Higher wages and better working conditions: the train drivers’ union Aslef is on strike in England and is causing massive restrictions – of all things on a day with some major events.
A strike by the Aslef train drivers’ union in England on Saturday again caused severe restrictions on rail traffic. As the BBC reported, trains stood still on 60 percent of all affected rail connections. The union wants to increase the pressure on the railway operators in the dispute over higher wages and better working conditions.
The strike falls on a busy day. Visitors to major events such as the FA Cup final between the first division football teams Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London were asked not to travel by train. 100,000 people were expected to attend the Epsom Derby horse race alone, which is held southwest of the British capital. There was also an international cricket match and concerts such as one by R’n’B legend Beyoncé in London and a performance by pop star Elton John in Manchester.
The Aslef strike on Saturday is the second day of the train drivers’ strike this week. They had already stopped work in large parts of England on Wednesday. On Friday, the railway workers’ union RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport Union) called on its members to take part in industrial action.
This week’s strikes are just the latest wave in several wage disputes that have been going on for months and have repeatedly led to massive disruptions in rail operations. The unions are demanding wage increases that are geared to the sharp rise in the cost of living. The railway operators refer to losses during the pandemic.
Source: Stern
