UK rail strike cripples network as 48-hour walkouts begin

Strikes have brought much of Britain’s rail network to a standstill as workers stage a 48-hour protest over pay.

Commuters were hit by the latest walkout by train drivers, represented by the Aslef union, on Friday, with city centers quieter than usual as more office staff chose to work from home.

On Saturday, a separate labor group — the RMT — will hold a strike for thousands of rail workers, in a move that could disrupt the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Aslef has also imposed an overtime ban for Saturday.

Rail minister Huw Merriman told Times Radio on Friday morning that he’s “very sorry for the inconvenience that passengers will have to bear” and urged labor unions to put the latest pay offers to a vote.

“We feel these are fair and reasonable,” Merriman said. “We need to see them put to their members.”

The UK has suffered a year of widespread industrial action across sectors such as the Royal Mail, civil service, schools, universities, and hospitals, as well as public transport. 

Stubborn double-digit inflation has prompted demands for more generous raises. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said RMT members had been offered a 5% plus 4% increase over two years with more for lower-paid workers, while train drivers would have earned a base salary of nearly £65,000 ($81,400) under the latest proposal.

Industrial action weighed on Britain’s economic growth in the first quarter of the year, with several major unions balloting members for the right to hold more strikes over the coming months.

The RMT agreed a deal with Network Rail, which runs the tracks, in March, but remains in dispute with train companies.

The Rail Delivery Group, an umbrella organization, said train operating companies were “doing all they can” to make sure people can travel to Liverpool for the Eurovision final, but said passengers could expect significant disruption over both days, as well as on Sunday morning. Local trains on Merseyside are not affected by the strikes, but services to Liverpool from other parts of the country face the prospect of delays and cancellations. The RMT action is targeted at 14 train companies. 

Aslef has also planned strikes for May 31 and June 3, the date of football’s FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London.