The ASLEF and RMT unions have both called strikes for early October, after action in September was called off following the death of Her Majesty the Queen.
Both unions have called strike action on Saturday 1 October, with ASLEF also calling a walkout on Wednesday 5 October and RMT on Saturday 8 October.
The RMT dispute on 1 October involves members from Network Rail and 14 train operating companies plus, in a separate dispute, Arriva Rail London and Hull Trains. The union said there would be strikes that day by a number of unions in various industries, with General Secretary Mick Lynch hailing a ‘summer of solidarity’ which he said ‘will continue into the autumn and winter if employers and the government continue to refuse workers reasonable demands’.
ASLEF says drivers previously took strike action on 30 July and 13 August but employers ‘are still failing to come to the table with any improved offer’. The action affects drivers at 12 operators, and additionally on 5 October at East Midlands Railway following a ballot for strike action there.
RMT’s action on 8 October again involves Network Rail and the same companies as before, with the exception of Arriva Rail London. Mr Lynch said it was encouraging that new Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan had met with the union, but said that as no new offer had been tabled the union had ‘no choice but to continue this strike action’.
