Train drivers extend strike mandate for another six months

(Sharecast News) - Train drivers at five major railway companies, including Chiltern, c2c, East Midlands, Northern, and TransPennine railways, have extended their strike action for another six months, trade union Aslef announced on Wednesday. The decision came after a vote by the union's members to continue industrial action, given the necessity to re-ballot members every six months.

Strike disruption in December and earlier in February led to significant disruptions across a number of rail services.

Sky News said that with the extension of the strike mandate, more strike days were expected to be scheduled in the coming months.

"These results show - yet again - a clear rejection by train drivers of the ridiculous offer put to us in April last year by the Rail Delivery Group on behalf of the train operating companies with whom we are in dispute," said Aslef boss Mick Whelan.

Rail minister Huw Merriman had described the proposed deal as "fair and reasonable", but Aslef said that if drivers believed the offer was reasonable, they would not be voting for further strike action.

Whelan said Aslef was willing to engage in discussions regarding a new offer with the transport secretary or rail minister.

"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.

Strikes by non-driver rail workers affiliated with the RMT union were paused in November following a vote to accept a deal.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.