Three days of train strikes have been announced by Aslef – including on the day of the FA Cup final.

The decision to take industrial action comes as the train drivers’ union rejected a pay offer from 16 train companies.

The dates announced are Friday 12 May, Wednesday 31 May, and Saturday 3 June – the day of the football cup final and the Epsom Derby.

Aslef’s general secretary Mick Whelan said: “Our executive committee met this morning and rejected a risible proposal we received from a pressure group which represents some of the train companies.

“The proposal – of just 4% – was clearly not designed to be accepted as inflation is still running north of 10% and our members at these companies have not had an increase for four years.”

Related posts:

From PPI and the Priory to pride at exiting bailout: Lloyds’s £60m boss signs off Bank of England ramps up warning on inflation hit but takes no action to help cool prices Christmas tree shortage and price warning as sellers hit by labour and supply chain issues Energy crisis ‘a worry’ for UK car sector as it eyes shift to electric Thomas Cook liquidators plot sale of air traffic control stake UK ‘stuck’ with higher energy bills, says Octopus boss Morrisons pitches rescue deal for ailing convenience chain McColl’s Boehly-led consortium signs purchase agreement to buy Chelsea FC West End landlords Capco and Shaftesbury in talks about £3.5bn merger Should I keep saving for my pension or use the money to pay for rising costs? Germany’s biggest gas importer Uniper is nationalised after huge losses Sunak says public sector pay rises will fuel inflation. Economists say they won’t