Train drivers' overtime ban to bring further travel disruption

Train drivers are to refuse to work overtime from 3-8 July bringing further disruption to the rail network and hospitality operators.

ASLEF, the train drivers' union, has announced that members across 16 companies will take action in the ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.

UKHospitality has estimated that disruption resulting from the dispute, including strikes last autumn, winter and earlier in spring, has cost the industry more than £3b in trade.

Commenting on disruption in May, Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “We've seen time and time again that rail strikes put a significant dampener on any sales as visitors are deterred from booking visits or eating and drinking out.”

She urged the unions and train companies involved to conduct "constructive discussions to reach an agreement" due to the critical nature of the hospitality industry to the public and workers.

ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan today (19 June) said: "Once again we find ourselves with no alternative but to take this action. We have continually come to the negotiating table in good faith, seeking to resolve the dispute. Sadly, it is clear from the actions of both the train operating companies and the government that they do not want an end to the dispute. Their goals appear to be to continue industrial strife and to do down our industry.

"We don't want to inconvenience the public. We just want to see our members paid fairly during a cost-of-living crisis when inflation is running at above 10%, and to not see our terms and conditions taken away.”

The withdrawal of non-contractual overtime will be in place from 00:01 on Monday 3 July until 23:59 on Saturday 8 July.

It will impact Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, Chiltern, East Midlands Railway, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, Great Northern, LNER, Northern, Southeastern, Southern (inclusive of Gatwick Express), South Western Railway (inclusive of Island Line), Thameslink, Transpennine Express and West Midlands Trains.

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