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper has accused both unions of targeting the contest.
According to train companies, the action “is likely to result in few or no services across large portions of the network,” with services also disrupted in the days following the strikes.
They advised passengers to plan and verify services before travel.
Eurovision dispute
Aslef and the RMT have both denied intentionally targeting the Eurovision final with their actions.
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan claimed the union would have targeted the contest “Friday, Saturday, and Sunday” instead.
Mr. Whelan added, “We don’t wish to cause anyone harm, but there is never a suitable time for a strike. You will encounter an event on any particular day of the week.”
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train companies, asserted, however, that the action was timed to coincide with Eurovision and would “disrupt the plans of thousands of fans.”
The Department of Transport stated that it was “hard to believe” that Aslef was oblivious to the “huge impact” its actions would have on Eurovision.
Mr. Whelan was asked if Aslef would be able to find a “middle ground” with the government. But he responded that no discussions were currently taking place.
“I haven’t seen the government since January… they take no ownership,” he told. They only communicate with the [railway] enterprises.
The Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, insisted that Aslef was being offered a “fair and reasonable” compensation package.
“We had a productive and positive meeting, and Mick Whelan and the Rail Delivery Group agreed to continue discussions,” he said.
Aslef was “disappointed” when a pay offer was not “put through” for a vote.
When asked why the government was not doing more to end the disputes, Mr. Merriman argued that being a train driver is a “well-paid job” and that it would be “even more so if this pay offer was accepted by members.”
“Currently, a train driver’s average weekly salary for 35 hours is just under £60,000,” he said. The most recent offer would bring them to £65,000 total.
Mr. Whelan, however, told that it was a “malicious lie” that the offer was fair and reasonable. Because “the conditions attached to it rip up every condition we’ve gained in the past 140 years.”
According to him, the offer was less than inflation, “so in effect it’s a 20% pay cut for giving up all our terms and conditions,” and negotiations had been “scuttled” by the addition of union “red lines” to the agreement.
Harry Cunningham, who resides in London and is 23 years old, had intended to take the train to Liverpool on Friday and remain the night for the Eurovision Village grand final on Saturday.
When the strikes were announced, he and his friend considered alternative modes of transportation. But they would have taken three times as long as the train.
He characterized their inability to travel as “devastating” and “heartbreaking.”
This is something we’ve been planning and preparing for since September, so it’s a major letdown.
Ongoing protests
Mr. Whelan thinks Aslef’s salary conflict will last much longer after six strike days.
Members continued to demand “harder and faster” action, and Mr. Whelan stated that the available tools included more or longer-lasting walkouts, a complete overtime ban, or both.
According to the industry and government, the railway’s finances are unsustainable, so working methods and efficiencies must be altered in exchange for wage increases.
Unions say the salary rises are below inflation and threaten their members’ jobs and working conditions.
A month ago, Aslef rejected the most recent proposal from the organization representing railway companies.
In March, Network Rail maintenance and signaller RMT members approved a contract, ending the dispute.
However, the parallel dispute with 14 train companies over pay, employment, and working conditions continues.
The RMT’s committee rejected the railway firms’ latest offer of a 5% wage raise for one year and 4% for the next.
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, stated, “We are striking to demonstrate to employers and the government that the anger among rail workers is very real and that they must acknowledge this fact, face reality, and make better proposals.”
