Commuters and travelers in Great Britain had to adjust to cancellations and delays again on Wednesday. Around 9,000 train drivers from 13 train companies and other employees wanted to stop working again for 24 hours.
The train drivers’ union Aslef and the Transport Salaried Staff Association had called for this. On many routes, this meant fewer or even no train services, and even some train stations were closed.
In addition to higher wages, the ongoing conflict is also about whether ticket sales points in train stations should be closed, as many customers buy their tickets online. The unions fear job losses.
Transport Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan signaled a willingness to compromise at the Conservative Tories party conference in Birmingham. Further strikes on the railways are “the last thing the country needs,” said the politician according to the “Telegraph” and called on the unions to come to the negotiating table. There will be a “deal” that everyone can be happy with. Despite the extensive privatization of the railways in Great Britain, the government is responsible for some framework conditions.
In addition to everyday commuters, the strikes also affected Tory conference attendees who were due to return on Wednesday after the meeting ended. Further strikes by rail unions at individual British rail operators are planned in the coming days.
