The rail services in London will be crippled for a third day in a row. Train drivers strike on Thursday too with a warning to escalate industrial action unless a pay dispute is resolved. Members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) will be on strike leaving London and other major parts of the country with no trains all day.
The biggest disruption is caused to the two busiest airport routes being shut, that is Gatwick Express and Heathrow Express. ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan stated that further strikes are “inevitable” unless there is some solution to the prolonged issue of pay dispute. He further added, saying union members are demanding to go “harder and faster” after many years of not receiving any pay rise.
On Wednesday, the National Highways traffic officer service workers and Rural Payments Agency staff members maintained their walkouts as the DVSA driving examiners strike began in London. The ASLEF strike is a continuation of the week-long industrial action that has plagued the capital. The first in a series of actions planned by the organization for the month of January was a two-day walkout by London bus employees at Abellio.
The second day of a 48-hour strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) over salary, jobs, and conditions caused more delays for train passengers on Wednesday. After a week of rail travel mayhem, another 48-hour RMT strike will begin on Friday. As tens of thousands of RMT members at Network Rail and 14 train operators went on strike on Wednesday, about half of Britain’s railway lines were shut down, and just a fifth of services were offered.
Paul Nowak the new Trade Union Congress (TUC) leader in a letter to Prime Minister has demanded for an urgent meeting to discuss the wave of industrial disputes. He wrote in his letter: “We can’t solve these problems without a fair deal for the people on the frontline.” Mr. Nowak also wrote, “Unions have already made clear their willingness to sit down with the Government and talk about boosting pay. But while your ministers continue to refuse point blank to discuss improving wages, there can be no resolution.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday called for a “reasonable dialogue” with striking unions in a speech in east London.
