“Stop playing political games and get around the table” - TUC tells ministers and train bosses

Commenting on Aslef announcing further strikes dates on LNER routes, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:

“Ministers and train bosses must stop playing political games and get around the negotiating table. That’s how to put an end to these disputes.

“But they appear to be more interested in stoking tensions than finding a way through.

“The Department for Transport – on the orders of the prime minister – has stonewalled talks with Aslef for over a year now.

“That’s not good faith engagement and negotiation – it's deliberate intransigence.

“Instead of sitting down with unions for talks, ministers have pushed through draconian legislation to make it harder for working people to win better pay and conditions.

“Now ministers are cynically using this dispute to distract from their multiple failures.”