Latest news with #Aslef
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK takes first step in rail renationalization scheme
The UK's South Western Railways on Sunday was returned to public ownership, kicking off a campaign for the Labour government. The move is part of the government's larger plan to renationalize the country's rail services, as had been pledged by Prime Minister Keir Starmer when he took office last year. "Today is a watershed moment in our work to return the railways to the service of passengers," Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said in a statement. The South Western service entered public ownership at 1:59 a.m. local time (0059 GMT), however, the first service to be run under the changed ownership was set to be a rail replacement bus service. Britain's railways have developed a poor reputation, with frequent cancellations, high ticket prices and confusion over which services tickets can be used for. Rail unions who have staged several strikes over pay in recent years were happy about the state takeover. "Everyone in the rail industry knows that privatization... didn't, and doesn't, work," Mick Whelan, general secretary of union Aslef said. The UK's rail services were privatized in the mid-1990s, although the rail network remained in public hands, run by Network Rail. Legislation passed in November paved the way for the country's 14 rail operators to be brought back under public control once their contracts expired — all of which will run out by 2027 at the latest — or earlier in cases of poor performance. Four operators were already taken under public control due to poor performance, but these were originally to be temporary measures. Alexander said this move would end "30 years of fragmentation," adding that change will take time. The Labour government said renationalization will save up to £150 million ($203 million or €178 million) in compensation fees paid to rail operators. Southeastern and Eastern services are set to be nationalized by the end of 2025. The rail systems in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are all publicly controlled. In Germany, the majority of trains and rail infrastructure are owned by the state enterprise Deutsche Bahn (DB). Edited by: Alex Berry
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Hull Trains: Strike impacts services for second consecutive day
An East Yorkshire rail operator's train services are set to be disrupted on Saturday due to strike of the Aslef union at Hull Trains have walked out for a second consecutive day in a long-running dispute over the sacking of a union has claimed a driver was unfairly dismissed for raising a safety concern, which the company denies.A spokesperson from Hull Trains apologised for the disruption, adding: "On this occasion, the union has not served their usual notice of suspension for the following day. "While the majority of our services will continue to run, a number have been cancelled."The firm said impacted customers could use alternative Hull Trains services or claim refunds on tickets purchased with other operators via their customer service Whelan, Aslef general secretary, said: "The company's failure to act responsibly has enormous implications not just for rail workers and passengers at Hull Trains but for staff and passengers right across the wider rail network."Anyone who works on the railway should be able to report a safety concern without fearing they will be penalised, punished, or lose their livelihood."Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Further Hull Trains rail strike over sacked driver dispute
Train services to and from Hull on Friday have been been disrupted because of a strike by drivers in a long-running dispute over the sacking of a of Aslef at Hull Trains have walked out again, leading to several services being cancelled, including between Hull and London Kings union has claimed a driver was unfairly sacked for raising a safety concern, which the company denied.A Hull Trains spokesperson said the firm was "sorry for the short-notice disruption to Hull Trains services". "While the majority of our services will continue to run, a number have been cancelled," the spokesperson added."This follows a pattern of suspended strike notices from the union, with no suspension notice issued on this occasion."Customers with affected tickets can use alternative Hull Trains services or buy tickets with other operators and claim a refund via our customer service team." 'Moral issue' Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said that Hull Trains had "behaved deplorably"."The company's failure to act responsibly has enormous implications not just for rail workers and passengers at Hull Trains but for staff and passengers right across the wider rail network," he said."This is a moral issue because we have a culture on the railway designed to keep everyone safe."Anyone who works on the railway should be able to report a safety concern without fearing they will be penalised, punished, or lose their livelihood. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Striking Birmingham bin workers blow up giant inflatable rat at 'mega picket' blocking depot in city blighted by rodents and mountains of rubbish as industrial action rumbles on
Scores of supporters joined striking bin workers on a 'mega picket' in Birmingham today - shutting down a depot in the city. The group of around 200 let off flares and blew up a giant inflatable rat - a nod to the giant rats which are said to have invaded the country's second city as rubbish piles high. Refuse workers belonging to the Unite union have been striking since March 11 over the city council's proposed changes to roles and resulting pay cuts. On Friday, members of other unions travelled from across the country to show their support for the city's striking bin workers. Union members, who travelled on coaches from as far as Bristol and Leeds, arrived at the Lifford Lane depot in Kings Norton to stand in solidarity. They shut down the depot and recycling centre, one of the three main Birmingham City Council depots, leading to delays in collections. The 'mega picket' was organised by Strike Map, a group of trade union activists who created a digital map to show where industrial action is taking place. The group of around 200 let off flares and blew up a giant inflatable rat at the rally - a nod to the giant rats which are said to have invaded the country's second city as rubbish piles high. Henry Fowler, from the group, said it was a 'fantastic turnout' with workers from a number of unions, including the train drivers' union Aslef and the Fire Brigades Union, turning up. Protestors gathered from 6am, chanting and releasing flares, to show their backing for the all-out bin strike, now entering its eighth week. Ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sent a message of solidarity. Asked if they're anticipating the bins strike continuing into summer, Unite regional officer Zoe Mayou said: 'If that's what we need to do unfortunately - that's unfortunate for our members and residents. 'It's down to the council to come with a proper offer and be transparent.' Birmingham's striking bin workers also received backing from the National Education Union (NEU). NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede told protestors the strike by members of Unite was a fight against 'a race to the bottom' on working people's wages. Mr Kebede, who represents around half a million teachers and support staff, told the picket line: 'We bring our solidarity to this picket because the Birmingham bin strike is a strike of national importance. 'If a Labour council - a Labour council - can get away with cutting the wages of these workers, then a Labour government can get away with attacks on the rest of us.' Claiming that the Labour Government was 'lining up attacks' on education and would be the first Labour government since the 1970s to do so, Mr Kebede said: 'We are standing here with the bin men and bin workers today because it could be us tomorrow. 'This solidarity... is showing what we can do when we unite across our sectors and across our industries. 'Without the people here, not a single cog would turn. It wasn't the councillors who were sat in city hall who were making the difference during the pandemic.' To loud applause from protestors, Mr Kebede went on: 'It was the refuse workers keeping the streets clean. It was the teachers who kept education going, it was the doctors and the nurses. 'So let's stand together as working people and say that we absolutely refuse to endure a race to the bottom. 'Let's push back against this austerity government and ensure that our society can flourish.' Train drivers' union Aslef's general secretary, Mick Whelan, thanked trade unionists in the crowd for their their support during previous rail disputes and said he was proud to be with them. Mr Whelan said: 'It's to our shame that we have to stand here today in a Labour-controlled authority talking about people's wages being changed without agreement.' Turning the effects of 14 years of austerity back on workers could not be right, Mr Whelan said, adding: 'I can't articulate this dispute as well as the people involved in it - because it's their futures, it's their livings, it's their families. 'But we do know from what we have seen in the past, if we don't stand together, they will defeat us. If we don't behave as a collective, they will hurt us. 'If we don't send the messages we need to see, they believe they can turn us over. 'We will be with you today, we will come back tomorrow, we will come back another day until you win.' Kate Taylor, of the Birmingham branch of the NEU and also a national executive member of the union, told the crowd: 'This bin strike is for all of us - it's for all trade unionists. That is why so may of us are here today showing solidarity and fighting with you.' Representatives of the Fire Brigades Union and other groups also addressed the crowd, including Artin Giles of the Jeremy Corbyn-founded Peace and Justice Project. Offering both Mr Corbyn's and the project's full solidarity, Mr Giles said: 'I think we really are at a moment where people are realising that no matter if it's a red rosette or a blue rosette, the rich get richer whilst the working class gets cuts to services that we all rely on. 'And that's the case whether we talk about schools, health clinics or refuse collection.' Unite organiser Pete Randall told the picket that he believed 'victory' in the dispute was not too far away. 'It's been an absolute honour to stand here with our members,' he said. 'I remember the very first day rocking up at the top of Lifford Lane/Ebury Road. 'I have got to know the members. I can see it in their eyes. I can see how it feels for them. And that's what it's all about - understanding from a striker's perspective. 'I praise every single worker that is out on the picket lines. This is what a union looks like.' Speaking from the picket line, Derek Roberts, a bin lorry driver who has worked for the service for more than 30 years, said he was ' humbled and very grateful' to see the amount of people who had decided to join forces with his fellow Unite members. He told the BBC: 'Knowing they've had to get up first thing in the morning and travel to support us has been fantastic.' The council said it would try to collect bins missed as a result of the action over the weekend. Resident Ste Gill expressed his anger online. He said: 'Another week of us not getting our bins empty. Another week of fighting off the rats. Also another week of me trying to a get a slot at Lifford Lane. 'To take my rubbish which I already pay for with the rising council tax. Getting ridiculous now. My patience is wearing thin.' Members of the union have been on all-out strike for weeks over plans to cut the role of Waste Recycling and Collection Officers - leading to rubbish piling up on the streets. Hopes of an agreement were dealt a blow when last month, around 200 bin wagon drivers were told their jobs were being downgraded as part of an equal pay-related review and evaluation exercise by Birmingham City Council. Unite said that under the council's plans, the pay rate of drivers will reduce from £40,000 to £32,000, a pay cut of £8,000. The council - which effectively declared itself bankrupt in 2023 - has been blamed for mishandling an equal pay dispute. It has so far paid out almost £1.1 billion after losing a landmark case in 2012 launched after it gave bonuses to refuse collectors and street cleaners but not to cleaners and caterers - roles typically held by women. It still has to find more money to settle further claims but insists its debt is 'unrelated to the need to modernise the waste service and to eliminate any future equal pay risk'.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Minimum age to be a train driver lowered to 18
Minimum age to be a train driver lowered to 18 Just now Share Save Jennifer Meierhans Business reporter, BBC News Share Save Getty Images Eighteen-year-olds will be allowed to drive trains after the minimum age was lowered from 20 in a bid to tackle driver shortages. UK rail services are frequently disrupted due to a lack of drivers being available, and the problem is set to get worse with companies struggling to replace a growing number of people retiring with new recruits, the government said. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced the change as "bold action to improve train services and unlock thousands of jobs". Union Aslef said it would open up opportunities for school or college leavers, while the Rail Safety and Standards Board said its research found "18-year-olds are capable of safely becoming train drivers". In the UK several train companies rely on "rest day working" - when drivers voluntarily work extra shifts to run timetabled services. But disruption can be caused to passenger journeys when there are not enough volunteers or drivers are off sick. Some 87% of cancellations made the night before a service is scheduled to run are due to driver shortages, according to the Department for Transport (DfT). The average age of a UK train driver is 48, with 30% set to reach retirement age by 2029, it said. Fewer than 9% of train drivers are female, while under 12% are from an ethnic minority. 'Overwhelming support'
