Angry Britons have vented their fury at travel plans being scuppered by today's rail strikes.
GB News reporter Theo Chikomba spoke to commuters at London Waterloo while trains on some of the country’s busiest routes were at a standstill because of another strike by drivers in their long-running pay dispute.
“I don’t know what they are actually striking for”, one said.
“It’s pretty annoying. I’m not a train driver and I don’t know what it requires to be one.
Britons vented their fury as they spoke to GB News
GB NEWS / GETTY
“If the tracks are already set up for me and I’ve just got to operate it, £59k sounds pretty good to me.”
Another Briton said ‘everyone is suffering’ and had little sympathy for striking train drivers.
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“Pensioners especially are suffering from inflation”, he said.
“They’re taking quite a bit back in tax because they haven’t increased personal allowance, but I can’t go on strike.
“Loads of people would like to increase their money but they can’t because they’re stuck in a job or they can’t go on strike or they don’t want to.”
Another Briton was more sympathetic towards strikers, but admitted they ‘haven’t been affected’.
Aslef first began striking in July 2022PA
One Briton said he was envious of train driver salary
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She told GB News: “I haven’t been impacted, but if they need extra money, it’s all about the money.”
Aslef members walked out today for the third strike in the past four days leaving services crippled.
Commuters in East Anglia and the South East were the most impacted today by Aslef’s bitter feud over pay, with no sign of a breakthrough and no talks planned.
The union says the dispute has cost the industry more than £2 billion, way more than it would have cost to resolve the conflict.
They show little sign of backing down with general secretary Mick Whelan saying his members remain steadfast in supporting strike action.
He criticised the Government and rail companies for the lack of contact over the past year.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Aslef is the only rail union continuing to strike, targeting passengers and preventing their own members from voting on the pay offer that remains on the table.
“Having resolved disputes with all other rail unions, the Transport Secretary and rail minister have ensured that a pay offer is on the table – taking train drivers’ average salaries from £60,000 up to £65,000.”
