The train operator London Midland has released a statement regarding strikes by the ASLEF driver’s union that will be affecting their services. Other operators such as Arriva Trains Wales have also faced cancelling services due to organised strikes by drivers.
The statement from London Midland is as follows:
“London Midland and its passengers are again being held to ransom by the unrealistic demands of ASLEF.
An orchestrated action has meant that many drivers are refusing to work overtime on Sunday (March 13) which means London Midland will have to operate a reduced and restricted special timetable across its network.
London Midland has been paying its drivers double time to work Sundays, over and above their standard rate, while efforts continued to reach agreement with ASLEF (drivers’ union) on harmonising terms and conditions across the company.
But the payment of double time was never a long-term arrangement and, as harmonisation has so far been unsuccessful, London Midland believes it is unsustainable to continue to pay this rate.
London Midland drivers receive around £400 for working each Sunday on top of a basic salary of nearly £40,000 per year.
ASLEF has stated this is nothing to do with them, but this large-scale refusal to work will only serve to cause major disruption for rail passengers.
London Midland Director of Operations and Safety, Wallace Weatherill, said: “London Midland is phasing these temporary Sunday arrangements from double time to time-and-a-half over four months to allow families to budget for the change. Our drivers do a demanding and highly responsible job, but our disagreement is with ASLEF and its unrealistic demands, rather than individual drivers.”
“This orchestrated action comes quickly after ASLEF’s refusal to work Monday to Saturday overtime, and the Union position is totally unreasonable.”
London Midland is running a limited timetable on Sunday, but is advising passengers not to travel unless absolutely necessary.”
Maybe London midland should employ more staff. If I was a driver I would be tempted to work on my day off for u00a3400 but if you reduced it to u00a3200 I think I’d prefer to spend time home with my family. Clearly London Midland do not employ enough staff to run the service they are franchised to run
speaking to driver today , u00a3400 is not true , they are being bullied by bosses , all the public hears is the comany bosses points of view they do not tell the full story leaving the drivers in the line of fire while they sit above it all in their ivory towers . dont be fooled by these morons , why would you run a company that relys on people having to give up there days off .