Ashlef said drivers at 12 companies will take action on Saturday, November 26, as the union pushes for a pay offer. The union’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, said drivers were being asked to take a real-terms pay cut when inflation was in double digits. Whelan said: “We are sorry that passengers will have to suffer for another day. We have come to the table, as we always will, in good faith, but while the industry continues to make no offer, we have no choice but to go on strike again.” Aslef drivers at Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia, LNER, London Overground, Northern Trains, Southeastern, Transpennine Express and West Midlands Trains will strike on November 26, the fifth general strike of the union in the year. Talks are continuing between Network Rail and the RMT and TSSA unions after three days of strikes planned for last week were called off. The cancellation came too late for many services to be restored, and disruption continued into Tuesday on several lines. The new rail minister, Huw Merriman, said he was ready to help in any way to end the row and that the government’s tone had changed after some previous transport secretaries and ministers refused to meet union leaders. He told the Railway Industry Association conference in London that his view was that “the only way to overcome industrial action is to talk, is to have positive relations, not make it a political issue”. He said that while negotiations were being conducted by the industry, “we are willing to help in any concrete way.” He added: “While there are currently no plans for me to go to the chamber because this has not been called for, I think we have changed the tone in terms of how we feel about the unions. We understand that they have their members to represent, but we really need to see this end. It cost the railroad about half a billion [pounds] This year.” Subscribe to Business Today Get ready for the business day – we’ll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, said: “We regret Aslef’s decision, which will cause real disruption to passengers and hit its members’ pay packets.” A Department for Transport spokesman said: “It is disappointing that Aslef has again chosen self-destructive strike action when our railway is in urgent need of reform. Last week saw positive developments between unions and employers and planned strikes were called off, so this is a disappointing step backwards.”
