LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s train drivers are planning a new round of strikes in December in a protracted dispute over pay and working conditions, the ASLEF union said on Thursday.

It said drivers would stage a rolling program of one-day strikes at 16 railway companies between December 2 and 8, and would refuse to work overtime for nine days.

“We are determined to win this dispute and secure a significant pay rise for train drivers who have not had a raise since 2019 while the cost of living has skyrocketed during this time,” said in a press release Mick Whelan, general secretary of the union.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents Britain’s train operators, said a “fair and affordable” offer had been made which would increase drivers’ average basic pay for a four-day week from 60,000 to 65,000 books (74,266 euros).

“We urge the ASLEF leadership to trust its members, return Christmas to our passengers and put an end to this damaging social conflict,” said an RDG spokesperson.

Last week, another rail union, the RMT, agreed to suspend its strike program if its members vote in favor of offering a solution to the dispute.

“It is disappointing that ASLEF is targeting public sector and hospitality businesses at the start of the festive period […]. ASLEF should follow in the footsteps of other rail unions and give its members a vote on this fair pay deal,” a Transport Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

(Reporting Muvija M and Kylie MacLellan; Diana Mandiá, edited by Blandine Hénault)

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