Rail unions industrial and strike action 2024

[whole diary]

[a-driver]

Seeing as we're now 6 weeks from a general election, certainly not soon.

Six weeks later, new government - what happens now?

The Tories will be blamed. Labour will claim it’s all far worse than we imagined.

[grahame]

Seeing as we're now 6 weeks from a general election, certainly not soon.

Six weeks later, new government - what happens now?

The Tories will be blamed. Labour will claim it’s all far worse than we imagined.

That goes both ways for years.  Did I really hear Liz Truss blaming her loss in the early hours of Friday morning on the consequences of what Labour left her party in 2010?    One of the less gracious speeches ... of the evening and I felt it stretched reality

[a-driver]

That goes both ways for years.  Did I really hear Liz Truss blaming her loss in the early hours of Friday morning on the consequences of what Labour left her party in 2010?    One of the less gracious speeches ... of the evening and I felt it stretched reality

Absolutely…… and you did hear Liz Truss say that!  Unreal.

Labour have already laid the groundwork for its future failings by stating we may not fix all the issues within 5 years. 

[grahame]

From Labour List

The new government is set to hold fresh talks as early as next week over the train drivers’ pay dispute.

The Press Association has reported that rail union ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) and the Department for Transport look set to enter talks to discuss the matter sometime next week.

The Labour-affiliated train drivers’ union has been embroiled in a long-running row over pay with the government.

[ChrisB]

Reported to be taking place on Tuesday of next week.

[ChrisB]

And indeed they were...

From the Evening Standard, via MSN

Fresh talks in train drivers’ pay dispute ‘constructive’ – Aslef

to resolve their long-running pay dispute have been described as “constructive”.

The meeting at the Department for Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) on Tuesday will be followed by further talks in the coming weeks.

The two sides met after months of stalemate under the Conservatives in the two-year row over pay, terms and conditions.

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies involved in the row, was not invited to attend Tuesday’s meeting.

With a new Secretary of State for Transport in place, I hope, and think, we can, and will, get a deal done

Aslef members have taken 18 days of strikes since the dispute started, causing huge disruption to passengers.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, described the talks as “constructive”, adding that with a new government in place, he hopes there can be a positive resolution that works for train drivers, whom he said have not had an increase in salary for five years.

Mr Whelan said the Conservative government and its transport ministers had “put the brakes” on a deal, adding: “Now, with a new Secretary of State for Transport in place, I hope, and think, we can, and will, get a deal done.”

It was the first meeting between the union and the transport department since April last year.

Previous talks have involved the Rail Delivery Group.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said in a recent message on X, formerly Twitter: “Fourteen years without a workforce strategy has left our railways understaffed, reliant on voluntary working and lurching from one crisis to the next. Our urgent priority is to reset workforce relations and put passengers first.”

A DfT spokesperson said: “The Transport Secretary has been clear she wants to reset industrial relations for the benefit of passengers and the workforce.

“Today officials resumed talks with Aslef, holding a constructive meeting as we look to resolve this long-running dispute.

“Further conversations will be held in the coming weeks.”

[TaplowGreen]

................something tells me they may be disappointed?

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/train-drivers-demand-pay-rise-five-times-higher-than-inflation-to-end-strikes/ar-BB1qGc3l?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=a97511f13acf44a59d7bd5d317a5b7c8&ei=6

[a-driver]

................something tells me they may be disappointed?

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/train-drivers-demand-pay-rise-five-times-higher-than-inflation-to-end-strikes/ar-BB1qGc3l?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=a97511f13acf44a59d7bd5d317a5b7c8&ei=6

Something tells me they won’t! 

No payrise for 5 years…. I’m sure inflation hasn’t been 2% every year for the last 5 years! 

[Wizard]

No, inflation is around 25% for the last five years. A £60000 salary in 2019 should be worth around £75000 now. A 10% payrise for drivers is a decent uplift but nowhere near what it ‘should’ be.

[PhilWakely]

No, inflation is around 25% for the last five years. A £60000 salary in 2019 should be worth around £75000 now. A 10% payrise for drivers is a decent uplift but nowhere near what it ‘should’ be.

Interestingly, a Back-bench MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)'s salary has risen thus over the last 5 years.....
2019  £79,468
2020  £81,932 (3.1% increase)
2021  £81,932 (no increase)
2022  £84,144 (2.7% increase)
2023  £86,584 (2.9% increase)
2024  £91,346 (5.5% increase)

or an increase of 14.94% over 5 years.

[TaplowGreen]

No, inflation is around 25% for the last five years. A £60000 salary in 2019 should be worth around £75000 now. A 10% payrise for drivers is a decent uplift but nowhere near what it ‘should’ be.

Interestingly, a Back-bench MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)'s salary has risen thus over the last 5 years.....
2019  £79,468
2020  £81,932 (3.1% increase)
2021  £81,932 (no increase)
2022  £84,144 (2.7% increase)
2023  £86,584 (2.9% increase)
2024  £91,346 (5.5% increase)

or an increase of 14.94% over 5 years.

How would you say the two roles compare?

[a-driver]

How would you say the two roles compare?

If a train driver doesn’t turn up for work you moan and whinge like anything!!!!!   

If a back bencher doesn’t turn up, no one notices! 

*runs and dives for cover* 

[IndustryInsider]

It would be interesting to hear what percentage of a salary/wage increase members of the forum have had over the last five years if anyone is prepared to share that information?

Perhaps TG can start the ball rolling?

[grahame]

It would be interesting to hear what percentage of a salary/wage increase members of the forum have had over the last five years if anyone is prepared to share that information?

Perhaps TG can start the ball rolling?

I can / will start that ball rolling but in a different direction.  During the last five years, I have completed my retirement and Lisa and I are now living on pension/saving provision we had in place prior to that.  We have noted that prices have increased sharply during that time and we have far, far more serious discussions these days on what and where we spend.

[TaplowGreen]

It would be interesting to hear what percentage of a salary/wage increase members of the forum have had over the last five years if anyone is prepared to share that information?

Perhaps TG can start the ball rolling?

Happy to share, not sure what value it adds to the discussion as there are so many different factors involved in individual jobs, different businesses, sectors which make meaningful comparison difficult however I've never been one to moan, whinge or run/dive for cover when faced with a tricky question so here goes  ;

2020/21 0%
2021/22 0%
2022/23 2%
2023/24 3%
2024/25 3%