On-trade prepares for more train strikes

Pubs and bars have once again been hit by the damaging news that a further set of rail strikes are on the way.

ASLEF, the UK's train drivers union, has announced the next scheduled set of tube and train strikes for this April and May. 

Train drivers will engage in a programme of rolling one-days trikes, as well as a six-day overtime ban. 

The scheduled strikes

ASLEF members will walk out at Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, and CrossCountry on Friday 5 April; at Chiltern, GWR, LNER, Northern, and TransPennine Trains on Saturday 6 April; and at c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway main line and depot drivers, and SWR Island Line on Monday 8 April.

ASLEF members will also not work on rest days from Thursday 4 April to Saturday 6 April and from Monday 8 April to Tuesday 9 April. 

Tube drivers will also strike on Monday 8 April and Saturday 4 May as a result of a dispute over working conditions.

Official statement

"Last month, when we announced renewed mandates for industrial action, because, under the Tories' draconian anti-union laws, we have to ballot our members every six months, we called on the train companies and the government to come to the table for meaningful talks to negotiate a new pay deal for train drivers who have not had an increase in salary since 2019," says Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF.

The hospitality industry is estimated to have lost over £4bn as a result of the 20-month dispute.

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