Despite a significant pay rise, train drivers for LNER will continue their strike action every weekend for the next three months. The move comes as the new Labour government seeks to resolve long-standing industrial disputes within the rail sector.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh announced the pay increase on Wednesday, stating her commitment to "move fast and fix things" by ending rail strikes. She criticised the previous Conservative government's approach, claiming they "were happy to see the taxpayer pay the price" as strikes continued. Haigh emphasised the Labour government's focus on "putting passengers first."
The pay increase will see drivers' salaries average £69,000 a year for a four-day, 35-hour working week. This significant raise was granted without any stipulations for reforms, marking a departure from the Conservative government's attempts to link pay increases to changes in working practices.
Despite the substantial pay rise, Aslef, the union representing the drivers, has confirmed the weekend strike action will continue. Nigel Roebuck, Aslef's lead negotiator with LNER, explained the ongoing dispute: "This dispute started almost two years ago with our members complaining about consistently being pressured for 'favours' by managers outside of rostering agreements and being contacted remotely, which is also against our agreements."
These practices, sometimes referred to as "Spanish practices," are entrenched in formal agreements between rail unions and operators and are often cited as hindering productivity improvements. The Telegraph recently highlighted the impact of these practices on the UK's rail system.
Neither LNER nor the Department for Transport have yet responded to requests for comment.
While the significant pay rise represents a step towards resolving the dispute, the continued strike action underscores the complexity of the issues at hand. The new Labour government faces the challenge of balancing the need to end industrial action with the long-standing grievances of rail workers. The coming months will likely see further negotiations and a continued focus on finding a sustainable solution for the rail industry.
