Blitz Bureau
LONDON: Train drivers in Britain have voted to accept a new pay offer, their trade union ASLEF (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) said on September 18, bringing an end to a long-running industrial dispute and a series of disruptive strikes.
The dispute saw around 13,000 train drivers staging 18 days of strike action over the last two years, affecting 16 train companies. Britain’s new government has held negotiations with ASLEF since taking office in July following a thumping election victory for the traditionally union-friendly Labour Party. The pay offer, announced last month, gives train drivers a 5% pay rise for 2022/23, 4.75% for 2023/24, and 4.5% for 2024/25.
Rail strikes became increasingly common over the last two years as high inflation and a cost-of-living crisis spurred demands for better pay in a number of sectors.
Some strikes caused an almost complete shutdown of railway lines in England and some cross-border services, including during major sporting and public events. Aslef, which claims to represent more than 21,000 train drivers, said 96.6% of its membership who voted backed the deal. The turnout was 84%.
The government has refused to release a figure of what the average salary of a train driver will be following the pay rises. In 2023, the average wage was £60,055 per year, according to the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies. Based on the pay increases announced by the union, the BBC has calculated an average salary is estimated to be about £69,000 in 2024/25.
The union said that when compounded, the offer works out at 15%, is backdated, pensionable and includes drivers who retired or left the industry during the dispute.
Under the new Labour government, senior officials began direct pay talks with Aslef bosses in July. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said the end of the dispute was “an important step towards fixing our railways and getting the country moving again”.
