Travel misery as major train driver unions announce two MORE strikes after pay offer rejected
BRITS are set to face travel chaos as train drivers announce more strikes.
Train driver members of the RMT at 14 rail operators will strike on February 1 and 3 in the long-running dispute over jobs, pay and conditions, the union announced
They will be walking out again next month due to their union rejecting a pay offer, according to Aslef.
The train companies affected by the strike include Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, and Great Western Railway.
Also affected will be GTR Great Northern Thameslink, London North Eastern Railway, Northern Trains, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express and South Western Railway (depot drivers only).
Those travelling by SWR Island Line, TransPennine Express, and West Midlands Trains should also check travel plans.
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RMT have now joined the strike meaning 14 train operators are now part of the industrial action.
Mick Whelan, Aslef general secretary, : "The offer is not acceptable but we are willing to engage in further discussions with the train operating companies."
February 1 will also see 100,000 civil servants walkout over their ongoing pay dispute.
These include teachers striking over pay and those protesting against the Government's new strike law.
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The Bill would require minimum levels of service from ambulance staff, firefighters and railway workers during industrial action.
Nine out of 10 teacher members of the NEU - the largest education union in the UK - voted for strike action in a result announced on Monday, and the union passed the 50% ballot turnout required by law.
The union has declared seven days of walkouts in February and March but said any individual school will only be affected by four of the days.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has admitted she can't promise that schools will stay open during teacher strikes.
Ms Keegan said introducing minimum service levels would protect "vulnerable children" in schools, but she hoped the Government's anti-strike legislation wouldn't be needed for the teaching profession.
The DfE has offered a 5% pay rise to most teachers for the current school year, but the NEU is demanding a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England have also scheduled strikes on February 6 and 7.
This comes after January saw rail worker walkouts across five days running from January 3 to 7.
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Only around one in five trains operated and mass disruption was caused.
Last year also saw strikes throughout December and Christmas Eve - ruining holiday plans for many Brits.