as already we announced last November 12 Aslefthe British trade union he represents UK Railway Engineers, announced a 24-hour strike which will take place on next Saturday November 26th. The strike, which affects 12 UK railway companies, will also participate London Overground workers.
Although it is not yet known which London Overground lines will be affected, what is certain is that more changes will occur during the service. This strike will also coincide with the strike of London bus drivers They work on the South and West London routes. At least the underground, especially the Elizabeth line, the DLR and the trams are expected to operate normally.
Salary, the main issue for London surface workers
The reason for the strike is none other than the salary increase requested by Aslef workers. Inflation, which already exceeds 10%, is tightening families more than ever and salaries do not correspond to the market. Yet, the BBC reported that train drivers’ wages are nearly £60,000 a year, well above the average UK wage.
Several unions have organized several strikes in the UK, not just Aslef. The RMT, the union representing London Underground workers, is also on strike in response to an ongoing dispute over their working conditions.
On the other hand, the Bank of England has warned of the possibility of an “inflationary spiral”, in which firms pass on the cost of pay rises to customers, further heating up the economy and driving up inflation.