Train Drivers Strike on FA Cup Final Day

Train drivers belonging to the Aslef union are set to strike on three days: 12 May, 31 May, and 3 June. The first day of strike action is the day before the Eurovision Song Contest final in Liverpool, while the third day is the day of the FA Cup final in London. The strike is expected to cause major disruption across large parts of the country’s railways, with some 13,000 drivers participating. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train companies, has offered a two-year pay rise of 4%, which would see the average salary for a driver increase from £60,000 per year to £65,000 by the end of 2023. However, the offer was contingent on changes to working conditions being agreed. Aslef has rejected the offer and said its members will also stop doing non-contractual overtime from 15 May to 20 May, as well as on 13 May and 1 June. The government has said the strike will affect Ukrainians trying to get to the Eurovision Song Contest final, while Manchester United and Manchester City fans travelling to Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup final may also be affected.