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Nation-wide train strikes, **STRIKE ANNOUNCED** Nationwide 27 July - - Updated 23 July

I've just seen that ASL&F, the main train drivers union (think Engineers in the US, the person at the front of the train) are voting on extensive nation-wide train strikes.

Drivers at 3 rail companies have already voted to strike but haven't announced dates.

14 days' notice must be given.

Drivers at a further 10 companies are voting now, with results to be announced on Monday.

Regarding the 3 days of national strikes last month with Network Rail, station staff and train crew striking, no further dates have been announced yet. Talks are ongoing but it seems that government (Grant Shapps, Minister) are blocking resolution. With the chaos currently in the government with multiple scandals and multiple resignations I think it unlikely they can fully concentrate on issues.

Then there are the TSSA strikes. Quoting the i,

It comes as station and ticket office staff from the Transport
Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) also voted on whether to go on
strike, with members balloted across a dozen train companies and
Network Rail.

This afternoon, it was revealed that more than three hundred TSSA
members at CrossCountry and East Midlands Railway have voted for
industrial action.

A spokesperson for the union, speaking to i, accused the Government of
being “the real wreckers” in the dispute between the union and rail
firms.

This will be of impact to visitors to the whole of the UK, not just England including from these Forums.

Part of the impact on tourists will be the uncertainty of when, how extensive, and how long the upcoming strikes will be. That's just what happened last month.

Update 7/7: TSSA members have voted for strike - probably coordinated with others - on LNER (Kings Cross to Scotland and the North East) and C2C (east from Fenchurch Street towards Southend, unlikely for tourists unless going to Southend Airport or a day on the south Essex coast).

The vote on the ASL&F (ASLEF) strikes will be announced on Monday. 2 weeks' notice required to strike.

Update 9 July: Some movement in another union's dispute may be a good omen. RMT Union has announced that they have reached a settlement with Merseyrail (Liverpool and surrounding area, as far as Chester, 3rd rail commuter railway) in their 5 year long dispute about the role of Guards. The position will be retained, a victory for the staff, even on new trains. The 16 strikes there can now end. Since what passes for government pulls the strings this may be - only may be - a harbinger of something good for the rest of the travelling public this summer.

The results of the ASLEF ballots should be announced on Monday.

Update 11 July: Bad News.

The results are in from 8 of the train companies potentially impacted and 9 to 1 all ASLEF members voted to strike. Over 80 percent of eligible members voted across the 8. The affected companies are Southeastern, Chiltern, LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express, Arriva Rail London, Great Western, and West Midlands Trains. West Midland Trains includes London Northwestern. Arriva Rail London operate the London Overground, the lines coloured orange on the maps.

Further Update 11 July: Good News.

ASLEF members at Scotrail have agreed a settlement which means that the emergency timetable and all its cancelled trains will be going away, exactly when unknown. But no strikes at Scotrail now.

Yet Another Update 11 July: More Bad News.

TSSA members have voted for strikes at Southeastern. Southeastern serves Kent, East Sussex, some West Sussex, and the quadrant of outer London from the river generally to where Southern take over, including Greenwich and all along the south bank of the estuary.

I expect further developments.

STRIKE 27 July
Ran Out of space to edit, look at the bottom of the thread

Posted by
2066 posts

Nigel, thanks for the update. It looks like notice has been served on the Government and train companies that the need to find a workable compromise with the various unions is in the best interest of all. If the TSSA
votes this month to authorize a strike, then virtually the entire train network will come to a standstill. That could happen late in July or in August. What that does to the tourism sector- just now recovering from the covid lockdowns- will not be a good thing. For many Americans considering going to the UK later this summer or in the fall, just hearing that the train system could come to stop will cause them to shelve their plans.

Let’s hope for a resolution so things in the UK can get back on track.

Posted by
2556 posts

Thanks, Nigel for keeping us all in the loop. We may have to find alternative arrangements for our travel in Scotland for mid August. I hope this gets resolved soon for everyone’s sake.

Posted by
317 posts

Thank you, Nigel. Appreciate your insight into whats going on and keeping us all informed. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail - though, as you correctly point out, with everything happening in government right now it may indeed be difficult for anyone to focus.

Posted by
34005 posts

The Daily Telegraph confirms the above, predicting less than 1 in 10 trains to run nation-wide, citing that train drivers can't be replaced by other ranks.

Posted by
16413 posts

Thanks, Nigel, for keeping us up to date.

I've been back in the US for a week now, and considering what is going on here, I'm ready to leave again. I was thinking about a last minute return trip to the UK and Ireland but I may have to rethink this.

I'm trying to find somewhere cool to spend the summer that is not in Schengen. (I need my Schengen days for my scheduled fall trip.). Where I am now, it's been between 95 and 100 (35 and 38C) every day. I hate the heat.

Posted by
16 posts

We're heading to England and Scotland at the end of July. It's a birthday trip and the plane tickets are already purchased, so we can't make changes. Here's hoping a strike can be averted.

Posted by
16413 posts

Nigel.....in your opinion.....with the "changes" in the UK government today, will that have any effect on all the transportation issues?

Posted by
1105 posts

Thanks for the info.
Would be nice to have you refer to what country you are talking about near the start of your post. You only mention the UK way down most of the way into your post.

Posted by
34005 posts

fair enough, England, Wales and Scotland. As far as I know Northern Ireland is not affected.

Posted by
34005 posts

Nigel.....in your opinion.....with the "changes" in the UK government today, will that have any effect on all the transportation issues?

Sorry, no clue.

Posted by
3098 posts

Nigel, Thanks for keeping us updated. I'm hoping all the strikes are over and done with by Sept 1 when I fly into London.

Posted by
34005 posts

11th of July update in the OP. Don't shoot the messenger.

Posted by
11948 posts

Pretty soon it will be easier/quicker to list what is running? :-)

Posted by
34005 posts

further GOOD news update 11 July in the OP, strikes off at Scotrail!

Posted by
111 posts

Can someone explain the UK strike "rules" if any? I have seen in a few places a reference to 14 day notice period. So if no specific dates are announced today, does that mean that there can be no action in next 2 weeks? Knowing this timing would help my timing, not to mention stress, for our trip starting this Fri 7/15 thru 7/29.
Thx

Ps.. first time poster so hope this is appropriate place for this question. Thought about new thread?

Posted by
34005 posts

BillTN,

Can someone explain the UK strike "rules" if any? I have seen in a few places a reference to 14 day notice period. So if no specific dates are announced today, does that mean that there can be no action in next 2 weeks? Knowing this timing would help my timing, not to mention stress, for our trip starting this Fri 7/15 thru 7/29.

Sure.

When a Union sees that there they are not getting anywhere with management they can ask the members to decide if there should be a strike, or action short of a strike, or not. These are the ballots mentioned above.

The ballots are normally collected by and counted by an independent organization who are unbiased. The results are announced to both sides and the public on a particular day. If the majority has voted for a strike then the Union has the authority to call one. They might or they might not depending on if the result has given the talks momentum to move forward.

If the Union decides to call a strike it must give the employer 14 clear days notice, and say where they will be withdrawing labour and for how long.

If notice were given today, ONLY as an example, the earliest day the strike could be would be 12th plus 14 = 26 of this month.

Up to the strike day there can still be settlements. There are no wildcat strikes. Other Unions can't just go off "in sympathy" without the appropriate ballot and notice. Members of other Unions can refuse to cross a picket line.

I am not a lawyer and don't play one on TV, nor am I an industrial relations specialist (although my cousin was). I am a retired railway employee and former TSSA/RMT member.

Posted by
2599 posts

Most train drivers in Britain earn around twice as much as most Police, nurses, teachers.

Posted by
34005 posts

Most train drivers in Britain earn around twice as much as most Police, nurses, teachers.

I don't think that was the question

Posted by
2066 posts

A Train Driver is near the top position in the pay scale of rail employees. They are responsible for the safety of thousands of passengers each day and their compensation reflects this. Rather than compare what they are paid to “most polce, teachers and nurses”salaries, it would be better to compare what they earn to what a school principal, a nurse supervisor or a police captain are paid. What is mentioned above is just trying to compare apples to oranges.
The issue is that inflation has seriously eroded the ability of workers to maintain the standard of living they had just three years ago. I doubt anyone would want to earn less money as the years go by and see their standard of living decline. In the UK and the U.S. we are seeing Railway and Airline workers, Teachers, Nurses and Grocery workers and many others step up to ask for pay raises.

Posted by
111 posts

Thx Nigel for the great information re timing of strike which is what I asked.
The offshoot comments re pay, etc, are NOT part of my question, and i don't think that is fair game here.

_Bill

Posted by
4894 posts

Thanks, Nigel. :) I am here (Scotland now and England in a couple of weeks) hoping I scoot by with my train days unaffected….. I could stay up with news here, but it’s more fun to hear it from you, even if it turns out to be bad news. Lol.

Posted by
34005 posts

Update STRIKE ANNOUNCED RMT Union has just announced a One Day Nationwide Strike (the same companies as in June) for Wednesday 27th of July. Any companies who have settled since June of course won't strike - but with Network Rail in the mix (the folks who maintain the track and work the signalling - in other words, control all the railway) even those who settled will likely be affected.

WATCH THIS SPACE

Posted by
111 posts

3 questions from someone unfamiliar with what is affected:

  1. We have a reserved tickets and assigned seats day before, July 26, Lner Edinburgh to London. Any impact other than perhaps a full train?
  2. Will underground be affected in London July 27?
  3. Will Heathrow Express be affected by this or possibly other actions. July 29?

Thx so much for those that know helping us who aren't familiar with the situation...
-Bill

Posted by
34005 posts

3 questions from someone unfamiliar with what is affected:

We have a reserved tickets and assigned seats day before, July 26,
Lner Edinburgh to London. Any impact other than perhaps a full train?

Will underground be affected in London July 27?

Will Heathrow Express be affected by this or possibly other actions. July 29?

q1 - unlikely unless it is late in the day

q2 - it will be busier unless people choose to work from home in which case it will be less busy

q3 - no, this strike is a one day. It could be 24 hours, it hasn't been announced in detail, in which case the 28th could be affected. The 29th is after the strike. As far as other actions there are still 2 more days when other actions could be announced, so I don't know.

Posted by
34005 posts

Nigel, maybe start a new thread for the new strike??

OK. I just like to keep it together and not dominate the Forums and not scattergun.

But I will....

Posted by
31 posts

Nigel,
Thanks so much for keeping us updated!
I’ll be arriving in London on 24th July, and am planning on traveling often all around the UK by trains, but have not purchased tickets in advance because of these uncertainties.
How can I stay informed of what’s happening, and to find alternate options (buses)?
Thanks for your time and service,
Anne

Posted by
34005 posts

I'll update as I hear things, on the other thread I was asked to start.

This is big news here. It will be all over the tv and radio news and newspapers, and their apps and websites.

I will be astonished if it is settled beforehand.

For long distance coach services look up National Express and Megabus. National Express is the big one.

Last time around about 10 percent of all trains ran and only in parts of the country.

Posted by
34005 posts

UPDATE 21st July - Strikes Going ahead

The rail companies affected are sending out email today confirming that the 27th July strikes ARE going ahead, and warning of shoulder days.

An example is what East Midlands Trains is saying,

"
The RMT union has confirmed its members will be taking strike action on Wednesday 27 July.

This will have an impact on the level of services that East Midlands Railway is able to operate on this date. There will be fewer trains available and some lines will be closed.

We advise that you should aim to avoid travelling on this date unless necessary.

Please also be aware there will be some changes to late evening services on 26 July and services will start slightly later with some reductions throughout the day on 28 July."

Posted by
34005 posts

Update 23 July

National Rail Enquiries now has a clickable red banner for the strikes with overall information.

Each rail company has a page on their own websites.

For example, London Northwestern https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/journey-planning/service-disruptions/industrial-action?utmcampaign=1192089Industrial%20Action%20-%20all%20-%2024%20June%202022&utmmedium=email&utmsource=dotmailer&dm_i=4TA0,PJTL,11XGVA,35109,1 sorry for the long link.

Some trains will run on the 27th, many fewer on the 30th.

Unless somebody gets the government to step in - unlikely as we have the government all either on vacation or campaigning for Prime Minister - these strikes will go ahead. Sorry.

Posted by
5466 posts

Worth mentioning that the ASLEF strike will have a significantly greater effect in some operating companies than the RMT ones had and will. For example GWR is offering pretty much only a token service between Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington, Bristol Temple Meads-Cardiff Central, Reading to Oxford, & Reading to Basingstoke on 30 July..