40,000 Rail Workers Striking in October

It has been announced that more rail strikes will be taking place in October.

40,000 rail workers employed by Network Rail and 15 train operating companies will take part.

The strikes will happen for 24 hours, on Saturday 1 October and Wednesday 5 October.

Who is striking

Train drivers from 12 rail companies represented by the Aslef driver’s union will strike on Saturday 1 October and Wednesday 5 October.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has announced a separate strike taking place on Saturday 1 October among its members at Network Rail and 14 train companies.

Drivers with East Midlands Rail have also voted to join the walkout on 5 October, but are not involved in the earlier action.

The strikes are as follows:

SATURDAY 1ST OCTOBER STRIKES

Rail companies taking part in the strikes, represented by the ASLEF union:

Chiltern Railways
Cross Country Trains
Greater Anglia
LNER
East Midlands Railway
C2C
Great Western Railway
Northern Trains
South Eastern
South Western
Transpennine Express
Avanti West Coast
West Midlands Trains
GTR (including Gatwick Express)

Rail companies taking part in the strikes, members of the RMT Union

Network Rail
Chiltern Railways
CrossCountry Trains
Greater Anglia,
LNER
East Midlands Railway
c2c
Great Western
Northern Trains
South Eastern
South Western
Transpennine Express
Avanti West Coast
West Midlands Trains
GTR (including Gatwick Express

WEDNESDAY 5TH OCTOBER STRIKES

Rail companies taking part in the strikes, represented by the ASLEF union:

Avanti West Coast
Chiltern Railways
CrossCountry
Greater Anglia
Great Western Railway
Hull Trains
LNER
London Overground
Northern Trains
Southeastern
TransPennine Express
West Midlands Trains

Plus, drivers with East Midlands Rail

Why are they striking

Rail workers are striking over pay and conditions, the ASLEF union has stated that rail workers have not received a pay rise in 3 years. Former Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says that rail workers were offered the equivalent of an 8% pay rise over two years, but ASLEF propose that these new rates do not rise in line with inflation, which is currently at 12%.

According to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, the medium salary for all railway workers is £44,000 per annum.

There is also a risk of job cuts with around 2000 – 2500 jobs at risk, says the unions which is also contributing to the strikes.