UK train strikes announced for December

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Train drivers have declared further strikes, which will cause additional disturbance to rail commuters in December.

On Thursday, the Aslef union announced a plan to have a series of strikes at 16 train companies happening between December 2 to December 8. The strikes will involve drivers from various operators going on strike on specific days.

During the time of December 1 through December 9, it has been announced that members are not allowed to work overtime.

According to the union, expanding the strike will lead to more severe consequences for the railway sector.

Mick Whelan, who is the general secretary of Aslef, expressed their strong determination to emerge victorious in this conflict.

Aslef stated that its planned strikes would result in the absence of drivers for a total of six days.

nd, 2021 announced that rail services between Nottingham, Newark North Gate and Lincoln will be temporarily suspended due to essential engineering works to the viaduct at Lowdham. These works are essential for the improvement and upgrade of the railway infrastructure and will offer a more reliable and comfortable experience for customers in the future. The rail services are estimated to be back in operation from Monday December 20th, 2021. Both East Midlands Railway and LNER appreciate the inconvenience this may cause to their customers and advise them to plan their journeys accordingly. Alternative bus services will be provided for customers during the suspension period. It is always important to prioritize the safety and enhancement of railway infrastructure for customers' better convenience in the long run.

rd, warned passengers about delays and cancellations due to severe weather conditions. On December 3rd, Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, Great Northern, Thameslink, and West Midlands Trains cautioned travelers to anticipate hold-ups and service suspensions caused by adverse weather conditions.

On December 5th, C2C and Greater Anglia had a meet-up.

On the 6th of December, Wednesday, the Southern/Gatwick Express, Southeastern, Island Line and South Western Railway mainline trains were in operation.

, faced disruptions in their train services due to adverse weather conditions. Passengers traveling between Exeter and Plymouth on CrossCountry faced delays of up to an hour due to problems with the overhead wires, which had been caused by the stormy weather. Similarly, GWR's train services between Bristol Parkway and Swindon were affected, leading to cancellations and delays of 15-20 minutes. Despite the inconvenience caused, both railway companies worked hard to restore their services and keep passengers informed of any updates. Travelers are advised to check the status of their train before setting off on their journey during this period of extreme weather.

On the date of December 8, Northern and TransPennine Express made some announcements.

The protests are the most current move in an ongoing disagreement concerning the payment and modernization of work procedures that started in the previous summer. This issue has caused significant disturbance for rail commuters on days of protest, resulting in the cancellation of most services.

Last April, the union rejected a proposal for a pay increase from the government and industry, which was worth 8% over a period of two years. This proposal was linked to changes in the way people worked, which the union representative, Whelan, referred to as an attempt to take away our rights regarding our working conditions.

The Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, has asked the leaders of Aslef to present the pay and reform proposal to their members again. This request comes after the RMT union recently settled an agreement with train operators, that put an end to their nationwide strikes.

Whelan from Aslef stated that the industry's offer was "laughable" but not up for consideration since it had already been turned down.

If the RMT agreement is approved, their members would receive a retroactive salary increase of 5% for the fiscal year 2022-2023, and there would be no need to discuss changes, which would be postponed until next year. The reforms would be addressed by each train company at a regional level during the 2023-2024 pay talks.

Local walkouts can still happen, but the RMT's ability to call for extensive nationwide strikes would be terminated. To put this plan into action, members will need to vote on the proposal.

For a while now, train corporations and governing bodies have been stating that significant alterations need to be made to decrease employee wages. This is because revenues in the industry have taken a hit of roughly 25% since the pandemic surfaced, due to the decrease in regular commuting.

The group that represents the railway industry, known as Rail Delivery Group, has expressed that the strike organized by Aslef leader is entirely needless and will unfortunately cause disturbance for both customers and businesses during the crucial holiday season.

The industry has presented a reasonable and cost-effective proposal that would increase the average driver's salary for working a four-day week from £60,000 to almost £65,000. This proposal is still available and being considered.