Everything you need to know about August and September rail strikes
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More than a year has passed since the commencement of the initial nationwide train strikes since the 1980s. However, the conflicts between the primary railway unions and train companies concerning wages, employment, and working conditions seem just as impossible to resolve.
According to the primary railway workers' organization, the RMT, strikes will persist during the later parts of August and the beginning of September. In the meantime, Aslef, which serves as the representative union for train operators, claims a significant number of its associates have not received an increase in wages for a duration of four years.
Like any labor strike, the RMT and Aslef aspire to create considerable chaos. Given the significant decline in rail commuting due to the Covid pandemic, their focus has now shifted towards affecting leisure travelers.
Both labor organizations are requesting salary raises without any conditions, considering the currently high inflation rate. The unions mention their willingness to engage in talks regarding changes in policies, but they insist on negotiating those separately. Moreover, they anticipate that any modifications made should be followed by corresponding salary enhancements.
Train companies and government officials, who have the authority to approve any agreement, argue that modernization is necessary due to the decline in rail income. The sales of season tickets, which served as the foundation for revenue, have significantly declined since the outbreak of Covid. The employers assert that the only feasible way to provide even a small raise is by using the savings generated from enhancing efficiency.
Stuck in the middle: the enduring traveler. Since June 2022, nationwide railway strikes and alternative types of labor protest have messed up the travel arrangements of numerous rail passengers. Strikes have been consistently called, resulting in significant chaos and complicating the process of making travel plans in advance.
Here are the essential inquiries and responses.
Who's On Strike, And When?
The largest railway union, known as the RMT, has announced that a total of 20,000 RMT members from 14 different rail companies will go on strike during the last two Saturdays of the summer vacation, specifically on the 26th of August and the 2nd of September.
The primary effect will be on vacationers seeking relaxation, particularly affecting families coming back from trips.
Transport for Wales and ScotRail remain unharmed.
The Railway and Maritime Transport Union (RMT) has organized protests on 33 separate occasions during the ongoing series of strikes, while Aslef has also participated in work stoppages on 13 previous occasions.
In making the strike known, Mick Lynch, the RMT's general secretary, stated: "The attitude among our members stays unwavering and resolute in our countrywide disagreement regarding salary, employment stability and working circumstances."
We are compelled to declare additional strikes as we have not received any enhanced or modified proposal from the Rail Delivery Group.
The cause behind this is that the authorities have not granted them a new authorization on which dialogues can take place.
"Our constituents and our labor association will persist in their struggle until we can achieve a mutually agreed and equitable resolution."
The railway conductors' association, Aslef, is implementing a "non-strike action" consisting of Monday-to-Saturday limitations on working beyond regular hours. The most recent one started on Monday, August 7th and will persist until Saturday, August 12th.
Every day, an extensive number of trains are being called off. Mick Whelan, the general secretary of Aslef, affirms: "We have modified the strike action to demonstrate to the transportation sector, as well as commuters, how much they rely on extra working hours."
Who's Involved In National Train Disputes?
The RMT work stoppages and Aslef restrictions on working extra hours are targeting railway companies in England that have contracts with the Department for Transport. This includes major intercity operators.
Companies targeting the areas in the middle and northern regions of England
What's Up With London Underground?
The Tube, the London Overground, and the Elizabeth Line remain unharmed by the scheduled labor dispute. However, certain routes that provide substitutes for train services impacted by the strike, particularly in the southern region of London, may experience higher levels of congestion than usual.
Trains During RMT Strikes
Travelers can anticipate regular service on:
For train companies that are impacted, here are the expected levels of service:
Southeastern: Services are experiencing substantial cuts. Connections will be available from London Victoria to Bromley South, London Bridge to Dartford and Sevenoaks, and London St Pancras International to Ashford International, Canterbury, and Ramsgate. However, operating hours will be reduced.
South: During the period of industrial action, there will be a limited schedule in place. Certain stations will not be serviced.
Gatwick Express: Unavailable during the entire period of labor protest, but there are other Southern services connecting London and the airport, which come at a more affordable price.
Thameslink: The main route of Thameslink from London Bridge to St Pancras International will not be operational throughout any industrial strikes. A significantly limited service will operate solely between the hours of 7am and 7pm.
Southwestern: A basic system of connections is set to operate, joining London Waterloo with Guildford, Southampton, Ascot, and Hampton Court.
GWR, commonly known as Great Western Railway, primarily operates a vital route connecting London Paddington with several prominent destinations including Oxford, Cardiff, Bath, Bristol, Exeter, and Plymouth.
CrossCountry: Expect a scaled-down network that excludes areas above Edinburgh and areas west of Plymouth. Trains connecting Cardiff to Nottingham will be temporarily halted, and the usual route from Birmingham to Stansted Airport will end at Peterborough.
Chiltern: The transportation system will be downsized to offer a restricted service connecting London Marylebone with Aylesbury, Banbury, and Oxford.
West Midlands Railway: The majority of services are expected to be discontinued.
Avanti West Coast: The fundamental routine to and fro London Euston will consist of one train per hour going to/from:
Northern: It is highly probable that a majority of trains will be cancelled.
TransPennine Express: There will only be a small number of trains operating on the route from Manchester Piccadilly to Leeds, York, Scarborough, as well as between Preston and Manchester Airport, and finally between Sheffield and Cleethorpes.
East Midlands Railway advises individuals to only journey by train if it is absolutely essential. If you choose to travel, anticipate significant disruptions. However, intercity trains and nearby connections are anticipated to continue operating.
LNER: During the days when the RMT is on strike, LNER typically operates consistent transportation on the route from London to York, Newcastle, and Edinburgh. The initial journeys commence at approximately 7am, while the last arrivals take place around 10pm. Services from London to Leeds will be available from around 7am until 6pm.
Great Northern: "There will be changes to the schedule with reduced services. Trains will be more crowded than usual, particularly during the busiest times of the day. It is probable that you will have to wait in line and there is a chance that you won't be able to get on the train you intended to. It is advisable to allocate additional time for your trip."
Greater Anglia: Limited service on the trains running between London Liverpool Street, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich, and also on the routes linking to and from Stansted airport.
Is Eurostar At Risk?
No, however, travel links to and from the central station of the train operator in London, St. Pancras International, might pose a challenge due to the ongoing strike at all three domestic train operators - East Midlands Railway, Southeastern, and Thameslink - that cater to this station.
What Is The Reason For Aslef's Industrial Action?
Mick Whelan, the chief of Aslef, expressed his stance by stating: "Once again, we are left with no choice but to carry out this measure. We have consistently approached the discussions with sincerity and the intention to find a solution to the conflict.
"We aim to avoid causing any inconvenience to the general population. Our primary concern is ensuring that our members are paid fairly amidst a cost of living dilemma, with inflation exceeding 10 percent, and that their terms and conditions remain intact instead of being revoked."
"It is high time for both the government and corporations to reconsider their approach and seek a solution."
What Do Train Operators Say?
According to a representative of the RDG, the RMT's decision to continue striking will once again affect individuals who are eager to attend sporting events, festivals, or make the most of the remaining days of their summer break. This disruption will inevitably result in the alteration of their schedules and a consequent increase in the number of vehicles on the road.
We have presently extended three propositions, the most recent of which would have provided employees with salary increments of up to 13 percent, along with assuring job security. Nevertheless, the executive team at RMT has obstructed this offer without providing a satisfactory justification.
"We are still open to negotiations and have consistently expressed our desire to increase wages for our employees. However, progress is challenging without a unified stance from the union leadership and executive, as well as their sincere efforts to address the industry's ongoing 30% revenue shortfall caused by the aftermath of Covid."
Regrettably, the consequences of this stalemate impact our employees, clients, and the various communities throughout the nation that depend on the railway system.
Government's Stance On The Matter?
A representative from the Department for Transport expressed their disappointment in the RMT leadership's choice to initiate further strikes and deliberately inconvenience the public during the bank holiday weekend.
The authorities have helped in providing just and reasonable salary proposals. Nonetheless, the leaders of the labor union are choosing to extend this disagreement by preventing their members from expressing their opinion on these proposals. We strongly request that members be granted the opportunity to have their say, leading to the resolution of the disturbance.
Strikes Affecting My Flight! Solutions?
Customers who have purchased Advance, Anytime, or Off-Peak tickets are entitled to receive a full refund without any additional charges if the train they have booked is canceled, delayed, or rescheduled.
Train companies are expected to provide options for traveling on various days when strikes are not taking place.
Customers who hold season tickets but are unable to travel on strike days are eligible to receive compensation by applying for Delay Repay.
What Other Options Exist?
As usual, the companies that offer long-distance transportation services by bus, such as National Express, Megabus, and Flixbus, will continue operating. However, there is a growing scarcity of available seats and an increase in ticket prices.
