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16
Aug
LNER train drivers to strike at weekends for three months
ASLEF, the train driver’s union, has announced LNER drivers will strike on weekends during September, October and November.
Train drivers at LNER will walk out on strike on every Saturday between August 31 and November 9, and every Sunday from September 1 to November 10.
LNER operates an East Coast main line service between London and Edinburgh. It also runs services daily calling at Harrogate, Leeds and York.
LNER has not yet confirmed which services, including those on the Harrogate line, would be impacted.
A spokesperson for ASLEF said:
This follows a breakdown in industrial relations, bullying by management, and persistent breaking of agreements by the company.
It is an entirely separate dispute from the national pay dispute, with 16 train companies, which was, we hope, resolved on Wednesday when we received a pay offer from the DfT which is being put to 13,000 members with a recommendation to accept.
Mick Whelan, general secretary for the union, said it has been "forced" into the strike:
The continued failure of the company to resolve long-standing industrial relations issues has forced us into this position. We would much rather not be here. But the company has brutally, and repeatedly, broken diagramming and roster agreements, failed to adhere to the agreed bargaining machinery, and totally acted in bad faith.
When we make an agreement, we stick to it. This company doesn’t. And we are not prepared to put up with their boorish behaviour and bullying tactics.
An LNER spokesperson said:
Our priority focus will be on minimising disruption to customers during the forthcoming ASLEF strikes, which sadly will continue to cause disruption and delays.
We are surprised and disappointed to hear this news following recent constructive conversations. We will continue to work with ASLEF to find a way to end this long running dispute which only damages the rail industry.
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