Fresh train strikes announced in the New Year – exact date revealed as Brits face more misery

FRESH train strikes in the New Year were announced by militant unions today.

More misery will be unleashed onto passengers on January 5 when Aslef drivers at 15 rail companies walk out.

It follows crippling strikes over the Christmas period by Mick Lynch’s RMT union.

Firebrand Mick “Grinch” has also called industrial action across Network Rail on January 3, 4, and 7.

It will the Winter of Discontent currently being suffered by Brits spill into the New Year.

The Aslef strike over pay will hit thousands of travellers including those on East Midlands Railway, Avanti and Southeastern.

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: “We don’t want to go on strike but the companies have pushed us into this place.

“They have not offered our members at these companies a penny, and these are people who have not had an increase since April 2019.

“That means they expect train drivers at these companies to take a real-terms pay cut, to work just as hard for considerably less, when inflation is running at north of 14 per cent.

“The train companies say their hands have been tied by the Government, while the Government, which does not employ us, says it’s up to the companies to negotiate with us.

“We are always happy to negotiate – we never refuse to sit down at the table and talk – but these companies have offered us nothing, and that is unacceptable.”

Aslef had to ballot members again because a mandate, under the law, is only valid for six months, and said its members voted overwhelmingly, again, to take strike action.