Train drivers are to stage another 24-hour strike later this month, disrupting rail services across Britain and dampening hopes of an imminent end to the dispute.

Aslef said drivers at 12 companies would take action on Saturday 26 November, as the union pressed in vain for a pay offer.

The union’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, said drivers were being told to take a real terms pay cut when inflation was in double figures.

Whelan said: “We regret that passengers will be inconvenienced for another day. We have come to the table, as we always will, in good faith but while the industry continues to make no offer we have no choice but to take strike action again.”

The new rail minister, Huw Merriman, said that he was ready to help in any way to end the dispute, and that the government’s tone had changed, after some previous transport secretaries and ministers refused to meet union leaders.

He told the Railway Industry Association conference in London his view was that “the only way you get through industrial action is to talk, is to have positive relations, not to make a political issue of it”.

He added that while negotiations were being handled by the industry, “We stand by willing to aid in any particular way.”

He added: “While there are no current plans for me to go in the room because that hasn’t been requested, I think we’ve changed the tone in terms of how we feel about trade unions. We understand they have their members to represent but we do badly need to see this actually come to an end. It’s cost the railway about half a billion [pounds] this year.”

Source: Theguardian.com