Train drivers will demand a bigger pay rise this year than the inflation-busting increases they were handed last summer, unions warned yesterday.
Mick Whelan, boss of militant Aslef, said drivers wanted more than the 15 per cent given to them last July by then-transport secretary Louise Haigh.
He added proposed changes to drivers’ terms and conditions would come at a cost.
It raises the prospect of fresh strikes just six months after Labour agreed to the backdated increase spread over three years up to 2024-25.
The deal took the average drivers’ salary to just under £70,000 for a four-day week and sparked accusations that Labour had caved in to the demands of union paymasters.
It was agreed just weeks after winning the election last July, and included a 5 per cent pay rise for 2022/23, 4.75 per cent for 2023/24 and 4.5 per cent for 2024/25.
Mr Whelan told the i newspaper: ‘My view is, quite simply, would we like more than we got from Louise? Yes, we would.’
Talks for 2025/26 will begin soon and the Government has said it cannot afford public sector rises of more than 2.8 per cent this time.
Mick Whelan (pictured), boss of militant Aslef, said drivers wanted more than the 15 per cent given to them last July by then-transport secretary Louise Haigh
The no-nonsense remarks will likely fuel concerns that Labour has already lost control of the unions after handing them pay hikes of up to 22 per cent last year
Train drivers will demand a bigger pay rise this year than the inflation-busting increases they were handed last summer, unions warned yesterday
Some unions have branded this figure ‘offensive’ meaning Britain is facing a fresh ‘summer of discontent’ if ministers can’t find more money and train drivers walk out too.
Asked whether he anticipated more difficult talks on the forthcoming pay settlement, Mr Whelan told the i newspaper: ‘I don’t want to appear antagonistic, we don’t want to start the conversation off on the basis that we’re threatening [anything].
‘My view is, quite simply, would we like more than we got from Louise? Yes, we would.’
The no-nonsense remarks will likely fuel concerns that Labour has already lost control of the unions after handing them pay hikes of up to 22 per cent last year.
The RMT union, which represents train guards and station staff, will likely demand the same as Aslef.
Both unions wreaked havoc during the previous Tory administration by calling more than 30 strikes over two years.