Train drivers and British Airways (BA) cabin crew began 48-hour strikes on Tuesday (10 January) morning, while potential industrial action elsewhere across the country could also hit rail passengers.
Members of drivers’ union ASLEF began the first of three days of strikes this week on Southern Rail, with a two-day strike on Tuesday and Wednesday and a further strike on Friday. They have been joined on strike by drivers in the RMT union.
Drivers will walk out for a further three days later in the month.
Southern said no services would run on strike days and that, although it was running only bus services from a small number of stations, it was advising people wherever possible to make alternative arrangements.
BA cabin crew who are members of the Unite union also began a two-day strike on Tuesday in a dispute over what Unite called ‘poverty pay’.
The union said that despite promises that staff employed under its ‘Mixed Fleet’ pay would be paid 10% above the market rate, basic pay starts at just £12,000 with £3 and an hour flying pay.
A BA spokesperson told Transport Network on Tuesday morning that its operation was running as normal.
The RMT has also begun balloting its members on Arriva Rail North for strike action and action short of a strike over what it said was ‘an unacceptable pay offer from the company’.
General secretary Mick Cash said the union remained available for talks.
Separately, the RMT is also threatening strike action on MerseyRail over the company’s plans to introduce new driver only trains – a similar issue to the Southern dispute.
A spokesman for the union told Transport Network it was continuing to apply pressure to achieve the same resolution as it secured in a dispute with ScotRail, in which all trains that have guards would have them in future.
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