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Train drivers at five companies vote to continue strike action for another six months - ASLEF

The government has called the current pay offer "fair and reasonable" and wants the union to officially put it to members.

A TransPennine Express train service
Pic:Jonny Walton
Image: TransPennine drivers are among those backing mores strikes. Pic: Jonny Walton
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Train drivers at five companies have voted to continue taking strike action for six months, union ASLEF has said.

The workers who voted are from Chiltern, c2c, East Midlands, Northern and TransPennine.

Unions have to re-ballot members every six months to see if they want to carry on with industrial action.

ASLEF also announced train drivers on Northern and LNER are to strike on 1 March and ban overtime for three days in a separate row to the national pay dispute.

Striking drivers caused disruption to many services in December and now more strike days are likely to be set.

ASLEF boss Mick Whelan said it was a "clear rejection" of the "ridiculous offer put to us in April last year".

Rail minister Huw Merriman has said the "fair and reasonable" offer would increase the average driver's salary from £60,000 to £65,000 for a 35-hour, four-day week.

More on Rail Strikes

The government wants the union to ask members to vote on the offer, but ASLEF said drivers wouldn't choose more strikes if they thought it was a good deal.

Mr Whelan said drivers hadn't had a pay rise for nearly five years and he remained open to discussing a new offer with the transport secretary or rail minister.

Members of the Aslef union on a picket line at Euston station in London
Image: ASLEF said it's willing to discuss a revised offer with the government. Pic: PA

"We want to find a resolution to this dispute, for members who have not had a pay rise since our last deals ran out in 2019," he said.

"And the only way to resolve this dispute is for the employers, and the government that stands behind them, to come and talk to us."

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More than 90% of votes at the five rail companies were in support of continuing the strikes, said ASLEF, on a turnout of at least 70%.

Rail strikes by workers in the RMT union were paused in November after members voted to accept a deal.

However, a walkout on the London Overground on 19 and 20 February and 4 and 5 March will shut some stations and mean a reduced service.