Train strikes to restart sparking anger from City bodies and hospitality groups

Today is Monday, May 6th of 2024 and the current time is 5:54 pm.

This week, train commuters in the UK will experience further disruption due to a strike led by the train drivers' union, Aslef. The strike is a result of unresolved conflict over salary and working conditions.

There will be three strikes that last for one day each starting from Tuesday to Thursday. Furthermore, there will be a separate prohibition on working overtime that will create disturbance starting from the bank holiday on Monday.

Travelers have received advice to verify the National Rail webpage prior to their trip, given that a large number of trains have been called off and some are only operating on a few routes.

The train businesses that have been impacted are listed below:

On Tuesday 7 May, drivers from a range of train companies were affected. These included c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway main line and depot drivers, as well as SWR Island Line drivers.

On Wednesday, May 8th, trains from Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, and West Midlands Trains will be in operation.

On Thursday, May 9th, the companies LNER, Northern Trains, and TransPennine Trains will be in operation.

There will be a restriction on working extra hours from the start of Monday 6 May until the end of Saturday 11 May.

Train drivers in the UK, who are part of Aslef - a union that represents 96% of them, went on strike in April. Additionally, the London Underground faced station closures caused by customer service managers who are a part of the TSSA.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) offered Aslef a pay increase of eight percent spread across two years to no avail in April 2023. Aslef's members had previously voted in February to persist with their strikes by an overwhelming majority.

The labor union is extremely angered about the recent law regarding minimum service. This law requires train companies to ensure that they have adequate staff to operate 40% of their services during strike dates.

London-based businesses and the hospitality industry have requested that union representatives and train companies come to a solution before the upcoming round, as they have been experiencing disturbances for close to two years.

According to Muniya Barua, the deputy chief executive of BusinessLDN, the rail network's upcoming industrial strike will result in disturbance for many businesses and commuters throughout the nation.

In the midst of a slow increase in the economy, and with a crucial summer trading season approaching for retail, leisure, and hospitality businesses, we call on everyone involved to collaborate and resolve these ongoing negotiations to sustain progress in the city.

The walkouts are going to have a bigger effect on lots of people because they have to work fewer days in a week.

According to reports, the UK hospitality industry is predicted to suffer losses above £5 billion in the year 2024. Kris Hamer, who works as the Director of Insight at the British Retail Consortium, commented that rail strikes tend to cause major disruptions for both retail and leisure, as they significantly impact the traffic of commuters and tourists.

Numerous individuals may choose to work remotely to prevent disturbances, causing a negative effect on the vulnerable businesses located in the city center that depend on their patronage.

The number of people visiting London's shops is still lower than it was before the pandemic. Strikes will only make it harder for retailers to attract people back to their stores.

The CEO of UKHospitality, Kate Nicholls, stated that there has been a significant monetary loss of £387 million due to train strikes only in this year. The hospitality industry is responsible for creating millions of job opportunities and contributing billions of pounds to the UK's economy. However, the continuous train strike has become a risk factor to this sector. The dispute has been going on for a long time, and it is necessary for all parties to come together and sit across the table to negotiate and resolve this issue as soon as possible.

According to a representative from the RDG, the railway sector is putting in a lot of effort to keep the trains running. However, it is probable that some lines will experience disruptions during the evening prior and morning after each strike from May 7 to May 9. This is due to the fact that many trains will not be located in the proper depots to commence services on the subsequent day.

We deeply regret that our customers will be affected by the upcoming strike organized by the Aslef leadership. This action is completely unnecessary and will unfortunately cause disruptions to travel plans.

According to the Department for Transport (DfT), the Transportation Secretary and Rail Minister have successfully arranged for a proposed salary increment for train drivers. This increment would boost their average salaries to £65,000, which is nearly double the average salary in the UK.

Aslef is currently the only union that has continued with their strike action as the government has successfully negotiated agreements with all the other unions.

Rather than causing inconvenience for the passengers, the authorities should present this proposal to their members and collaborate with the industry to resolve this conflict.