by LONDON: The United Kingdom transportation The network has been blighted by a series of strikes since the summer as workers fight for wage increases that keep pace with inflation and, in some cases, oppose post-Covid system changes.
London commuters suffered another strike on the London Underground earlier this month, before station staff walked out on November 25.
With no breakthrough in the talks, the run-up to Christmas is now set for severe travel disruption.
When are the next rail strikes?
The Aslef The Train Drivers’ Union has announced that members will quit on November 26 at 11 of the country’s operating companies, including those running mainline services like Avanti West Coast, Great Western Rail and LNER.
Further strikes are planned for December 13, 14, 16 and 17 by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, with the union group saying 40,000 of its members will leave 14 rail companies as well as Network Rail.
Passengers should also be wary of cancellations during the key holiday season. The RMT said there would be a ban on overtime between December 18 and January 2.
The RMT has scheduled train strikes until next year on January 3, 4, 6 and 7.
Bus drivers planning to go out too?
Yes. London bus drivers employed by Abellio Transport Group Ltd are on strike on November 25 and 26, followed by seven days in December, affecting services in large parts of the UK capital. Buses from Metroline Ltd. in London also face a seven-day strike.
What is at stake in these disputes?
A lot of it is about compensation. Like Liverpool dockers, who earlier in November won a 9 per cent base pay rise, transport workers want increases close to the rate of UK inflation, which has been in double digits in recent months .
Unite, which represents bus drivers, says Abellio was initially willing to raise wages but has since made no offers to employees or entered into “meaningful” talks. Aslef says that although talks are ongoing, no salary offers have been made.
Hasn’t there been progress?
The railway strikes were suspended in early November by some of the UK’s biggest unions, the RMT and TSSA, as they began what were described as “intensive bargaining” over wages.
However, the RMT still announced other dates later in the month. His boss Mick Lynch met with Transport Secretary Mark Harper on November 24 to try to pave the way for more fruitful talks with the rail companies.
London commuters suffered another strike on the London Underground earlier this month, before station staff walked out on November 25.
With no breakthrough in the talks, the run-up to Christmas is now set for severe travel disruption.
When are the next rail strikes?
The Aslef The Train Drivers’ Union has announced that members will quit on November 26 at 11 of the country’s operating companies, including those running mainline services like Avanti West Coast, Great Western Rail and LNER.
Further strikes are planned for December 13, 14, 16 and 17 by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, with the union group saying 40,000 of its members will leave 14 rail companies as well as Network Rail.
Passengers should also be wary of cancellations during the key holiday season. The RMT said there would be a ban on overtime between December 18 and January 2.
The RMT has scheduled train strikes until next year on January 3, 4, 6 and 7.
Bus drivers planning to go out too?
Yes. London bus drivers employed by Abellio Transport Group Ltd are on strike on November 25 and 26, followed by seven days in December, affecting services in large parts of the UK capital. Buses from Metroline Ltd. in London also face a seven-day strike.
What is at stake in these disputes?
A lot of it is about compensation. Like Liverpool dockers, who earlier in November won a 9 per cent base pay rise, transport workers want increases close to the rate of UK inflation, which has been in double digits in recent months .
Unite, which represents bus drivers, says Abellio was initially willing to raise wages but has since made no offers to employees or entered into “meaningful” talks. Aslef says that although talks are ongoing, no salary offers have been made.
Hasn’t there been progress?
The railway strikes were suspended in early November by some of the UK’s biggest unions, the RMT and TSSA, as they began what were described as “intensive bargaining” over wages.
However, the RMT still announced other dates later in the month. His boss Mick Lynch met with Transport Secretary Mark Harper on November 24 to try to pave the way for more fruitful talks with the rail companies.
