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Train strikes: When are they and why are they taking place? Train strikes: Walkouts hit start of UK summer holidays
(about 13 hours later)
Members of two rail unions are currently involved in industrial action at train operating companies. Rail strikes are expected to disrupt family holiday travel as many schools across England and Wales break up for the six-week summer holidays.
The action is part of their ongoing dispute about pay and conditions. Members of two rail unions are currently involved in industrial action at train operating companies. The action is part of their ongoing dispute about pay and conditions.
When are the next strikes and which lines will be affected?When are the next strikes and which lines will be affected?
Strikes will be held on Saturday 22 and Saturday 29 July. Strikes will be held on Saturday 22 July and Saturday 29 July.
Members of the RMT union will be taking action at 14 rail companies:Members of the RMT union will be taking action at 14 rail companies:
Avanti West CoastAvanti West Coast
C2CC2C
Chiltern RailwaysChiltern Railways
CrossCountryCrossCountry
East Midlands RailwayEast Midlands Railway
GTRGTR
Great Western RailwayGreat Western Railway
Greater AngliaGreater Anglia
LNERLNER
Northern TrainsNorthern Trains
SoutheasternSoutheastern
South Western RailwaySouth Western Railway
TransPennine ExpressTransPennine Express
West Midlands TrainsWest Midlands Trains
GTR operates Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express.GTR operates Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express.
Greater Anglia includes Stansted Express.Greater Anglia includes Stansted Express.
Will some trains still run on strike days?Will some trains still run on strike days?
The RMT says 20,000 of its members, including guards, train managers and station staff, will walk out.The RMT says 20,000 of its members, including guards, train managers and station staff, will walk out.
On previous strike days there have been thousands of cancellations, with some lines not operating at all.On previous strike days there have been thousands of cancellations, with some lines not operating at all.
On lines where there have been services, they have tended to start later and finish earlier than normal.On lines where there have been services, they have tended to start later and finish earlier than normal.
National Rail has said passengers should expect large areas of the rail network to have little or no services and should check with the operator before travelling.National Rail has said passengers should expect large areas of the rail network to have little or no services and should check with the operator before travelling.
What action are train drivers taking?What action are train drivers taking?
Members of Aslef are taking industrial action short of a strike, in the form of an overtime ban.Members of Aslef are taking industrial action short of a strike, in the form of an overtime ban.
Most train companies rely on drivers working overtime to run their full schedules.Most train companies rely on drivers working overtime to run their full schedules.
Services will be disrupted from Monday 17 to Saturday 22 July, and then again from Monday 31 July to Saturday 5 August. Saturday 22 July marks the last day of one overtime ban, but services will be disrupted again from Monday 31 July to Saturday 5 August.
Many train operators will reduce their service levels.Many train operators will reduce their service levels.
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 only recently having dipped below 10%.Unions say any pay offer should reflect the rising cost of living - with the inflation rate only recently having dipped below 10%.
But the rail industry is under pressure to save money, after the pandemic left a hole in its finances.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.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?
What about Tube strikes?What about Tube strikes?
London Underground workers have called off their strikes from Sunday 23 July until Friday 28 July after a "major step forward" in talks.London Underground workers have called off their strikes from Sunday 23 July until Friday 28 July after a "major step forward" in talks.
Three unions had been due to walk out in a long-running dispute about pensions, job cuts and working conditions.Three unions had been due to walk out in a long-running dispute about pensions, job cuts and working conditions.
How much are rail workers paid?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).The average salary of rail workers in 2022 was £45,919, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
If drivers are excluded (because they tend to be members of the Aslef union, not RMT) its estimate is £39,518. However, the RMT union said that figure was too high because it does not include rail cleaning staff.If drivers are excluded (because they tend to be members of the Aslef union, not RMT) 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.The ONS says median pay for "train and tram drivers" is just under £59,000.
Although Aslef members tend to be better paid than other rail workers, Mick Whelan, general secretary of the 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.Although Aslef members tend to be better paid than other rail workers, Mick Whelan, general secretary of the 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 has not been reached since their last agreement ended in 2019.That's because a new pay deal has not 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."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 is right about the 39% increase, but we have not 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.He is right about the 39% increase, but we have not 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?How much are rail workers paid?
What has happened to pay in the UK?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 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.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.
On 5 May, RMT members voted to extend the strike mandate for another six months.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.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 notice do unions have to give?How much notice do unions have to give?
Unions are obliged to give at least 14 days' notice of any strike action.Unions are obliged to give at least 14 days' notice of any strike action.
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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Rail travelRail travel
RMTRMT
Strike actionStrike action