LNER drivers announce new strikes

Train drivers on the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) line have announced new weekend strikes.

It comes just two days after train drivers were offered a union-backed pay deal as part of a separate nationwide dispute.

The drivers, represented by the ASLEF (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) union, will go on strike for 22 days in total on Saturdays and Sundays starting in two weeks.

Where’s being affected and when?

They will withdraw their services every Saturday from 31 August to 9 November and every Sunday from 1 September to 10 November.

Trains running along the east coast line from London and Edinburgh will be hit.

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This industrial action is separate from the long-running pay dispute. Rail industrial action was first taken in the summer of 2022.

An offer to settle that issue has been advanced by the government with ASLEF recommending its members accept the deal.

Members must vote on the proposal for it to officially be accepted.

Why are strikes still going on?

This latest dispute is based on union claims of “bullying” behaviour by bosses, and “persistent breaking” of agreements by LNER management, ASLEF said.

The union’s general secretary Mick Whelan said: “The company has brutally, and repeatedly, broken diagramming and roster agreements, failed to adhere to the agreed bargaining machinery, and totally acted in bad faith.

“We are not prepared to put up with their boorish behaviour and bullying tactics”, said.

“The continued failure of the company to resolve long-standing industrial relations issues has forced us into this position.

An LNER spokesperson said they would work to end the dispute.

“Our priority focus will be on minimising disruption to customers during the forthcoming ASLEF strikes, which sadly will continue to cause disruption and delays.”

“We are surprised and disappointed to hear this news following recent constructive conversations.”

Pay rises for departed drivers

Should the government offer be accepted, ASLEF members will receive backdated pay raises.

It would mean a 5% rise for the 2022 to 2023 financial year, a 4.75% rise for 2023 to 2024, and a 4.5% increase for this year into next.

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Even those who are no longer train drivers or members of the union will benefit due to the retrospective nature of the award. ASLEF said this is standard industry practice and reflected the protracted nature of the dispute.

Drivers who formed picket lines back in 2022 may since have retired or moved jobs.

The Daily Mail has reported as many as 2,000 former train drivers who have retired or moved out of the profession may benefit, but ASLEF said it did not recognise this figure.

The union said it does not know how many former members may benefit. The Department for Transport did not respond to request for comment.

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The Conservative’s shadow rail minister Kieran Mullan said, “After a no-strings-attached offer to throw cash at a labour-backing union, it should shock nobody that more strikes are on the cards. It’s a taste of what is to come, a nationalised train service seeing Labour backing unions staging walkouts despite a bumper pay deal.”

“All Labour are doing is encouraging the Unions into more of this anti-passenger action, putting our rail network at the beck and call of unions, whilst passengers pay the price,” he added.

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