Labour Urges Rail Union Leaders to Come to Negotiating Table Amid Threat of Further Strikes
The Labour Party is calling on rail union leaders to resume negotiations as train drivers threaten to go on strike despite a recent pay rise offer from the government. The party’s leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has been attempting to resolve years of industrial action, but his efforts have been hindered by ASLEF (the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) announcing a planned strike every weekend from the end of August to mid-November.
The dispute between ASLEF and London North Eastern Railway (LNER) revolves around working conditions, including allegations of “bullying” behavior by management and the “persistent breaking” of agreements by LNER. LNER operates services on the East Coast Main Line.
The call for action from ASLEF, which is known for donating large sums to the Labour Party, has drawn criticism from Conservative Party members who accuse the government of being “played” by the union. In response, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh wrote in the Sunday Mirror, “I’ve made my frustrations clear to both parties and my message is simple. Follow this government’s lead – urgently get around the table, negotiate in good faith, and stop this action before it starts.”
ASLEF’s lead negotiator, Nigel Roebuck, has stated that the union is willing to listen and talk with LNER. However, LNER has chosen not to comment on the matter.
The announcement of new industrial action by ASLEF comes just days after Haigh declared that Labour had “put an end to rail strikes after two long years” by reaching a pay deal that the union recommended its members accept. This decision has left the Secretary of State open to criticism from the Conservatives, with Tory MP Alicia Kearns claiming that “Labour’s true loyalty lies with their union paymasters.” Richard Fuller, the Conservative Party chairman, added, “This new Labour government is recklessly handing over cash to their union paymasters with ‘no strings’ attached. But in doing so, they are sending a dangerous signal to unions across the country that you can strike and be rewarded with a bumper pay packet with no improvements for consumers.”
ASLEF has denied viewing the new government as a “soft touch.”
Analysis: What is the Cost for Labour to Resolve Strikes?
The RMT, which represents non-driver rail workers, is set to meet with rail companies at the Department for Transport on Tuesday this week to discuss negotiations for their next pay round. They will also be discussing pay with the Ministry of Defence for Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) members. Mick Lynch, the union’s general secretary, stated, “We really need to move on from the belligerent and hostile attitude of the last government and reset industrial relations to allow rail workers and RFA seafarers to get on with the job.”
Lynch has frequently clashed with the Conservative government over pay and working conditions for his members. Haigh has claimed that the industrial action on the railways in the past few years has cost the country over £1 billion. While no total figure has been put on the value of the offer to ASLEF, it includes a 5% pay rise for 2022/23, 4.75% for 23/24, and 4.5% for 24/25.
Labour’s long-term plan is to nationalize the railways when the current operators’ contracts expire.
