Cancellation of ALL Arriva Trains Wales Services on Monday Due to Strike Action

All Arriva Trains Wales services are set to be cancelled on Monday, with industrial action by union members set to take place.

Earlier this month Wrexham.com reported that ASLEF Union Members had called a strike of all its members at Arriva Trains Wales on Monday 4th January and announced an overtime ban at the company.

Drivers at Arriva Trains Wales voted overwhelmingly for strike action after management reneged on an agreement we had reached. 81.7% of our members voted Yes, and 18.3% voted No, on a turnout of just over 80%.

Union members had been set to hold a 48 hour strike last month, however ‘important progress in last minute talks’ saw the industrial action called off.

In a statement released today Arriva Trains Wales have confirmed that the proposed strike action is expected to go ahead and as a result all services on Monday will be cancelled. There may also be some early morning start up disruption on Tuesday 5th January.

As this strike action will impact the entire Arriva Trains Wales network, the service have noted that ‘it is not possible to provide replacement bus services as there are insufficient numbers of buses available to use to cover the 1000+ services operated each day’.

An overtime ban is already underway, which has resulted in ‘staff shortages’ and cancellations to services across Wales.

HR Director for Arriva Trains Wales, Gareth Thomas said: “We are extremely disappointed that the train drivers unions National Executive have not accepted our latest offer of improvements to terms, conditions and pay for their members and that they have opted to take industrial action, even though we submitted a revised proposal to them on 23rd December following productive
pre-Christmas talks.

“Directors at ATW have been in contact almost every day with union officials in a bid to resolve this issue and stress the urgency of the situation if disruption to customers was to be avoided.”

However ASLEF have today stated that a new offer has not been offered by Arriva Trains Wales.

Simon Weller, ASLEF’s national organiser, who is leading negotiations for the drivers, says: ‘The company has not made a new offer. It has sent us a form of words. But it is not new and it is not an offer.’

Mr Weller added: “ASLEF is, as always, available to talk to resolve this dispute. But there is nothing at the moment to discuss.”

Information including special ticket arrangements for customers to complete journeys at other times, ticket acceptances with other rail operators and ticket refunds can be found on the Arriva Trains Wales website and from rail station ticket office staff.