Fresh wave of strikes hits UK rail services

Rail travel in the United Kingdom (UK) is set to be disrupted this week, with train drivers from 16 rail companies starting a fresh wave of strikes and overtime bans, reported Xinhua.

The train drivers, who are members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) trade union, began a six-day ban on non-contractual overtime on Monday, which was a bank holiday.

ASLEF members will also stage another series of rolling one-day strikes between Tuesday and Thursday, amid a long-running dispute over pay. According to ASLEF, drivers at different train operating companies will take strike action on different days.

"Drivers would not vote to strike if they thought an offer was acceptable," said Mick Whelan, ASLEF's general secretary.

The union first balloted for industrial action in the summer of 2022, with train drivers demanding salary increases amid the cost-of-living crisis. In April 2023, ASLEF rejected an offer of a 4 percent annual pay rise for two consecutive years, which also included changes in working conditions. No talks on the issue have been held since.

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group said the "wholly unnecessary strike action" will not only disrupt journeys but also inflict further damage on an industry that is receiving additional taxpayer cash to keep services running, following the downturn that has occurred since the pandemic.