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Train strikes: When are they and why are they taking place? Rail disruption as drivers begin new overtime ban
(2 days later)
Rail passengers are facing more disruption on Saturday due to the latest strike by workers in the RMT union. Rail passengers are facing more disruption this week due to the latest industrial action by train drivers.
Members of the union at 14 rail companies are striking as part of a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Members of the Aslef train drivers union will not work overtime from Monday through to Saturday 5 August.
Passengers should expect large areas of the rail network to have little or no services, National Rail has said. The action is part of a long-running dispute about pay, jobs and conditions that has seen some severe disruption.
The operators are based in England but some run services into Wales and Scotland. On Saturday, train services were affected when rail workers in the RMT union carried out their latest one-day strike.
The strike could disrupt family holiday travel with many schools across the UK on their six-week summer holidays.
Anyone travelling to the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval may also face disruption.
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.
Which lines will be affected?
On Saturday 29 July members of the RMT union are taking action at 14 rail companies:
Avanti West Coast
C2C
Chiltern Railways
CrossCountry
East Midlands Railway
GTR
Great Western Railway
Greater Anglia
LNER
Northern Trains
Southeastern
South Western Railway
TransPennine Express
West Midlands Trains
GTR operates Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express.
Greater Anglia includes Stansted Express.
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.
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.
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.
Will there be more train strikes?
Saturday's action is the last strike in the diary at the moment.
If nothing changes, the RMT could continue to schedule more strikes until November, when it would have to re-ballot members.
Aslef, the drivers' union, could also call further strikes in the coming months. But it hasn't currently.
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.
Services will be disrupted by this again from Monday 31 July to Saturday 5 August. Services at 15 train companies based in England will be disrupted by this again fromMonday 31 July to Saturday 5 August.
Most train companies rely on drivers working overtime to run their full schedules. The overtime ban will affect Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, Cross Country, East Midlands Railway, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Island Line, LNER, Northern Trains, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway main line, TransPennine Express, and West Midlands Trains.
Many train operators will reduce their service levels. Most companies rely on drivers working overtime to run their full schedules.
Train operators may reduce their service levels and passengers are advised to check before they travel.
Will there be more train strikes?
Saturday's action by workers in the RMT union was the last strike scheduled for now.
If nothing changes, the RMT could continue to call more strikes until November, when it would have to re-ballot members.
Aslef, the drivers' union, could also call further strikes in the coming months. But it hasn't currently.
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.
The industry says changes to ways of working need to be agreed in order for pay to go up.The industry says changes to ways of working need to be agreed in order for pay to go up.
But the RMT isn't happy with some of these. But the unions are not happy with some of these.
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.
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said it had been forced into taking industrial action because the train companies "refuse to sit down and talk to us and have not made a fair and sensible pay offer".
A Department for Transport spokesman said: "The government has met the rail unions, listened to them and facilitated improved offers on pay and reform."
"The union leaders should put these fair and reasonable offers to their members so this dispute can be resolved."
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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