Train drivers at three big companies have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a dispute over pay, their union Aslef announced.
It comes after a summer of strikes, with railways around the country affected.
The votes at Chiltern, Northern and TransPennine Express were all more than 9-1 in favour of strikes, with turnouts of over 80%.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said strikes were always the last resort, adding: ‘You can see from the votes – and the turnouts – just how angry our members are.
‘These are the men and women who moved key workers and goods around the country during the pandemic, yet have not had a pay rise since 2019.
‘With inflation running at north of 10% – and set to go much higher – several train companies are saying that they want their drivers to take a real-terms pay cut. Their attitude is “suck it up” – and that stinks.
‘We now have mandates at 12 companies.
‘After our one-day strike on August 13, the Rail Delivery Group, the pressure group which represents the interests of the privatised train operating companies, asked for talks. Those talks were strained, but quite constructive.
‘There were no concrete proposals but dialogue will, we hope, continue.
‘That’s why we are calling on the companies to come to the table with a proper proposal to help our members, their drivers, buy this year what they could buy last year.
‘That is the way to prevent another strike and all the disruption that causes. The ball is now firmly in the train companies’ court.’
More strikes are set to come, with Aslef also announcing yet more strikes this afternoon, this time affecting members on London Tramlink, based in Croydon.
Drivers as well as other staff whose pay has been frozen for almost two years will walk out on September 12, following strikes in June and July.
Aslef said the staff have been offered a 3% pay rise, while RPI inflation has soared to more than 12%.
Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on Tramlink, said: ‘There has been no contact from Tramlink management and no new offer since our last strike in the middle of July.
‘It seems FirstGroup, which operates the tram system on behalf of TfL, doesn’t care about either the welfare of their staff or the impact on their passengers of more disruption.
‘Their offer means a huge wage cut for staff who face being unable to heat their homes and pay their bills this winter.
‘We are having to strike again because management are not prepared to make anything like a fair offer that reflects the real cost of living in this country.
‘FirstGroup are prioritising the pay and perks of their bosses above a fair deal for staff.
‘Staff on Tramlink are absolutely right to refuse to accept a pay cut so that fat cats can get even fatter.
‘We will be calling on local political leaders to join us on the picket line to show support for workers fighting for a fair deal to help them cope with the cost-of-living crisis.’
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