Train drivers at five firms to continue strike action

Train drivers at five companies have voted to continue taking strike action for six months, union ASLEF has announced.

The firms affected are Chiltern, c2c, East Midlands, Northern and TransPennine railways.

Unions have to re-ballot members every six months to see if they want to continue industrial action.

Striking drivers caused disruption to many services in December - and now more strike days are likely to be set.

ASLEF boss Mick Whelan said: "These results show - yet again - a clear rejection by train drivers of the ridiculous offer put to us in April last year by the Rail Delivery Group on behalf of the train operating companies with whom we are in dispute."

Rail minister Huw Merriman has said the "fair and reasonable" offer would increase the average driver's salary from £60,000 to £65,000 for a 35-hour, four-day week.

The government wants the union to ask members to vote on the offer, but ASLEF said drivers wouldn't be voting for more strikes if they thought it was a good deal.

Rail strikes by workers in the RMT union were paused in November after members voted to accept a deal.

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