THE UK inflation figure for April this year was 9% compared to just 2.1% a year ago. This surging cost of living is being led by energy charges for electricity and gas supplies that have risen by as much as 90% in the last 12 months, but the cost of petrol and diesel fuel has also risen sharply, driving up costs in the distribution chain that are reflected in shop prices.
This inflationary increase comes at the same time as the rail unions are negotiating pay and conditions against a backdrop of the Government’s aim to reduce industry costs through a combination of staff reductions and pay restraint.
In Scotland, a 2.2% pay offer has been rejected by ASLEF, which has organised a ballot for industrial action, but drivers are already declining to work overtime and rest days, and so a scaled back timetable had to be introduced from May 23.
The action is having a large effect on the overall service, as the inability to recruit and train staff during the Covid lockdown periods meant there is a greater dependency on overtime and rest day working to cover train diagrams.