South West Train drivers are to take industrial action over pay.

Train drivers working for South West Trains [SWT] are to strike over a proposed pay increase of 4.5%, which would mean that the average London train driver will earn £40,447 for a 37 hour week, before overtime.

ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, announced that 73% of its drivers were in favour of industrial action following ‘a breakdown in negotiations on pay and hours’. The strikes will run from 31 March to 3 April.

The 4.5% pay deal for train drivers has already been accepted by other trade unions. Stewart Palmer, SWT Managing Director, said yesterday [19 March] when it announced the strikes: “We regret the significant disruption this will cause to our passengers and we reassure them that we will do everything we can to avoid this strike taking place. However, if they do go ahead, we will pull out all the stops to run as many trains and buses as we can.

“We are very disappointed that ASLEF has taken this decision as we believe that this is a very good offer in the current economic climate.”

ASLEF said in a statement that it was willing to meet with SWT management “at any time” before the proposed strike dates in an attempt to resolve the situation.