Train strikes 2023: New RMT and Aslef walkout dates announced for February

Rail passengers are being warned to expect more disruption in the coming weeks after union bosses rejected a pay offer from rail companies.

The RMT and Aslef unions have both announced two more walkout dates in February over jobs pay and conditions.

Both unions said its members would walk out on Wednesday, February 1, and Friday, February 3.

Aslef’s announcement comes after the Transport Secretary Mark Harper said he had given the train operating companies a new mandate to offer an improved deal to the unions.

Aslef said the offer it rejected was made on Friday January 6, before this new mandate was announced.

Aslef’s general secretary Mick Whelan said the union was willing to continue negotiations but the latest offer was “rushed out” ahead of the union’s meeting with Rail Minister Huw Merriman on Monday January 9 and was “clearly unacceptable”.

"Not only is the offer a real-terms pay cut, with inflation running north of 10%, but it came with so many conditions attached that it was clearly unacceptable. They want to rip up our terms and conditions in return for a real-terms pay cut," he said.

The two new strike dates will affect 15 train companies, including Thameslink, Southeastern and Southern in London.

The RMT union, which also represents some train drivers, is joining in on the action.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said negotiations would continue with the rail operators "to create a package on jobs, conditions and pay that can be offered to our members".

The first of the strike dates will coincide with a walkout by 100,000 civil servants in their dispute over pay and jobs, a strike by teachers over pay and nationwide protests against the Government’s controversial new strike law.

What rail companies are affected?

The RMT and Aslef strikes will impact Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, Southeastern, Southwestern, TransPennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains, GTR (including Gatwick express), c2c and SWR Island Line.

What is the government saying?

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Passengers have borne the brunt of these damaging strikes for far too long, so it’s incredibly disappointing Aslef has rejected the RDG’s offer outright and called more strikes before even getting round the negotiating table.

“The Government has played its part and facilitated conversations.

“We urge Aslef to play their part, call off strikes and consider this fair and reasonable offer to members, which would see train drivers receive a pay rise in line with the private sector without fuelling inflation, so we can bring this dispute to an end.”

What are the train companies saying?

A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said it was disappointing it’s “fair and affordable” pay offer was not taken forward.

“With taxpayers still funding up to an extra £175 million a month to make up the shortfall in revenue post-covid, it provided a significant uplift in salary for train drivers while bringing in long overdue, common-sense reforms that would mean more reliable services for passengers,” said the spokesman.

“Rather than announcing further unnecessary strikes, we ask Aslef to recognise the very real financial challenge the industry is facing and work with us to deliver a better railway with a strong long-term future.”