The decision by Aslef to once again abandon negotiations with GTR and Southern Rail and restart industrial action is appalling. Commuters have no choice but to use Southern Rail and will be outraged that Aslef has refused to agree a deal for the third time.
They have been offered a pay increase of 25 percent, from £51,000 to £63,000 for a 4 day week – or around £25,000 for a 5 day week – in order to resolve this dispute, yet Aslef is still refusing. There is no excuse for Aslef to have refused such a generous offer – especially given that they have already accepted a very similar offer on Thameslink services.
Unless the unions are reasonable and stop targeting commuters then the Government should seriously consider new legislation to protect peoples’ right to get to and from work, as per the manifesto.
