December Train Strikes Announced

Rail lines are set for major disruption from now until December 9th, with walkouts and overtime bans adding to the disruption.

Train strikes and general disruption have started on the 2nd December and will carry on through to the 9th December.

Overtime bans, an action just short of strike action, and walkouts will take place on days in between the planned days of strike action, meaning journeys could still be affected whenever you travel.

Nathan Sager, a refuse collector in Reading, had plans in the upcoming month that have been affected by the strikes.

He said: “It’s not just me, it’s hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people that are in the same boat, needing to get to places but can’t because trains are cancelled left, right and centre.”

Keith Richmond from the ASLEF Union told Winol that these strikes are necessary to “give train drivers, who have not had an increase in salary for four and a half years, the pay rise they deserve”.

The dates that will affect Winchester in particular will be on the 5th and 6th December.

The RMT and two other unions involved have agreed to accept the latest offer from the governement which will see, in their eyes, an adequate pay rise.

ASLEF, the union for train drivers, has not accepted these terms. Despite already earning a salary of just under £60,000 for a basic driver, and working a four day week, they insist on better pay and better conditions for their workers.