Blog entry by Willis Courtney
Rail services will be severely disrupted this weekend as a train strike by train drivers times to coincide with the Commonwealth Games and the kick off of the new football season brings trains to a halt across the country, and repair workers set to walk out for three days from tomorrow.
In the latest outbreak of industrial unrest in the industry, members of the drivers union Aslef at seven train operators have walked out for 24 hours over pay today.
General secretary Mick Whelan said the strike action today was 'solid': 'The strike today was solid. That shows the solidarity of our members and their determination not to be pushed around by Grant Shapps, the Department for Transport, and the train companies.
'After keeping Britain moving during the pandemic, they expect our members, who have not had an increase in pay since 2019, to keep working, effectively for a pay cut.
'All we are asking for is an increase in line with the increase in the cost of living - soaring inflation is not the fault of working people in this country, it's the fault of this government and its inept handling of the UK economy.
'Shapps holds the key to this but, true to form, he is blustering and ducking and diving, and looking to blame everyone else, indeed, anyone else, for the problems he has created.
'He could solve this in an instant by allowing the train companies to come to the table with a sensible offer and negotiate with us."
But the UK government says the average Aslef member earns almost £60,000 - double that of many NHS nurses and care workers.
Hitachi rail workers responsible for maintenance and repair for train companies and the railway network also announced today they will strike for three days from Sunday in a row over pay and conditions.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) whose jobs include maintenance, are in dispute over pay and issues including breaks, leave entitlement and shift length.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: 'Our members know the value of their work and will not be short changed by Hitachi Rail.
'I congratulate our members on this strong industrial response and RMT will support further stoppages until they receive a just settlement.'
Waterloo station in London was almost completely empty in London this morning as most passengers have opted not to travel by rail at all
13 trains stand in sidings near Ely in Cambridgeshire as rail services are brought to a halt on services including those run by East Anglia
Empty train platforms at Paddington station today during industrial strike action as train drivers say they have had no pay increase since 2019
But limited services on some lines are running - here passengers hurry to board a train at Paddington amid the travel disruption
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Across the concourse from King's Cross (pictured), Eurostar queues are said to stretch all the way from St Pancras to its sister station this morning (July 30)
Aslef union members are already joining picket lines this morning, such as this one outside Paddington station in London. Pictured in blue is former Labour MP Sam Tarry, who was recently sacked for joining picket lines while a shadow minister
The picket line at Euston station as ASLEF train drivers go on strike over pay on July 30, 2022 in London, England
Platforms and tracks are completely empty at Kings Cross this morning as the majority of services are simply not running at all
Picket lines are going strong across England this morning as the union demands a real terms pay rise in line with inflation
As the second weekend of the summer holidays enters full swing, traffic is building up on motorways around Britain, including on the M25 (pictured)
Empty rail stations and dozens of stationary trains have been pictured across the UK on Saturday, with travellers taking to the roads instead to get to summer sports events.
The Rail Delivery Group, set up in 2011 to bring together the leadership of passenger, freight and high speed rail operators, said the industrial action has been specifically timed to coincide with the Games in Birmingham and the start of the new season for most English football league clubs.
With delays expected into tomorrow morning, the strike could also impact passengers heading to the women's Euros final.
There will be disruption to parts of the rail network on Saturday and into the morning of Sunday.
The strike is mainly affecting English routes and impacts trains run by Arriva Rail London, Greater Anglia, Great Western, Hull Trains, LNER, Southeastern and West Midlands Trains.
Picket lines were mounted outside railway stations on Saturday, with Aslef saying they were receiving strong public support despite the disruption the strike was causing.
There are no services on the London Overground network because of the strike on Arriva Rail London, and no Night Overground services on Saturday evening and the early hours on Sunday.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of train drivers' union Aslef, has accused the Transport Secretary of 'lying' about negotiations over strikes.
Grant Shapps had written in The Times: 'The Two Micks, Lynch of the RMT and Whelan of Aslef, are taking the taxpayer for a long distance car ride services, but not in the way they are meant to.
'RMT is stalling on reform and Aslef is dragging its feet in negotiations while both call more strikes. Enough.'
In response, Mr Whelan told Times Radio on Saturday morning: 'I say Mr Shapps is lying, quite simply, quite clearly.
'We're not dragging our feet in negotiations, we negotiate with 14 private companies, we do not work for the Government or the DfT (Department for Transport).'
He added: 'I would like Mr Shapps to get us out of this catch-22 situation that he misrepresents at every opportunity.'
MailOnline understands that the train operators in question have told Aslef previously agreed deals with government means they do not have the money to offer workers a pay rise.
The Department of Transport said: 'It's extremely misleading to suggest the Transport Secretary should get involved in these negotiations. His role is to protect the public purse, ensuring value for money for the hard-working people of this country.
'As such, he's required to set the limits of taxpayer support and ultimately sign off on any deal, not to be involved in negotiating one, and his contracts with operators allow him to do precisely that.
'The union knows full well that negotiations over pay and working practices don't happen with the Government, they happen with the employers of the people they represent.
'We once again urge union representatives to get back round the negotiating table.'
Members are demanding a pay rise in line with inflation, which is currently around 10 percent, and according to the union the striking members have not had a pay rise at all since April 2019.
MailOnline understands Aslef is willing to sit down with the seven train companies to negotiate a pay rise - but the train operators have not offered any rise at all to initiate negotiations since inflation began spiraling up toward 10 percent.
RDG chairman Steve Montgomery said: 'We're really disappointed that the Aslef leadership has decided to impose yet more uncertainty and disruption for passengers and businesses in a week which has already seen a strike by the RMT.
'Millions of passengers will have their weekend plans disrupted, particularly those who are working, or going to the Commonwealth Games or the first football match of the season.
'While we will do all that we can to minimise disruption, if you are going to travel on the routes affected, please plan ahead and check the latest travel advice.
'If you're not able to travel, you can use your ticket either the day before or up to and including August 2, otherwise you will be able to change your ticket or claim a refund.
'Like any service or business, we must move with the times and cannot continue to ask taxpayers or passengers for more money when we should instead respond to the huge changes in travel behaviour post Covid.
Rail passengers wait for announcements at Euston train station today (July 30). Passengers affected by the strikes include football fans and those travelling to and from the Commonwealth Games
As well as strikes earlier this month and this weekend, Aslef plans for members to walk out on August 13, 18 and 20 unless train operators offer a meaningful pay rise (Pictured: Euston station this morning)
The AA has issued multiple alerts for stretches of roads expected to be hit by severe traffic delays, which are set to peak between 11am and 3pm
National Rail have issued simple guidance to travellers to inform them which train operators are affected, and whether services will be running at all
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