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Train strikes: When are they and why are they taking place? Train strikes: When are they and why are they taking place?
(about 1 month later)
Unions have announced further strike dates as a long-running dispute over pay, job cuts and changes to terms and conditions continues. More train strikes have been scheduled for late May and early June.
Members of the RMT and Aslef unions are taking industrial action.
When are the next rail strikes?When are the next rail strikes?
RMT members who work for 14 train companies will strike on 13 May. Strikes have been announced on a series of days in May and June:
The union is also balloting members for a mandate for further action. Wednesday 31 May (Aslef)
Train drivers in the Aslef union will walk out on 12 and 31 May, and 3 June, the day of the FA Cup final. Friday 2 June (RMT)
A separate dispute involving RMT members and Network Rail was resolved after union members accepted a revised pay deal. Saturday 3 June, the day of the FA Cup final (Aslef)
Aslef has also called an overtime ban at 15 train operating companies on 1 June, which is expected to lead to some cancellations.
Which lines will be affected?
According to National Rail, the following rail operators will see services disrupted by the strikes:
Avanti West Coast
C2C
Chiltern Railways
CrossCountry
East Midlands Railway
Great Northern
Great Western Railway
Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express)
LNER
London Northwestern Railway
Northern Rail
South Western Railway
Southeastern (Aslef days only)
Southern (including Gatwick Express)
Thameslink
TransPennine Express
West Midlands Railway
Will some trains still run?
Thousands of trains are expected to be cancelled on each strike day causing disruption to millions of passengers. On lines where there are services, they will start later and finish earlier than normal.
This varies depending on the operator.
On Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express and Southeastern, for example - all trains are cancelled on 31 May and 3 June.
Others will run a skeleton service on core routes so passengers are advised to check with the operator before travelling on strike days.
Why have railway workers been on strike?Why have railway workers been on strike?
Unions say any pay offer should reflect the rising cost of living - with the inflation rate currently above 10%. Unions say any pay offer should reflect the rising cost of living - with the inflation rate only just having dipped below 10%.
But the rail industry is under pressure to save money, after the pandemic left a hole in its finances. Bosses say reforms need to be agreed to afford pay increases and modernise the railway. But the rail industry is under pressure to save money, after the pandemic left a hole in its finances.
Bosses say reforms need to be agreed to afford pay increases and modernise the railway.
Which workers are allowed to go on strike?Which workers are allowed to go on strike?
Who else is striking in February and March? How much are rail workers paid?
The average salary of rail workers in 2022 was £45,919, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
If drivers are excluded, its estimate is £39,518. However, the RMT union said that figure was too high because it does not include rail cleaning staff.
The ONS says median pay for "train and tram drivers" is just under £59,000.
Although they tend to be better paid than other rail workers, Mick Whelan, general secretary of the Aslef union, told BBC News on 12 May, that train drivers "haven't had a pay rise for four years". He was just referring to the ones who are taking industrial action.
That's because a new pay deal hasn't been reached since their last agreement ended in 2019.
However, Transport Minister Huw Merriman said the pay of train drivers "has gone up by 39% since 2011... the highest increase of any employment group."
He's right about the 39% increase, but we haven't been able to establish whether it's the highest increase for any employment group. That's because of changes to the way the figures have been released over the last decade.
How much are rail workers paid?
What has happened to pay in the UK?
What deal have rail workers been offered?What deal have rail workers been offered?
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents the 14 train companies, made an offer which would have seen rail workers receive a backdated pay rise of 5% for 2022, and then negotiate reforms to unlock a second year's pay rise with individual operators. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents the 14 train companies, made an offer that would have seen rail workers receive a backdated pay rise of 5% for 2022. It would then negotiate reforms ahead of a second year's pay rise with individual operators.
However, the RMT says it won't accept it will have to call off industrial action before going into negotiations for that second year's pay rise. On 5 May, RMT members voted to extend the strike mandate for another six months.
The Aslef union, meanwhile, has rejected a two-year offer which would see drivers get a backdated pay rise of 4% for 2022 and a 4% increase this year, which would be unlocked in a similar way to the RMT deal. The Aslef union, meanwhile, has rejected a two-year offer which would see drivers get a backdated pay rise of 4% for 2022 and a 4% increase this year.
Separately, a revised offer from Network Rail was accepted by RMT members on 20 March, ending that dispute.Separately, a revised offer from Network Rail was accepted by RMT members on 20 March, ending that dispute.
The union said the offer amounted to an uplift on salaries of between 14.4% for the lowest paid grades to 9.2% for the highest paid.The union said the offer amounted to an uplift on salaries of between 14.4% for the lowest paid grades to 9.2% for the highest paid.
How much are rail workers paid? How much notice do unions have to give?
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has estimated the average salary of rail workers in 2022 was £45,919, based on five different job categories. Unions are obliged to give at least 14 days' notice of any strike action.
If drivers are excluded, its estimate is £39,518.
The RMT said that figure was still too high because it excluded rail cleaning staff, who are not categorised as rail workers by the ONS.
Read more: How much are rail workers paid?
How will the rail strikes affect your journey? What alternative forms of transport are you using? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.How will the rail strikes affect your journey? What alternative forms of transport are you using? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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