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As a 3rd summer time of walk-outs by prepare drivers begins, the union boss has hinted {that a} settlement may very well be in sight.
A sequence of three days of “rolling” rail strikes is underneath method, with hundreds of trains cancelled in London and south east England. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, all 14 prepare operators which can be contracted by the UK authorities will cancel most or all of their providers.
Members of the Aslef union have stopped work intermittently since July 2022 of their lengthy and bitter dispute over pay and dealing preparations.
No talks have taken place since April 2023, when a pay provide contingent on wide-ranging modifications was flatly rejected by union negotiators.
However forward of the newest strike, the Rail Supply Group – which represents the rail companies – mentioned: “We need to see an finish to this dispute and in that spirit, we’ve got written to the Aslef management to try to discover areas of frequent floor that may permit us to maneuver to formal negotiations.”
At London Waterloo station, Aslef’s basic secretary, Mick Whelan, informed The Impartial: “We responded, ‘Sure, we’re prepared to speak’.
“We now await dates and occasions and the stuff that comes with it.”
Many prepare drivers haven’t had a pay rise since 2019. His union is demanding a no-strings pay rise, adopted by talks with particular person rail companies on modifications to working practices.
Mr Whelan mentioned: “After 22 months and after the earlier dangerous religion pushed by this authorities, we’d like a comparatively clear deal to get out of this.”
The time period “comparatively” signifies for the primary time that their could also be some room to manoeuvre.
The Impartial has requested the Rail Supply Group when talks may start. However there appears no prospect that the three days of strikes – in addition to a six-day extra time ban – may very well be known as off.
London commuter operators are focused on Tuesday, with South Western Railway, Thameslink, Larger Anglia, Nice Northern, C2C, Southeastern and Southern all hit.
On Wednesday, intercity rail companies are cancelling all or most trains, as are West Midlands Railway and Chiltern.
By Thursday, the north of England will probably be hit, with TransPennine Categorical and Northern cancelling all trains. LNER will run a skeleton service on its core line linking Edinburgh, Newcastle and York with London King’s Cross.
A spokesperson for Rail Supply Group, mentioned: “We are able to solely apologise to our prospects for this wholly pointless strike motion known as by the Aslef management which is able to sadly disrupt journeys as soon as once more.
“It’ll additionally inflict additional harm on an trade that’s receiving as much as a further £54m every week in taxpayer money to maintain providers operating, following the Covid downturn.”
The present tranche of commercial motion continues till Saturday 11 Might, the final day of the extra time ban by prepare drivers.
