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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Michael Howie and Sami Quadri

Train strikes: Rail workers announce new overtime ban during Wimbledon

Train drivers at 16 rail operators will refuse to work overtime for almost a week in the long-running dispute over pay, Aslef has announced.

Aslef said its members will withdraw non-contractual overtime – known as rest day working – from Monday July 3 to Saturday July 8.

The action coincides with the first week of the Wimbledon tennis tournament.

It comes after drivers for Avanti West Coast and LNER had already announced further industrial action next month, spelling disruption on both of Britain’s main lines from London to Scotland.

Members of Aslef at Avanti West Coast will strike on 2 July, while drivers employed by London North Eastern Railway will refuse to work overtime from 1 July until further notice.

Aslef said the dispute with Avanti West Coast is over sick pay changes.

LNER is accused of failing to adhere to “agreed procedures”.

The overtime ban could potentially prove more disruptive than a strike. A similar ban at TransPennine Express (TPE) was described by the operator as a significant factor in its high rate of cancellations, before the service was taken under public control last month.

Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary, said: “Once again, we find ourselves with no alternative but to take this action.

“We have continually come to the negotiating table in good faith, seeking to resolve this dispute.

“Sadly, it is clear from the actions of both the train operating companies and the government that they do not want an end to the dispute. Their goals appear to be to continue industrial strife and to do down our industry.

“We don’t want to inconvenience the public. We just want to see our members paid fairly during a cost of living crisis when inflation is running at above 10%, and to not see our terms and conditions taken away.

“It’s time for the government and the companies to think again and look for a resolution.”

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