ASLEF union pay dispute strikes to affect services from Newark station operators LNER and East Midlands Railway
Members of the ASLEF union have announced further strikes, set to cause disruption to rail services.
The train drivers’ union has strike action planned for January and February in a long-running dispute over pay.
A series of strikes will take place between Tuesday, January 30 and Monday, February 5.
Members will walk out on a number of train operators, including LNER on Friday, February 2, and East Midlands Railway on Saturday, February 3, both of which serve Newark stations.
The drivers will also refuse to work overtime from Monday, January 29, until Tuesday, February 6.
ASLEF’s general secretary Mick Whelan said: "We have given the government every opportunity to come to the table but it has now been a year since we had any contact from the Department for Transport. It's clear they do not want to resolve this dispute.
"Many of our members have now not had a single penny increase to their pay in half a decade, during which inflation soared and with it the cost of living. Train drivers didn't even ask for an increase during the covid-19 pandemic when they worked throughout as keyworkers, risking their lives to allow NHS and other workers to travel.
"The government has now tried their old trick of changing the rules when they can't win and brought in Minimum Service Levels legislation. But this new law, as we told officials during the consultation period, won't ease industrial strife. It will likely just make it worse.
"There's no excuse. The government and train operating companies must come to the table with a realistic offer so we can end this dispute and work together to ensure the future of our railways."
In a statement on its website, EMR said it is currently reviewing how the proposed strikes will impact its services.
LNER’s website said: “LNER services are off sale for [February 2] while we review the impact this action will have on our services.”
It also added the overtime ban could lead to short notice changes and cancellations of its services.
Other affected operators include: Gatwick Express, Great Northern, South Western Railway/Island Line, Southeastern, Southern and Thameslink on January 30, Northern and TransPennine Express on January 31, C2C and Greater Anglia on February 2, West Midlands Railway, Avanti and London Northwestern Railway on February 3, and Chiltern Railway, Cross Country and Great Western Railway on February 5.
