Train drivers will strike on FA Cup Final day, union reveals as it announces three fresh spates of industrial action
- General secretary Mick Whelan said drivers have not had a pay rise since 2019
- Wembley will be hosting the Manchester City V United match on June 3, 2023
Train drivers will strike on FA Cup Final day, Aslef Union has revealed as it announces three other new spates of industrial action.
Members of Aslef will walk out on May 12 and 31 – and when Wembley hosts Manchester City and Manchester United on June 3.
The union said it has rejected a ‘risible’ 4 per cent pay offer from the 16 train companies it remains in dispute with.
General secretary Mick Whelan said drivers have not had a pay rise at those companies since 2019. He said: ‘Our executive committee met this morning and rejected a risible proposal we received from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG).
‘The proposal – of just 4 per cent – was clearly not designed to be accepted as inflation is still running north of 10 per cent and our members at these companies have not had an increase for four years.
Train drivers will stage three fresh strikes in a long-running row over pay, including on FA Cup final day. Members of Aslef will walk out on May 12 and 31 – and when Wembley hosts Manchester City and Manchester United on June 3 (Wembley Stadium is pictured)
The union said it has rejected a ‘risible’ 4 per cent pay offer from the 16 train companies it remains in dispute with (pictured, stationary trains during a national strike in March, in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire)
‘The RDG, in turn, rejected our proposals to modernise Britain’s railways and help them run more efficiently, for passengers and for businesses, in the 21st century.
‘Consequently, we have today announced three more days of strike action on Friday May 12, Wednesday May 31 and Saturday June 3 at the companies with which we are in dispute, and which are letting down passengers, and taxpayers, so badly.
‘We are also withdrawing non-contractual overtime from Monday May 15 to Saturday 20 inclusive, as well as on Saturday May 13 and Thursday June 1.’
In the new year, sources told the Daily Mail that government officials and industry chiefs found Mr Whelan ‘deeply unpleasant’ in recent meetings.
Ministers were understood to be prepared to fight it out publicly for months with Aslef, which claims average driver salaries of £60,000 are not enough.
By contrast, they are said to find the RMT rail union boss Mick Lynch more amenable and are keen to avoid a public slanging match to clinch a deal.
