London train strikes: Two days of disruption begins as ASLEF and RMT members take action

Two days of travel disruption impacting Londoners has begun today (September 1) as ASLEF and RMT union members take action on train lines across the country.

ASLEF announced its members will be striking today with an overtime ban planned for tomorrow (September 2), while 20,000 RMT members will also be striking tomorrow.

The combined action is a result of an ongoing dispute between the unions and the government and Rail Delivery Group (RDG) over pay.

While not restricted to companies running services in and out of the capital, Londoners are being asked to check their travel plans over the two days. South Western Railways, one of those impacted, has advised customers to only travel if necessary.

Here is the full list of affected companies which operate services in London: Greater Anglia, Stansted Express, c2c, Great Western Railway, Chiltern Railways, Southeastern, Gatwick Express, Southern, Thameslink, Heathrow Express, Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, South Western Railway, LNER and London Northwestern Railway.

Mick Whelan, ASLEF’s general secretary, accused the RDG and government of refusing to sit down and make a “sensible pay offer to train drivers”.

He added the government is “happy to let this drift on and on. But we are determined to get a fair pay rise for men and women who haven’t had one for four years while inflation has reached double figures. Our members, perfectly reasonably, want to be able to buy now what they could buy back in 2019.”

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The mood among our members remains solid and determined in our national dispute over pay, job security and working conditions.

“We have had to call further strike action as we have received no improved or revised offer from the Rail Delivery Group.

“The reason for this is the government has not allowed them a fresh mandate on which discussions could be held.

“Our members and our union will continue fighting until we can reach a negotiated and just settlement.”

An RDG spokesperson previously told LondonWorld staff were offered a 13% pay rise which was “blocked without a convincing explanation” by the RMT executive.

“With further strike action the RMT are once again targeting customers looking to enjoy various sporting events, festivals, and the end of the summer holidays, disrupting their plans and forcing more cars onto the road,” the spokesperson said.

“We have now made three offers, the latest of which would have given staff pay rises of up to 13% as well as job security guarantees and the RMT executive have blocked this without a convincing explanation.

“We remain open to talks and we have said repeatedly that we want to give our people a pay rise, but until the union leadership and executive is united in what it wants and engages in good faith with the 30% shortfall in revenue the industry is continuing to grapple with post-Covid, it is difficult to move forward.

“Unfortunately, the repercussion of this impasse affects our staff, customers, and the communities across the country that rely on the railway.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said the government has facilitated “fair and reasonable pay offers.

“However, union bosses are opting to prolong this dispute by blocking their members from having a vote on these offers. We continue to urge that members are given their say and disruption is brought to an end.”

The two days of strikes comes a day after the RMT led a rally outside Downing Street, against plans to shut most railway ticket offices in the country.