LONDON (Reuters) Jan,17– Britain’s train drivers’ union ASLEF said on Monday it had refused to offer wages.
Earlier this month, the rail industry, the Rail Delivery Group, announced it had offered ASLEF better salaries in exchange for reforms in rail operations to end a long-running labor dispute.
ASLEF Secretary General Mick Whelan said in a statement: “This proposal is not, and will never be, accepted, but we are open to further discussion.
“They want to break the terms of our contract in exchange for a substantial wage cut.”
Rail Delivery Group said the offer included a retroactive 4% pay raise for him in 2022, a further 4% pay raise in 2023, and a promise not to make any layoffs next year. . But it also included what the panel described as “significant and long overdue” changes to working arrangements, such as Sunday shifts and training.
A spokesman for Rail Delivery Group said it was disappointed that the offer had not been made to members.
“Rather than announcing further and unnecessary strikes, we recognize the very real financial challenges facing our industry and work with us to create a better railroad with a strong, long-term future. We ask ASLEF to do so,” the spokesperson said.
Teachers and 100,000 other public sector workers, including border guards, are also set to leave on February 1, citing wage disputes.
