The railway workers strike again today and tomorrow in the UK, asking raises wages due to inflation, having rejected the relevant proposals submitted by the companies so far.

Train drivers are going on strike today after the Aslef union called action, while the RMT union is calling for maintenance and control workers to strike tomorrow.

Train companies have announced delays and cancellations.

This mobilization is another episode in social conflict which has been going on for months in the UK and which does not just affect rail transport.

Nurses, ambulance staff, civil servants and workers in other professions have gone on strike several times since the autumn to secure pay rises as the cost of living has soared with inflation above 10% for months.

While other smaller unions have ended their strikes, Aslef and the RMT have so far rejected proposals for a 4% pay rise this year (after +4 to +5% last year), accompanied by changes to working conditions.

“We don’t want to go on strike… we don’t want to get there, but after four years of no increase we think we have no choice,” Aslef union general secretary Mick Whelan told the BBC.

The train drivers they plan to strike again on May 31 and June 3.

Undersecretary for Transport, responsible for rail, Hugh Merriman told Sky News that the proposal on the table is “quite satisfactory”.

She also pointed out the consequences of the strikes, which may create problems in the movement of those who want to attend her competition Eurovision which takes place tomorrow in Liverpool and Manchester City and Manchester United supporters in London on June 3rd for the FA Cup final football match.

“It’s a real shame… that political and sporting events, especially these, are being targeted,” he said.

TF