Strikes UK – live: Train and bus services halted as Border Force strikes ‘could hit Dover’

Around half of Britain’s railway lines are closed with just one-fifth of services running, as the new head of TUC seeks an urgent meeting with prime minister Rishi Sunak in a bid to break the deadlock.

The latest rail strikes will disrupt services across the country, while London will also be hit by bus driver strikes. A full lists of affected services can be found below.

Meanwhile, in a letter to Mr Sunak, TUC chief Paul Nowak called for a change in government direction and said public services were in crisis after years of “underfunding and understaffing.”

“We can’t solve these problems without a fair deal for the people on the frontline,” he wrote.

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT union, warned yesterday that industrial action on the railways will likely continue beyond May unless a reasonable offer is made to workers.

Key points

• New TUC boss calls for urgent meeting with prime minister

• More details on anti-strike laws to come, says minister

• Strikes today: All the walkouts on Wednesday

• Train strikes: All the services affected in southern England

• Northern England trains affected: Full list

• London buses: Which routes are hit by strikes?

• ScotRail: Full list of strike-affected services

The key developments so far

Tuesday 3 January 2023 11:48 , Emily Atkinson

This morning, Britain braced for fresh travel chaos as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 14 train operators bedded in for two 48-hour walkouts from Tuesday and Friday.

Here is a round-up of the key developments:

‘Permanent scarring’.... a government source told The Times newspaper that a generation of passengers could be put off from using trains permanently because of ongoing strikes. Fresh industrial action was described by the source as “an act of self-harm.”

‘Torpedoing’ negotiations...RMT secretary-general Mick Lynch took aim at transport secretary Mark Harper, telling Sky News he had heard “nothing tangible” from the government since they last met for talks before Christmas.

Safety risks...Speaking on the picket line outside Euston Station on Tuesday, The Independent’s Simon Calder was told by Mr Lynch that the government was “prepared to take risks with safety” amid the new round of walkouts.

End in sight?...Network Rail’s chief negotiator Tim Shovellor told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that deal to stop rail strikes was within “touching distance”.

‘Simply not telling the whole truth’...Mr Lynch has also accused the transport secretary of lying after Mr Harper denied allegations that the government was “blocking a settlement” with union chiefs.

No magic money tree...Speaking to LBC this morning, Mr Harper said there was not a “bottomless pit of taxpayer money” when it came to negotiating with unions. “I don’t blame unions for wanting more money but it has to be balanced, for commuters and taxpayers,” he said.

More disruption to come?...Industrial action could continue “beyond May” unless a reasonable offer is made by the government and rail companies, Mr Lynch warned in conversation with the PA news agency.

Richard Madeley defends ‘unprofessional’ Good Morning Britain row with RMT boss Mick Lynch

Tuesday 3 January 2023 12:10 , Emily Atkinson

Richard Madeley has responded to the backlash that followed his interview with trade unionist Mick Lynch.

In December, the Good Morning Britain anchor was widely criticised for his conduct while talking to Lynch, the secretary general of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).

During a discussion about rail strikes around the Christmas period, Madeley repeatedly interrupted Lynch and ultimately told him to “jog on”, after a debate on when the “real” start of the festive season was.

Nicole Vassell reports:

Richard Madeley defends ‘unprofessional’ GMB row with RMT boss Mick Lynch

Watch: Transport secretary says ‘people standing on picket lines' won’t resolve railway dispute

Tuesday 3 January 2023 12:30 , Emily Atkinson

In pictures: Day one of worst week of disruption to Britain’s railway for 30 years

Tuesday 3 January 2023 12:50 , Emily Atkinson

Who’s on strike today? Every date of every UK walkout in 2023

Tuesday 3 January 2023 13:10 , Emily Atkinson

Britain has had a difficult time of it in 2022, emerging from two years in the grip of the coronavirus only to be confronted by a dire cost of living crisis defined by runaway inflation and rocketing energy bills exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Here is Joe Sommerlad with a timeline of all of the strike dates announced so far for early January 2023:

Who’s on strike today? Every date of every UK walkout in 2023

Will my train run during the national walkouts?

Tuesday 3 January 2023 13:30 , Emily Atkinson

Over six months after the national rail strikes began, the two biggest rail unions have planned to stop work for a total of five days at the start of 2023 – aimed at wrecking journey plans for a week between Monday 2 January and Saturday 8 January.

More than 40,000 members of the RMT union working for Network Rail and 14 train operators will walk out for 48 hours on 3 and 4 January, and again on 6 and 7 January.

Will your train run during the national walkouts? Travel correspondent Simon Calder has the details:

Will my train run during January rail strikes?

Part 1: How will your travel plans be impacted by strikes?

Tuesday 3 January 2023 13:50 , Emily Atkinson

Britain’s railway services are being decimated by strike action this week – but how will your travel plans be impacted?

The PA news agency has helpfully compiled a full breakdown of each operator’s plan for strike days.

Here is the first part of three:

Avanti West Coast: On RMT strike days there is one train per hour in both directions between London Euston and each of Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston. A limited service is operating to Glasgow. Several areas are not being served, such as Blackpool, Edinburgh, North Wales and Shrewsbury. No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

c2c: On Tuesday, there is no service between Shoeburyness and Upminster. Services via Rainham and Grays start and terminate at Stanford-le-Hope. There will be no service to or from Ockendon or Chafford Hundred on Wednesday or Friday. The operator will not be affected by the Aslef strike. Timetables for the last day of the RMT strike on Saturday have not been confirmed.

Caledonian Sleeper: All departures on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday night are cancelled. Services will be disrupted on Thursday night, with some journeys involving passengers being transferred onto road transport. Caledonian Sleeper does not run trains on Saturday nights.

Chiltern Railways: On Tuesday and Wednesday, no trains are running north of Banbury or to/from Oxford station. There is one train per hour in both directions between London Marylebone and each of Aylesbury via High Wycombe; Banbury; and Oxford Parkway. The same frequency is in place between Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Amersham. This will be repeated on Saturday, except there will be up to two trains per hour between London Marylebone and Aylesbury/Aylesbury Vale Parkway. No trains will run on Thursday or Friday.

CrossCountry: A very limited service is in place during RMT strike days. No direct services are running to and from Birmingham New Street and these locations: Bristol Temple Meads, Cambridge, Cardiff, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth and Stansted Airport. No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

East Midlands Railway: Just one train per hour is running in each direction between London St Pancras and each of Corby, Nottingham and Sheffield on RMT strike days. There is the same frequency between Derby and both Matlock and Nottingham; between Sheffield and Nottingham; and between Leicester and Nottingham. All other routes are closed. No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Gatwick Express: Services are suspended on all strike days. Passengers travelling to or from Gatwick Airport on RMT strike days can use Southern and Thameslink trains.

Grand Central: On Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, just three trains in each direction are running between London King’s Cross and Northallerton, and two between King’s Cross and Wakefield Kirkgate. The operator will not be affected by the Aslef strike. Timetables for the last day of the RMT strike on Saturday have not been confirmed.

Great Northern: There are very few trains on RMT strike days, with no services east of Ely to King’s Lynn. No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday

UK train strikes: Passengers face disruption from fresh action as they return to work - watch

Tuesday 3 January 2023 14:05 , Emily Atkinson

Part 2: How will your travel plans be impacted by strikes?

Tuesday 3 January 2023 14:20 , Emily Atkinson

Now for more information on how different rail operators plan to run their services on strike days.

Picking up from where we left off...

Great Western Railway: Only a very limited service is running on RMT strike days, such as between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, Cardiff, Oxford and Plymouth. Services will be reduced even more during Thursday’s Aslef strike.

Greater Anglia: The company is not running any trains on its regional and branch lines on RMT strike days. Only a very limited service is operating on some routes to and from London Liverpool Street. Services will be reduced even more during Thursday’s Aslef strike.

Heathrow Express: A full service is operating on RMT strike days, but only between 7.30am and 6.17pm. No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Hull Trains: Only four trains are running between Doncaster and London King’s Cross on RMT strike days. The operator will not be affected by the Aslef strike.

London North Eastern Railway: A limited timetable is in operation on all strike days. The London King’s Cross-Edinburgh route having just five trains in each direction on Thursday.

London Northwestern Railway: A limited service is connecting Birmingham New Street with Crewe, London Euston and Wolverhampton on RMT strike days. Other routes are closed. No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Lumo: A reduced timetable is in place on all strike days, including just two trains in each direction between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh on Friday.

Merseyrail: Trains are running every 45 minutes on limited lines during RMT strike days. No trains are running between Chester and Rock Ferry; Ellesmere Port and Rock Ferry; or Liverpool Central and Hunts Cross. On Thursday, services will begin at around 7am.

Northern: Passengers are urged not to travel on RMT strike days as only a small number of routes have trains. Open routes include Liverpool to Manchester; York to Leeds; and Leeds to Sheffield. No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Train strikes: What are the RMT’s demands compared with Network Rail’s current offer?

Tuesday 3 January 2023 14:35 , Emily Atkinson

Rail passengers will face fresh travel disruption from today as tens of thousands of workers take strike action in the ongoing dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

Network Rail staff who belong to the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have stopped work as part of a dispute that has rumbled on for six months.

The Network Rail staff include signallers and engineers who run the Great British railway infrastructure. Union representatives are engaged in talks with management of this “public sector arm’s length body of the Department for Transport.”

Helen Wilson-Beevers and Simon Calder have more:

What are rail workers’ demands versus the current offer on the table?

Part 3: How will your travel plans be impacted by strikes?

Tuesday 3 January 2023 14:50 , Emily Atkinson

And now for the final instalment of our rundown of this week’s rail service plans:

ScotRail: Trains are only running across the Central Belt, Fife and the Borders during strike days.

South Western Railway: A “severely limited service” is running on RMT strike days, and only between London Waterloo and Basingstoke, Southampton, Windsor and Woking. There will be no service on the Island Line on Thursday.

Southeastern: The vast majority of the network in Kent and East Sussex is closed on RMT strike days. Trains are running to and from London Bridge and Sevenoaks, Dartford and Orpington, and the high-speed route to London St Pancras. No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Southern: Much of the network is shut down on RMT strike days. Services running include those on the Brighton Mainline to London Bridge and London Victoria. No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Stansted Express: Two trains per hour are running between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport on RMT strike days. There will be one train per hour on Thursday.

Thameslink: There are far fewer trains than normal on RMT strike days. Services are split north and south, with nothing running between London St Pancras and London Bridge. No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

TransPennine Express: A reduced timetable is operating on RMT strike days, and only on these routes: between York and Manchester Piccadilly; between Cleethorpes and Sheffield; and between Preston and Manchester Airport. No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Transport for Wales: Most lines are closed on RMT strike days. A limited service is running between Cardiff and Newport, with limited trains elsewhere. The operator will not be affected by the Aslef strike.

West Midlands Railway: A limited service is operating only between Lichfield Trent Valley and Redditch/Bromsgrove via Birmingham New Street on RMT strike days. No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Retail boss warns of ‘inflationary shocks' caused by rail strikes

Tuesday 3 January 2023 15:15 , Emily Atkinson

Kris Hamer, director of insight at the British Retail Consortium, has said the rail strikes are causing inflation to rise.

Rolling walkouts have meant fewer people have been able to visit shopping hubs and high streets over the festive period.

Mr Hamer told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One programme: “We saw pre-Christmas that sales were relatively subdued. When the strikes were taking effect there was a switch of spending from stores to online.

“Running stores is expensive. Having business rates to pay, those costs need to be covered and the effect of lowering levels of demand because people can’t get to the shops is actually inflationary. That’s the last thing that we need.”

ICYMI: Mick Lynch accuses Tory minister of ‘not telling the truth’ about rail strike talks - watch

Tuesday 3 January 2023 15:45 , Emily Atkinson

Union accuses government of blocking talks as another week of rail strikes begins

Tuesday 3 January 2023 16:04 , Eleanor Sly

Ten weeks ago, Mark Harper was appointed transport secretary. He said his top priority was to end the long and bitter tangle of rail disputes between Network Rail, the train operators and the unions on pay, job security and working arrangements.

Yet today, another round of rail industry walk-outs has begun, leaving Britain with only a skeleton service for the first working week of the new year – in the biggest national strike since the 1980s.

More than 40,000 members of the RMT union employed by Network Rail and 14 train operators are stopping work for 48 hours on 3 and 4 January, and again on 6 and 7 January.

Simon Calder reports:

Union accuses government of blocking talks as another week of rail strikes begins

Who’s on strike this week and when?

Tuesday 3 January 2023 16:33 , Eleanor Sly

3 January

RMT members at Network Rail launch fresh strikes.

Rural Payments Agency (RPA) staff resume their walkout.

All PCS members at National Highways, working for the traffic officer service, will take action.

4 January

The DVSA driving examiners’ strike starts in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.

Traffic officer service workers at National Highways will continue their walkout.

The RMT rail workers’ strike continues.

UK-wide National Highways strike continues.

RPA staff will continue their walkout.

London bus workers at Abellio to go on strike.

5 January

Train workers at 15 operators with the Aslef union to stage a 24-hour walkout.

The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.

RPA staff will continue their walkout.

London bus workers at Abellio to go on strike.

6 January

RMT rail workers will stage another 48-hour strike.

National Highways workers to stage two-day action in the East Midlands and eastern England.

The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.

RPA staff to continue their walkout.

7 January

The RMT rail workers’ walkout continues.

National Highways workers will continue their strike in the East Midlands and eastern England.

The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.

8 January

The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.

Mick Lynch accuses Tory minister of lying about move to ‘torpedo’ rail strike talks

Tuesday 3 January 2023 17:16 , Eleanor Sly

Rail union boss Mick Lynch has accused transport secretary Mark Harper of “not telling the truth” about the negotiations aimed at ending train strikes, as five days of fresh industrial action begins.

The Tory cabinet minister denied claims by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) leader that the government had blocked a deal before Christmas – insisting it “absolutely isn’t true”.

But Mr Lynch said Mr Harper’s department had intervened by inserting “eight or nine” conditions – including driver-only trains – to thwart a settlement over pay and conditions.

Read more here:

Mick Lynch accuses Tory minister of lying about rail strike talks

Strikes may worsen inflation

Tuesday 3 January 2023 18:09 , Eleanor Sly

Kris Hamer, director of insight at the British Retail Consortium, warned that continuing rail strikes may cause inflation to rise further.

Train staff walkouts mean that fewer people were on the high streets ahead of the Christmas period.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Hamer said: "We saw pre-Christmas that sales were relatively subdued. When the strikes were taking effect there was a switch of spending from stores to online.

"Running stores is expensive. Having business rates to pay, those costs need to be covered and the effect of lowering levels of demand because people can’t get to the shops is actually inflationary.

"That’s the last thing that we need."

What have we learnt from the nurses strikes? | You Ask The Questions

Tuesday 3 January 2023 18:40 , Eleanor Sly

Across the United Kingdom, strike action is being seen across the rail network, in hospitals, ambulance services, postal workers and many other sectors as the cost of living crisis and years of austerity have led to wages not keeping pace with inflation.

In this episode, Rob Williams, Union Organiser for the National Shop Stewards Network, answers your questions on what the strike action is trying to achieve and what has led people to take strike action.

Watch here:

What have we learnt from the nurses strikes? | You Ask The Questions

All the UK strike dates confirmed for January 2023

Tuesday 3 January 2023 19:00 , Eleanor Sly

Britain’s “winter of discontent” looks set to rumble on into the new year after a month of bitter strikes in December brought the country to a standstill and placed Christmas in jeopardy for many.

Nurses, railway staff, postal workers, G4S employees, London bus drivers, Eurostar security personnel, Border Force agents, Heathrow baggage handlers, Scottish teachers, driving examiners and National Highway Workers have all walked out in recent weeks as disputes between their employers and unions about pay and working conditions rumble on at a time when the UK remains mired in economic crisis.

What’s more, few of those conflicts have been resolved, leading many unions to threaten further industrial action in January.

Read more here:

All the UK strike dates confirmed for January 2023

What do the National Highways strikes actually mean for drivers?

Tuesday 3 January 2023 19:51 , Eleanor Sly

National Highways workers belonging to the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), Britain’s biggest civil service union, are the latest to go on strike this December, with staff based in London and south east England hitting the picket lines on Thursday.

The demonstrations will take place on a regional, rolling basis until 7 January and could ultimately see as many as 125 on-road traffic officers and operating centre operatives downing tools out of 1,500 frontline staff – accounting for 8 per cent, according to National Highways – which has moved to reassure the public it has “robust and well-rehearsed measures” in place to deal with any problems that might arise.

With staff based at depots in Godstone and Winchester walking out, the M25 is expected to be affected on Thursday, as well as the M20 heading towards Folkestone.

Read more:

January rail strikes: Will my train run during the national walkouts?

Tuesday 3 January 2023 20:50 , Eleanor Sly

Over six months after the national rail strikes began, the two biggest rail unions have planned to stop work for a total of five days at the start of 2023 – aimed at wrecking journey plans for a week between Monday 2 January and Saturday 8 January.

More than 40,000 members of the RMT union working for Network Rail and 14 train operators will walk out for 48 hours on 3 and 4 January, and again on 6 and 7 January.

On the intervening day, Thursday 5 January, thousands of train drivers belonging to the Aslef union who work for 15 train operators will strike.

Read more here:

Will my train run during January rail strikes?

Bus strikes planned for Wednesday

Tuesday 3 January 2023 21:59 , Eleanor Sly

TfL has said that strike are planned for Wednesday and Thursday on Abellio bus services.

On the strike days, TfL writes that they intend to run as many services as possible, but expect disruption.

Routes affected by the strikes are, for the most part, in west and south London. Other bus services will not be affected.

Who is striking this winter and why?

Tuesday 3 January 2023 22:48 , Eleanor Sly

Workers in several of Britain’s key service sectors are striking in what is being called the new “winter of discontent” as cost of living pressures clash with below-inflation pay offers.

Many strikes, such as that of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT), have been going on for months, with warnings union members will vote to take their fight far into 2023.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 417,000 working days were lost to strikes in October, the highest monthly total since November 2011 saw mass public sector walkouts over pension reforms.

Liam James reports:

Who is striking this winter and why?

What will the coming weeks’ strikes be like?

Tuesday 3 January 2023 23:34 , Eleanor Sly

9 January

The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.

RPA staff to continue their walkout.

10 January

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union will stage a national strike in primary schools, special schools and early years sites.

The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.

RPA staff to continue their walkout.

London bus workers at Abellio to go on strike.

11 January

Unison members working for five ambulance services in England will stage a fresh walkout.

The GMB union, also representing ambulance staff, has scheduled further strike action for this date.

EIS, joined by the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, will stage another national strike in secondary schools and secondary special schools.

RPA staff will continue their walkout.

12 January

Workers on London’s Elizabeth line will go on strike.

London bus workers at Abellio will also stage industrial action.

RPA staff will continue their walkout.

13 January

RPA staff to continue their walkout.

16 January

EIS to stage a national strike for 16 consecutive days until February 2, which will see members in two local authorities strike each day.

London bus workers at Abellio will go on strike.

18 January

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members in England will strike.

19 January

London bus workers at Abellio will go on strike.

RCN members in England will continue their strike.

23 January

Unison members working for five ambulance services in England will stage another walkout.

25 January

London bus workers at Abellio will go on strike.

26 January

London bus workers at Abellio will continue strike.

I’m a nurse – this is why I voted to strike

Wednesday 4 January 2023 00:48 , Eleanor Sly

Ever since I was a young child, I dreamt of being a nurse that worked for the NHS. Twelve years ago, after lots of hard work and determination, I achieved that goal. There were lots of sacrifices from my family, who supported me throughout my course.

I currently work as a deputy sister in an NHS hospital in Lincolnshire.

My role is as part of an acute cardiology team that has face to face contact with patients that attend the hospital after having heart attacks and following cardiac arrests.

Writes Debbie Quinn:

Opinion: I’m a nurse – this is why I voted to strike

As strikes look set to continue, 2023 could be a good year for the unions

Wednesday 4 January 2023 01:48 , Eleanor Sly

After decades when it was – sadly – usually safe to ignore the pronouncements of union leaders, the most widespread outbreak of industrial action since 1979 has meant that they are household names once again.

Not yet as familiar as, say, Mick Lynch, is the brand new general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Paul Nowak, who formally takes over from Frances (now Baroness) O’Grady on 1 January. He is, though, making a somewhat loud entrance.

He told The Independent that the strikes could carry on throughout 2023 if the government refuses to negotiate over pay rises. If we take ministers at their word, that they won’t do so until at least the new public pay body recommendations arrive in April, then the country is in for a prolonged period of conflict.

Writes Sean O’Grady:

As strikes look set to continue, 2023 could be good for the unions

What does Britain really think about the strikes?

Wednesday 4 January 2023 02:48 , Eleanor Sly

Rishi Sunak has been warned that his “high risk” strategy on public sector pay rises could backfire, as an exclusive poll for The Independent showed strong public support for fresh strikes in 2023.

Almost two in three voters would back NHS nurses taking more strike action next year if their pay demands are not met, the Savanta poll found, with only 24 per cent opposed.

In addition, more voters expressed support for fresh industrial action by rail staff, bus drivers, postal workers and teachers than those who said they were opposed to further strikes.

Adam Forrest reports:

What does Britain really think about the strikes?

I marched for the miners in the 1980s – we have to do what is right

Wednesday 4 January 2023 03:30 , Eleanor Sly

When I marched for the miners’ strike in the 1980s, it was accepted wisdom that you needed to bring down corrupt or abusive or unfair systems and fight for what was right.

It wasn’t until this past year watching Musk, Johnson, Trump, King Charles, Truss, Clarkson (who is not out of the woods, however much cover The Sun give him) etc that it occurred to me that, if you are patient enough and prepared to witness massive collateral damage and waste of resources and unnecessary heartache, worsening socio-economic inequality and the debasement of living conditions for the most vulnerable – “they” implode...

Read more letters here:

Letters: I marched for the miners in the 1980s – we have to do what is right

New TUC boss calls for urgent meeting with prime minister

Wednesday 4 January 2023 04:09 , Namita Singh

The new general secretary of the TUC has called for an urgent meeting with the prime minister in a bid to break the deadlocked industrial disputes sweeping across the country.

Paul Nowak called for a change in government direction, saying ministers should open pay negotiations with unions.

It comes as rail workers continue a 48 hour strike, with more stoppages planned this month in the transport industry, NHS and civil service.

In a letter to Rishi Sunak, Mr Nowak said public services were in crisis after years of “underfunding and understaffing.”

Read the details in this report:

New TUC boss calls for urgent meeting with Prime Minister

What did TUC secretary say in letter to PM

Wednesday 4 January 2023 04:38 , Namita Singh

In a letter to Rishi Sunak, Paul Nowak called for a change in government direction and said public services were in crisis after years of “underfunding and understaffing.”

“We can’t solve these problems without a fair deal for the people on the frontline.

“Every month experienced employees are quitting, with one in three public service staff now taking steps to leave their professions or actively considering it.

“This is simply unsustainable.

“But we cannot fix the staffing crisis in our schools, hospitals and elsewhere if we do not fix the underlying causes.

“That means talking in an open and constructive way about improving public sector pay. But so far your ministers have refused to negotiate directly about pay with unions.”

Mr Nowak said unions worked closely with Mr Sunak during the pandemic to deliver the furlough scheme and protect millions of jobs, adding:

“That’s the kind of mature approach we need now.

“Unions have already made clear their willingness to sit down with the Government and talk about boosting pay. But while your ministers continue to refuse point blank to discuss improving wages, there can be no resolution.

“In the NHS, for example, appropriate structures already exist to allow the immediate start of pay negotiations involving health unions, employers and ministers. This was exactly what happened in 2018, leading to the three-year wage deal.

“We want to find a resolution to the current disputes so our public service staff can get on with doing the jobs they love. And so our public services can start to improve for everyone who relies on them.”

Strikes and industrial actions to look out for today

Wednesday 4 January 2023 05:11 , Namita Singh

• The DVSA driving examiners’ strike starts in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West

• Traffic officer service workers at National Highways will continue their walkout

• The RMT rail workers’ strike continues

• UK-wide National Highways strike continues

• RPA staff will continue their walkout

• London bus workers at Abellio to go on strike

Every rail strike date confirmed for January 2023

Wednesday 4 January 2023 05:30 , Namita Singh

The ASLEF union of train drivers has announced that its members will strike over pay tomorrow, joining their RMT counterparts in undertaking industrial action in the first week of the new year and leaving rail commuters stranded for five consecutive days.

ASLEF, which represents 96 per cent of train drivers in England, Scotland and Wales, announced that workers with 15 companies, including Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway and Great Western Railway, had voted for the strike.

Read more in this report from my colleague Joe Sommerlad:

Are trains on strike today? Every rail strike date confirmed for January 2023

Border Force strikes could be extended to Port of Dover within weeks

Wednesday 4 January 2023 05:50 , Namita Singh

Border Force strikes could be extended to Dover and other ports within weeks, under plans discussed by a union to intensify walkouts in an ongoing dispute over pay, pensions and job security.

Until now, the eight days of industrial action coordinated over Christmas by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) have largely been limited to airports, save for the port of Newhaven in Sussex.

Those strikes saw more than 1,000 Home Office employees walk out of their passport control roles across six airports, including Heathrow, Manchester and Gatwick – prompting ministers to call in the military in an attempt to plug the resulting gaps.

Andy Gregory reports:

Union discusses extending Border Force strikes to Port of Dover within weeks

Second day of New Year strike action on railways as Scots return to work

Wednesday 4 January 2023 06:10 , Namita Singh

ScotRail services will be severely disrupted today as railway workers walk out in a second day of strike action this week.

Network Rail workers across Scotland walked out yesterday as part of an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.

Signal workers, guards, customer service and station workers are among those who downed tools on Tuesday and will do so again on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday of this week.

Report:

Second day of New Year strike action on railways as Scots return to work

Second day of 2023 strike action for ScotRail

Wednesday 4 January 2023 07:09 , Liam James

ScotRail services will be severely disrupted on Wednesday as railway workers walk out in a second day of strike action this week.

Network Rail workers across Scotland walked out yesterday as part of an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.

Signal workers, guards, customer service and station workers are among those who downed tools on Tuesday and will do so again on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday of this week.

While the dispute itself does not involve ScotRail staff, industrial action will have a major impact on the operators ability to run services.

Many of those striking are employed in safety-critical roles.

Twelve routes across the Central belt and Fife will operate on a reduced timetable and only between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

Strike-affected services on ScotRail: Full list

Wednesday 4 January 2023 07:16 , Liam James

ScotRail services will be affected by RMT strikes on 3-4 and 6-7 January. The routes and frequency of service in operation on the four strike days are:

• Edinburgh Waverley – Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High: two trains per hour

• Edinburgh Waverley – Helensburgh Central: two trains per hour

• Glasgow Central – Hamilton/Larkhall: two trains per hour

• Glasgow Central – Lanark: two trains per hour

• Edinburgh Waverley – Glasgow Central via Shotts: one train per hour

• Edinburgh Waverley – Cowdenbeath: two trains per hour

• Edinburgh Waverley – Tweedbank: two trains per hour

• Edinburgh Waverley – North Berwick: one train per hour

• Edinburgh Waverley – Larbert: one train per hour

• Glasgow Queen Street – Larbert: one train per hour

• Glasgow Queen Street – Falkirk Grahamston: one train per hour

• Milngavie – Springburn: two trains per hour

Services between Scotland and England on Avanti West Coast are also disrupted due to a landslip at Carstairs.

The line will be closed until Friday 6 January the operator has said.

Strikes today: All the walkouts on Wednesday

Wednesday 4 January 2023 07:22 , Liam James

• The RMT rail workers’ strike continues

• UK-wide National Highways strike continues

• London bus workers at Abellio to go on strike

• Rural Payments Agency staff will continue their walkout

• The DVSA driving examiners’ strike starts in London, South Wales and southeast and southwest England

• Traffic officer service workers at National Highways will continue their walkout

London buses: Which routes will be hit by strikes?

Wednesday 4 January 2023 07:31 , Liam James

London bus drivers working for Abellio will strike today and tomorrow. The affected routes are mostly in south and west London and are as follows:

Day routes

3, 27, 45, 63, 68, 109, 130, 156, 195, 196, 201, 207, 267, 270, 278, 315, 322, 350, 367, 381, 407, 415, 427, 433, 464, 482, 490, 969, C10, E5, E7, E10, E11, H20, H25, H28, H26, P5, P13, R68, R70, S4, U5, U7, U9

Route 481 will operate but with fewer services on weekdays from 7.30 - 8am and from 3 - 4pm.

24-hour routes

24, 111, 159, 285, 344, 345

Night routes

N3, N27, N63, N68, N109, N207, N381

School routes

671

Train strikes: All the services affected in southern England

Wednesday 4 January 2023 07:45 , Liam James

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 14 train operators are striking today, Friday and Saturday.

Train drivers in the Aslef union will strike on Thursday.

Around half of the country’s railway lines are closed with around one in five services running.

Here, The Independent has compiled a list of all services affecting southern England, including lines running from London around the country.

Check back soon for lists of affected services elsewhere.

South Western Railway

A "severely limited service" is running on RMT strike days, and only between London Waterloo and Basingstoke, Southampton, Windsor and Woking.

There will be no service on the Island Line on Thursday.

Southeastern

The vast majority of the network in Kent and East Sussex is closed on RMT strike days.

Trains are running to and from London Bridge and Sevenoaks, Dartford and Orpington, and the high-speed route to London St Pancras.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Southern

Much of the network is shut down on RMT strike days.

Services running include those on the Brighton Mainline to London Bridge and London Victoria.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Stansted Express

Two trains per hour are running between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport on RMT strike days.

There will be one train per hour on Thursday.

Thameslink

There are far fewer trains than normal on RMT strike days.

Services are split north and south, with nothing running between London St Pancras and London Bridge.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Heathrow Express

A full service is operating on RMT strike days, but only between 7.30am and 6.17pm.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

c2c

On Tuesday, there is no service between Shoeburyness and Upminster. Services via Rainham and Grays start and terminate at Stanford-le-Hope.

There will be no service to or from Ockendon or Chafford Hundred on Wednesday or Friday.

The operator will not be affected by the Aslef strike.

Timetables for the last day of the RMT strike on Saturday have not been confirmed.

London North Eastern Railway

A limited timetable is in operation on all strike days.

The London King's Cross-Edinburgh route having just five trains in each direction on Thursday.

London Northwestern Railway

A limited service is connecting Birmingham New Street with Crewe, London Euston and Wolverhampton on RMT strike days.

Other routes are closed.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Lumo

A reduced timetable is in place on all strike days, including just two trains in each direction between London King's Cross and Edinburgh on Friday.

Avanti West Coast

On RMT strike days there is one train per hour in both directions between London Euston and each of Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston.

A limited service is operating to Glasgow.

Several areas are not being served, such as Blackpool, Edinburgh, North Wales and Shrewsbury.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Caledonian Sleeper

All departures on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday night are cancelled.

Services will be disrupted on Thursday night, with some journeys involving passengers being transferred onto road transport.

Chiltern Railways

On Tuesday and Wednesday, no trains are running north of Banbury or to/from Oxford station.

There is one train per hour in both directions between London Marylebone and each of Aylesbury via High Wycombe; Banbury; and Oxford Parkway.

The same frequency is in place between Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Amersham.

This will be repeated on Saturday, except there will be up to two trains per hour between London Marylebone and Aylesbury/Aylesbury Vale Parkway.

No trains will run on Thursday or Friday.

CrossCountry

A very limited service is in place during RMT strike days.

No direct services are running to and from Birmingham New Street and these locations: Bristol Temple Meads, Cambridge, Cardiff, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth and Stansted Airport.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Grand Central

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, just three trains in each direction are running between London King's Cross and Northallerton, and two between King's Cross and Wakefield Kirkgate.

The operator will not be affected by the Aslef strike.

Timetables for the last day of the RMT strike on Saturday have not been confirmed.

Great Northern

There are very few trains on RMT strike days, with no services east of Ely to King's Lynn.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Great Western Railway

Only a very limited service is running on RMT strike days, such as between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, Cardiff, Oxford and Plymouth.

Services will be reduced even more during Thursday's Aslef strike.

Greater Anglia

The company is not running any trains on its regional and branch lines on RMT strike days.

Only a very limited service is operating on some routes to and from London Liverpool Street.

Services will be reduced even more during Thursday's Aslef strike.

TUC secretary says he joined paramedics on picket line

Wednesday 4 January 2023 07:54 , Liam James

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak told Sky News he was on the picket line with paramedics just before Christmas.

He said: “Each and every one of those workers told me they can’t afford another year of a real-terms pay cut.

“The reality is their mortgages are going up, their food bills are going up... and the only thing that isn’t going up is their wages.

“I think the government has to take some responsibility here now, step up to the plate, facilitate those talks, let’s get a fair pay settlement for our NHS workers but indeed public sector workers right across the piece.”

Train strikes: All the services affected in West Midlands

Wednesday 4 January 2023 08:04 , Liam James

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 14 train operators are striking today, Friday and Saturday.

Train drivers in the Aslef union will strike on Thursday.

Around half of the country’s railway lines are closed with around one in five services running.

Here, The Independent has compiled a list of all services affecting the West Midlands region.

Check back soon for lists of affected services elsewhere. Earlier posts covered southern England [07.45] and Scotland [07.16].

West Midlands Railway

A limited service is operating only between Lichfield Trent Valley and Redditch/Bromsgrove via Birmingham New Street on RMT strike days.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

London Northwestern Railway

A limited service is connecting Birmingham New Street with Crewe, London Euston and Wolverhampton on RMT strike days.

Other routes are closed.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Avanti West Coast

On RMT strike days there is one train per hour in both directions between London Euston and each of Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston.

A limited service is operating to Glasgow.

Several areas are not being served, such as Blackpool, Edinburgh, North Wales and Shrewsbury.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Caledonian Sleeper

All departures on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday night are cancelled.

Services will be disrupted on Thursday night, with some journeys involving passengers being transferred onto road transport.

Chiltern Railways

On Tuesday and Wednesday, no trains are running north of Banbury or to/from Oxford station.

There is one train per hour in both directions between London Marylebone and each of Aylesbury via High Wycombe; Banbury; and Oxford Parkway.

The same frequency is in place between Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Amersham.

This will be repeated on Saturday, except there will be up to two trains per hour between London Marylebone and Aylesbury/Aylesbury Vale Parkway.

No trains will run on Thursday or Friday.

CrossCountry

A very limited service is in place during RMT strike days.

No direct services are running to and from Birmingham New Street and these locations: Bristol Temple Meads, Cambridge, Cardiff, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth and Stansted Airport.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Great Northern

There are very few trains on RMT strike days, with no services east of Ely to King’s Lynn.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Wednesday 4 January 2023 08:19 , Liam James

New TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said his union will “fight” the government if it brings forth more anti-strike laws.

Rishi Sunak is planning new legislation to enforce minimum service levels for public services and raise the threshold for industrial action.

“I think that would be a real mistake from the government because what that would be doing is treating the symptoms of the strikes rather than the underlying causes, which is those real terms pay cuts,” Mr Novak told Sky News.

“We think the government would be very close to a breach in fundamental international labour law and we would ask them to step back from that brink.”

He added that two-thirds of the public blame the government for “mishandling” strikes.

Train strikes: All the services affected in northern England

Wednesday 4 January 2023 08:31 , Liam James

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 14 train operators are striking today, Friday and Saturday.

Train drivers in the Aslef union will strike on Thursday.

Around half of the country’s railway lines are closed with around one in five services running.

Here, The Independent has compiled a list of all services affecting northern England, including lines running through the north from the rest of the country.

Earlier posts covered southern England [07.45], Scotland [07.16] and the West Midlands [08.04]. Wales to follow.

TransPennine Express

A reduced timetable is operating on RMT strike days, and only on these routes: between York and Manchester Piccadilly; between Cleethorpes and Sheffield; and between Preston and Manchester Airport.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Northern

Passengers are urged not to travel on RMT strike days as only a small number of routes have trains.

Open routes include Liverpool to Manchester; York to Leeds; and Leeds to Sheffield.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Merseyrail

Trains are running every 45 minutes on limited lines during RMT strike days.

No trains are running between Chester and Rock Ferry; Ellesmere Port and Rock Ferry; or Liverpool Central and Hunts Cross.

On Thursday, services will begin at around 7am.

Hull Trains

Only four trains are running between Doncaster and London King's Cross on RMT strike days.

The operator will not be affected by the Aslef strike.

London North Eastern Railway

A limited timetable is in operation on all strike days.

The London King’s Cross-Edinburgh route having just five trains in each direction on Thursday.

London Northwestern Railway

A limited service is connecting Birmingham New Street with Crewe, London Euston and Wolverhampton on RMT strike days.

Other routes are closed. No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Lumo

A reduced timetable is in place on all strike days, including just two trains in each direction between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh on Friday.

Avanti West Coast

On RMT strike days there is one train per hour in both directions between London Euston and each of Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston.

A limited service is operating to Glasgow.

Several areas are not being served, such as Blackpool, Edinburgh, North Wales and Shrewsbury.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Caledonian Sleeper

All departures on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday night are cancelled.

Services will be disrupted on Thursday night, with some journeys involving passengers being transferred onto road transport.

CrossCountry

A very limited service is in place during RMT strike days.

No direct services are running to and from Birmingham New Street and these locations: Bristol Temple Meads, Cambridge, Cardiff, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth and Stansted Airport.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Grand Central

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, just three trains in each direction are running between London King’s Cross and Northallerton, and two between King’s Cross and Wakefield Kirkgate.

The operator will not be affected by the Aslef strike.

Timetables for the last day of the RMT strike on Saturday have not been confirmed.

Great Northern

There are very few trains on RMT strike days, with no services east of Ely to King’s Lynn.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

More details on anti-strike laws to come, says minister

Wednesday 4 January 2023 08:42 , Liam James

The government will come forward with further details on planned anti-strike laws, the work and pensions secretary has suggested.

Unions have warned that the government’s plans will restrict workers’ rights, as Rishi Sunak seeks to enforce minimum service levels in the public sector and raise the threshold for strike action.

When asked if the government would call off its anti-strikes legislation if the rail unions call off their strikes now, Mel Stride told the BBC he thinks “we do have to question whether we’ve got the balance right between the rights of workers to strike and the inconvenience and sometimes danger that can pose to the public.

“So I think it’s quite right that the government has come forward and already introduced some legislation, and we will come forward with further details.”

Train strikes: All the services affected in Wales

Wednesday 4 January 2023 08:54 , Liam James

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 14 train operators are striking today, Friday and Saturday.

Train drivers in the Aslef union will strike on Thursday.

Around half of the country’s railway lines are closed with around one in five services running.

Here, The Independent has compiled a list of all services affecting Wales, including West Midlands Railway for commuters.

Earlier posts covered southern England [07.45], Scotland [07.16] northern England [08.31] and the West Midlands [08.04].

Transport for Wales

Most lines are closed on RMT strike days.

A limited service is running between Cardiff and Newport, with limited trains elsewhere.

The operator will not be affected by the Aslef strike.

Great Western Railway

Only a very limited service is running on RMT strike days, such as between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, Cardiff, Oxford and Plymouth.

Services will be reduced even more during Thursday's Aslef strike.

West Midlands Railway

A limited service is operating only between Lichfield Trent Valley and Redditch/Bromsgrove via Birmingham New Street on RMT strike days.

No services will operate during the Aslef strike on Thursday.

Border Force strikes could be extended to Port of Dover within weeks

Wednesday 4 January 2023 09:10 , Liam James

Border Force strikes could be extended to Dover and other ports within weeks, under plans discussed by a union to intensify walkouts in an ongoing dispute over pay, pensions and job security.

Until now, the eight days of industrial action coordinated over Christmas by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) have largely been limited to airports, save for the port of Newhaven in Sussex.

Those strikes saw more than 1,000 Home Office employees walk out of their passport control roles across six airports, including Heathrow, Manchester and Gatwick – prompting ministers to call in the military in an attempt to plug the resulting gaps.

But internal discussions have recently been taking place at PCS about extending the Border Force strikes to Dover and other ports in England’s South East.

Union discusses extending Border Force strikes to Port of Dover within weeks

NHS in worst state ever, says MP and doctor

Wednesday 4 January 2023 09:25 , Liam James

Shadow mental health secretary and practising A&E doctor Rosena Allin-Khan said the current state of the NHS is “the worst” health workers have ever seen.

The Labour MP for Tooting told Sky News: “What I’m seeing is what my colleagues are echoing around the country, is that they feel, unfortunately, that this is the worst they have ever seen the NHS for patients and for staff.”

Ms Allin-Khan said nurses were going in to work feeling they are not giving “dignified, safe care” to patients.

“When you go to work with that burden you have to understand the toll that that takes,” she said.

Speaking as nurses prepare to walk out later this month, following December’s historic strikes, Ms Allin Khan said Labour in power would implement a workforce plan that would train 10,000 more nurses and midwives every year and double the number of district nurses.

TfL: London rail network delays and closures during strikes

Wednesday 4 January 2023 09:47 , Liam James

Most of London’s internal rail network will continue to run during the RMT and Aslef strikes this week.

However, TfL has warned of disruption and cancellations of certain services on the London Underground and other lines. The disrupted services follow.

Earlier, The Independent listed all train services across Britain that will be affected by strikes. By region: Southern England [07.45], Scotland [07.16], Wales [08.50] northern England [08.31] and the West Midlands [08.04].

District line

Limited services will run 7.30am to 6pm (no trains before or after) from Wimbledon – Parsons Green and Richmond – Turnham Green

The rest of the line will run as normal.

Bakerloo line

No trains between Queens Park and Harrow & Wealdstone

Circle line

Reduced service

Elizabeth line

Reduced service. Trains will run in 3 sections.

Liverpool Street – Shenfield (not stopping at Whitechapel): Two trains per hour between 7.30am and 5.30pm.

Abbey Wood – Paddington: 12 trains per hour before 5.30pm, six trains per hour after. Today and on Saturday six trains will run per hour before 8am.

Paddington – Heathrow and Reading: Train will run between 7.30am and 5.30pm. Two per hour from Paddington to Reading and two per hour from Paddingtom to Heathrow Terminal 4.

London Overground

Reduced service. Trains will run between 7.30am and 6pm.

Night Overground will not run on strike days

Richmond/Clapham Junction – Stratford: Reduced service

Highbury and Islington – West Croydon/Clapham Junction/Crystal Palace

• 2 trains per hour between Highbury & Islington and West Croydon

• 2 trains per hour between Highbury & Islington and Clapham Junction

• 2 trains per hour between Highbury & Islington and Crystal Palace

Gospel Oak – Barking

• No trains between Barking and Barking Riverside

• 4 trains per hour Gospel Oak – Barking

Liverpool Street – Chingford/Cheshunt/Enfield Town

• 2 trains per hour between Liverpool Street and Enfield Town

• 2 trains per hour between Liverpool Street and Chingford

• 1 train per hour between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt

Euston – Watford Junction

• No trains will run on Saturday 17 December

• 2 trains per hour between Euston and Watford Junction

• 2 trains per hour between Euston and Kilburn High Road

Romford – Upminster

• No service expected

Jeremy Hunt to meet businesses over energy bill fears

Wednesday 4 January 2023 10:04 , Liam James

Business groups are meeting with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt today over government plans for help on energy bills amid fears the support will be halved after the current scheme ends in March.

Ministers have yet to publish details promised for the end of last year to inform firms of the support they can expect.

The current scheme – which caps wholesale energy prices on electricity and gas at about half the expected market price – ends in March.

Households have already been told that their bills will be capped until April 2024, albeit at a higher rate than the current £2,500 annual cost, while firms have been kept in the dark.

Mr Hunt is said to be considering plans to keep support in place for all UK companies after the existing scheme draws to a close, in what would mark a U-turn on aims to target only the vulnerable sectors.

The revised scheme is expected to offer help with bills for a further year, until March 2024.

Mr Hunt is understood to be calling a lunchtime meeting to brief the business groups on what shape the support will take, with the Federation of Small Businesses, UK Hospitality, the CBI and the British Chambers of Commerce among those expected to attend.

Mick Lynch on the picket line with RMT workers

Wednesday 4 January 2023 10:13 , Liam James

Mick Lynch has joined striking workers the picket line at Euston station on the second day of the latest round of train strikes.

The RMT leader has been a common sight outside the central London terminal during the long-running dispute over jobs and pay for rail workers.

RMT members working for Network Rail will strike today and again on Friday and Saturday.

What do striking rail workers want?

Wednesday 4 January 2023 10:29 , Liam James

Rail workers with the RMT union this week continue their strike over pay, jobs and working conditions.

Network Rail offered RMT members a 5 per cent pay rise last year and a 4 per cent pay rise in 2023 (9 per cent in total).

The rail infrastructure manager has also guaranteed no compulsory redundancies before 2025 and no changes to Network Rail employees’ terms and conditions.

Other perks included discounted rail travel for staff’s family and friends; Network Rail described the deal as its “best and final” offer.

RMT members rejected the offer, saying they are looking for a “negotiated settlement” but have not put a number on what they expect in terms of a pay rise.

In reference to the latest Network Rail offer, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “We will resist that and our members, along with the entire trade union movement will continue their campaign for a square deal for workers, decent pay increases and good working conditions.”

He called the offer “substandard”.

The RMT alleges a 50 per cent cut in scheduled maintenance tasks was also outlined by Network Rail in this recent offer; the deal was dependent on changes to working practices in maintenance teams, which would involve 1,900 job losses.

The union also says the deal would involve a 30 per cent increase in unsocial hours. Network Rail disputes this.

Government ‘cannot afford’ rail pay rises, says Tory MP

Wednesday 4 January 2023 10:50 , Lucy Thackray

The government cannot afford to give transport workers a “inflation-busting pay increase”, the Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has said.

“What we cannot afford... is to give rail workers an inflation-busting pay increase of 10 per cent or more,” Mr Clifton-Brown told TalkTV.

He added that those on the lowest incomes had been given a “substantial package” and that more money would be made available to them.

When asked if Rishi Sunak would intervene in the union negotiations, the MP told presenters: “I think the prime minister will be weighing this carefully up to see whether his intervention would actually bring about a breakthrough.”

When are the London bus strikes?

Wednesday 4 January 2023 11:12 , Lucy Thackray

Bus drivers working for Abellio have planned industrial action between 4 and 26 January, affecting mainly buses in south and west London.

The drivers are members of the Unite union, and eight separate walk-out dates have been announced which will affect those planning to use the capital’s bus network.

The latest action is due to an ongoing dispute over pay. The drivers are all based at garages in Battersea, Beddington, Hayes, Southall, Twickenham and Walworth.

On strike days, affected routes may not run at all, while some will run a reduced service within certain hours; meanwhile, TflL has warned that other bus services may be busier than usual.

Here’s everything you need to know:

When are the London bus strikes and which routes will be affected?

When do train strikes go on until?

Wednesday 4 January 2023 11:55 , Lucy Thackray

The current, scheduled transport strike dates have been given until 7 January - but the RMT Union boss Mick Lynch has warned that industrial action could continue into May if no agreement is reached between employers and unions.

The major RMT train strikes, like the one taking place today (4 January), are scheduled for: 4, 6 and 7 January 2023. These involve some 40,000 transport workers for Network Rail and more than a dozen train operators walking out for 24 hours. Disruption is expected to spill over into the following day and “between days” around the strikes.

On Thursday 5 January, Aslef train drivers will walk out for 24 hours. Operator Southeastern has warned there will be no trains on 5 January due to the Aslef strike.

Outside of rail, bus drivers working for Abellio will go on strike on: 4, 5, 10, 12, 16, 19, 25 and 26 January. This mainly affects bus routes in south and west London.

Users of London’s Elizabeth line will want to know about a one-day strike on 12 January, when members of the Prospect Union working on the line from Essex to Berkshire will walk out.

Mick Lynch compares UK government approach to strikes to ‘oppressive regimes’

Wednesday 4 January 2023 12:34 , Lucy Thackray

Mick Lynch has compared UK government ministers’ reaction to country-wide strikes to “oppressive regimes”.

Saying Grant Shapps wanted to “conscript agency workers to go into work” during strikes, and ministers wanting to “ban strikes by having minimum services”, the RMT Union general secretary told LBC News the approach was “unacceptable in a free society”.

“You're talking about the conscription of labour even during a lawful dispute, and I would have to name my members that went to work to break our own picket lines,” he said.

“That's unacceptable in a free society. We're always being told that repressive regimes do things against the public.”

Mr Lynch compared what he called “anti-strike laws” to work practices in China and Russia, saying that trade unions were “campaigning against poverty and oppressive work practices”.

Rishi Sunak expected to comment on strikes in 2pm speech

Wednesday 4 January 2023 13:27 , Lucy Thackray

The prime minister is expected to comment on NHS nursing strikes in his first public speech of the New Year.

In a speech about the government’s priorities for the coming year, Rishi Sunak is expected to talk about issues including the backlog of millions of patients awaiting treatment and ambulance delays.

The health service is struggling under high demand while further staff strikes loom – including by nurses and ambulance workers

Briefings of the speech revealed that Mr Sunak will also take the opportunity to warn that Britain cannot afford to meet the pay demands of striking workers and confirm his plans to bring new laws to limit industrial action.

Here’s everything you need to know:

When is Rishi Sunak’s speech today?

Government will ‘update public on its position’ on strikes in coming days, says Sunak

Wednesday 4 January 2023 14:08 , Lucy Thackray

Rishi Sunak has touched on nationwide industrial action in his New Year speech.

“I know there are challenges in A&E, people are understandably anxious when they see ambulances queuing outside hospitals,” said Mr Sunak, first mentioning the nurses’ strikes.

He said the government was “taking urgent action... providing new funding to release people into social care in the community”.

Mr Sunak alluded to “misinformation out there” about the strikes, saying that the government “hugely value[s] public sector workers such as nurses”, and adding: “We want a reasonable dialogue with the unions about what’s responsible and fair for our country.”

He said that ministers would update the public on the government’s next steps in the coming days.

Mr Sunak said: “People don’t want politicians who promise the earth and fail to deliver,” but insisted his priorities were aligned with the public’s for 2023.

Three TfL lines suspended or part suspended

Wednesday 4 January 2023 15:48 , Lucy Thackray

As the second day of rail strike action sees only one-fifth of UK train services running, London’s Transport for London (TfL) network is also struggling to run a full service.

Though there is no official TfL workers’ strike this month, TfL had warned that the London Overground line would be part suspended “due to strike action by Network Rail staff” - but London’s Circle line is also currently suspended “due to train cancellations”.

Meanwhile the Bakerloo Line has no service between Queen’s Park and Harrow & Wealdstone (also due to strike action), and the Elizabeth line is also experiencing severe delays due to knock-on effects from the UK rail network shortages.

The Jubilee line also has minor delays “due to a customer incident”, with the Central and District line also experiencing minor delays.

Train drivers’ strike set to cripple services on Thursday

Wednesday 4 January 2023 16:11 , Alan Jones

Rail services will be crippled on Thursday because of a strike by train drivers, amid a warning of escalating industrial action unless a pay dispute is resolved.

Members of the Aslef union working for 15 train operators will walk out, leaving large parts of the country with no trains all day.

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan told the PA news agency it was “inevitable” that further strikes will be held unless there is a breakthrough to the long running row.

He warned that strikes could escalate, saying train drivers wanted to go “harder and faster” after years of not receiving a pay rise.

Among the operators which will not operate any services on Thursday are Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Northern, Southern, Southeastern, Thameslink and TransPennine Express.

Rail links to the UK’s two busiest airports will be cut, with Gatwick Express and Heathrow Express shutting down.

Areas where trains will run on Thursday include: Wales; the Central Belt, Fife and the Borders of Scotland; and parts of the South Western Railway network. Services will also operate on London Overground and the Elizabeth line.

Around 20 per cent of normal services will run, according to the Rail Delivery Group.

Government “playing games” rather than resolving dispute, says union boss

Wednesday 4 January 2023 16:28 , Lucy Thackray

The general secretary of the Aslef union, representing train drivers, has said rail employers and the government are “playing games” rather than making any serious attempt to resolve the pay dispute.

“The situation is getting worse and my members now want to go harder and faster because of the lack of progress,” Mr Whelan told PA News.

“We are in a weird world where the government will do anything to keep private companies in the industry. It is inevitable that more strikes will be held and probably escalate.

“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.”

Meanwhile, the new TUC leader, Paul Nowak, has written to the prime minister calling for an urgent meeting to discuss the wave of industrial disputes across the country including on the railways, NHS and civil service.

Mr Nowak called for a change in government direction, saying ministers should open pay negotiations with unions.

In the letter to Rishi Sunak, Mr Nowak said public services were in crisis after years of “underfunding and understaffing”.

“We can’t solve these problems without a fair deal for the people on the frontline,” he wrote.

“Every month experienced employees are quitting, with one in three public service staff now taking steps to leave their professions or actively considering it. This is simply unsustainable.

“But we cannot fix the staffing crisis in our schools, hospitals and elsewhere if we do not fix the underlying causes.

“That means talking in an open and constructive way about improving public sector pay. But so far your ministers have refused to negotiate directly about pay with unions.”

Train drivers feel ‘crapped on from a very great height,’ says union boss

Wednesday 4 January 2023 16:45 , Simon Calder

Train drivers feel they have been “crapped on from a very great height,” the boss of their union has said.

On the eve of a sixth walk-out by members of the Aslef union, the general secretary, Mick Whelan, has lashed out at “corrupt, immoral, disgusting” employers.

Speaking to The Independent, the union boss said: “This isn’t Mick Whelan driving this. This is the people who feel they’ve been crapped on from a very great height by the society and the government they’ve served, particularly during the pandemic.

“We were asked to come to work during the pandemic, and we did. During that period of two years of the pandemic, we didn’t seek a pay rise.

“Then we get to year three – cost of living crisis happens. We quite reasonably think, along with other key workers, that a degree of respect might have applied (of course it hasn’t, as we’ve seen with the NHS and elsewhere), that we deserved a pay rise.

“Then we find out the people we work for are corrupt, immoral, disgusting. That they’ve done a deal with the government that says they won’t offer us more than 2 per cent.”

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group told The Independent that the “Aslef leadership must recognise the very tough financial position the railway faces post Covid, having seen its revenue drop by 80 per cent and with taxpayer funding up to an extra £175m a month to make up for the shortfall.”

Read the full story:

Train drivers feel ‘crapped on from a very great height,’ says union boss

Operators warn passengers of reduced schedule as many of the final train services of the day depart

Wednesday 4 January 2023 17:01 , Lucy Thackray

Amid today’s rail strikes, the UK’s train operators are reminding customers that last train services of the day will be much earlier than usual today, with some final trains having left as early as 2.30pm.

“Some services will finish earlier than usual so please check the times of the last trains carefully before you travel,” tweeted GWR, alerting passengers to the final train between Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads departing at 16.33, the last Paddington to Plymouth service having departed at 14.32.

Southern reminded customers that the last train from Victoria to Brighton will depart at 17.50; while the final Gatwick Airport to London Bridge service leaves at 18.05.

On Great Northern Rail’s Twitter account, it advises “These trains are expected to be extremely busy. If you must travel, we strongly advise you travel earlier.”

It lists its last London Kings Cross to Cambridge service on Wednesday as 17:32, with the final St Pancras to Bedford service at 17.48.

Threats to workers rights are result of ‘Brexit you supported’, Mick Lynch told

Wednesday 4 January 2023 17:28 , Lucy Thackray

Mick Lynch has been challenged over his support for Brexit while appearing on LBC News.

Presenter James O’Brien said the present threats to workers’ rights were “a direct consequence of Brexit you supported”.

Mr Lynch said they were a “direct consequence of this government”, adding that he had campaigned to vote for a different government.

“It’s like they’re going to go and shoot the dog but you’ve handed them the gun,” insisted Mr O’Brien.

Wednesday 4 January 2023 19:39 , Sam Rkaina

We’re closing our live coverage of strike action for the day but keep checking independent.co.uk for the latest updates.