Train drivers vote ‘overwhelmingly’ to extend strike mandate into new year

Members of ASLEF, the train drivers’ trade union, have “voted overwhelmingly” to continue industrial action for another six months.

It comes a day after the UK’s other main railway union, RMT, decided to call off its 18-month dispute after it agreed to an offer including a 5% pay increase backdated for 2022-23.

ASLEF revealed it has not had a meeting with the transport secretary Mark Harper since December 2022.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, said: “We are in this for the long haul. Our members – who have not had a pay rise for nearly five years now – are determined that the train companies – and the Tory government that stands behind them – do the right thing.”

He added ASLEF had to reballot as the mandate for industrial action only lasts for six months under “the Tories’ anti-union legislation”.

Drivers across Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Greater Anglia, GWR, GTR Southern/Gatwick Express, Great Northern Thameslink, LNER, Southeastern, SWR Island Line, SWR main line, SWR depot drivers and West Midlands Trains took part in the vote.

The extension of strike action comes ahead of ASLEF’s rolling programme of one-day strikes and a nine-day overtime ban, starting tomorrow (2 December).

Train drivers will walk out at EMR and LNER on Saturday 2 December; at Avanti West Coast, Chiltern, Great Northern Thameslink, and WMT on Sunday 3 December; at C2C and Greater Anglia on Tuesday 5 December; at Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, SWR main line, SWR depot drivers, and Island Line on Wednesday 6 December; at CrossCountry and GWR on Thursday 7 December; and at Northern and TPT on Friday 8 December.

All ASLEF members will also refuse to work any overtime from Friday 1 to Saturday 9 December.