Why are rail workers striking 2023?

Why are rail workers striking? Unions say they want a pay offer reflecting the rising cost of living. But the rail industry is under pressure to save money, after the pandemic left a hole in its finances. The industry says changes to ways of working need to be agreed in order for pay to go up.



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RMT (the Rail, Maritime and Transport union) and ASLEF (The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) members are striking in an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.

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Unless a deal on pay, job security and working conditions is reached between unions and rail operators, it's likely that strikes could continue for the rest of 2023.

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Update on rail services during industrial action on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 September 2023. ASLEF have announced a strike on Friday 1 September. The RMT have announced strike action for Saturday 2 September. ASLEF have also announced a ban on overtime working on Saturday 2 September.

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A separate strike by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) will take place on Friday 2 June 2023. The widespread disruption will see 20,000 railway workers in catering, train managers and station staff all take action as passengers face more travel chaos from three strikes in just four days.

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The schedules are of particular concern with rail workers citing a lack of sick leave, inability to routinely visit the doctor or tend to family emergencies, and weekslong stretches of being on call.

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It wouldn't take long for the effects of a rail strike to trickle through the economy. Many businesses have only a few days' worth of raw materials and space for finished goods. Makers of food, fuel, cars and chemicals would all feel the squeeze, as would their customers.

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A potential strike could lead to $2 billion a day in lost economic output, according to the Association of American Railroads, which lobbies on behalf of rail companies. Freight railroads are responsible for carrying 40% of the nation's long-haul freight and a work stoppage could jeopardize these shipments.

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Is Amtrak striking? No. “The negotiations do not involve Amtrak or the Amtrak workforce,” Amtrak said in a statement earlier this week.

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When are the train strikes in October 2023? Train drivers represented by Aslef are striking on Wednesday, October 4. There will be almost no services operating on the day and services on days either side of the strike are likely to be affected too. In addition, there is a ban on overtime from October 2 to 6.

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20,000 workers represented by the RMT, which is the biggest rail workers union, are set to stage strikes on the following dates: Saturday 26 August. Saturday 2 September.

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4 May 2023 A number of strikes on the national rail networks have been announced on dates in May and June 2023. Please keep an eye on the news and be aware that your travel may be disrupted. Rail workers are due to strike on Friday 12 May, Saturday 13 May, Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June.

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The ASLEF union of train drivers has announced that its members will strike over pay on Thursday 5 January 2023, joining their RMT counterparts in undertaking industrial action in the first week of the new year and leaving rail commuters stranded for five consecutive days.

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