MADRID, July 11 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Drivers from the Society of Railway Engineers and Firefighters (ASLEF) drivers’ union at eight rail companies had overwhelmingly agreed in the vote with more than 80 percent of voters calling for new strikes in Chiltern, LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express, Arriva Rail London, Great Railways West, Southeast and West Midlands.

“Strikes are always a last resort,” explains ASLEF secretary general Mick Whelan. “We don’t want to disturb passengers. Our friends and family also use public transport and we don’t want to lose money by going on strike, but the company, encouraged by the Government, has forced us,” he explained, according to Sky News.

Whelan has highlighted that many workers have not had a raise since 2019, an extreme made worse by an inflation rate of around 10 percent and by “excellent data” on railroad results. “They provide good returns, dividends for shareholders and great salaries for managers,” he said.

Meanwhile, ASLEF workers on ScotRail have received better wage offers from the company, which was recently nationalized by Scottish authorities.

Consultations from the Association of Salary Transport Personnel (TSSA) have also provided clear support for the strike in the southeast of the country, although a specific date for the strike has not yet been determined. “The results show that our affiliates are determined to fight for their salaries, their jobs and related conditions”, said TSSA secretary general, Gibraltarian Manuel Cortés.

From the Ministry of Transportation they expressed “disappointment” with the decision taken. “Instead of engaging in a serious dialogue with the company, ASLEF was the first to seek to harm passengers and boycott the rail network,” a spokesperson was quoted as saying by Sky News.

In addition, he recalls that train drivers earn on average just under 60,000 pounds per year (about 71,000 euros), “more than double the average salary in the UK and well above the wages of the workers who will be most affected by the hit.” “.

Last month 40,000 workers from the National Rail, Maritime and Transportation Workers’ Union (RMT) went on strike which led to suspensions at 13 rail network operators.