The
union
which
represents
most
train
drivers


says
it
has
received
‘significant’
pay
offers
from
ScotRail
and
Transport
for
Wales
which
it
is
now
putting
out
to
a
members’
ballot,
with
a
recommendation
to
accept.

ASLEF
is
comparing
this
progress
with
the
situation
in
England,
where
it
is
about
to
stage
two
more
strikes
affecting
13
train
operators
on
31
May
and
3
June.
It
has
also
called
an
overtime
ban
this
week
until
Saturday
and
again
on
1
June.

The
union
said
the
offer
from
ScotRail
is
a
one-year
deal,
with
a
5
per
cent
rise
from
£55,264
to
£58,027.

Transport
Wales
is
offering
8.9
per
cent
backdated
to
1
April,
taking
drivers
to
£63,200.
Pay
would
rise
again
by
a
further
7.9
per
cent
on
1
April
2024,
taking
drivers
to
£68,300,
followed
by
a
further
4.1
per
cent
in
December
2024
to
£71,000,
as
well
as
one
more
increase
on
1
April
2025
equivalent
to
the
Retail
Price
Index
in
February
2025.

ASLEF
general
secretary
Mick
Whelan
said:
‘Subject
to
the
decision
of
our
members
–
and
because,
as
a
trade
union,
we
are
a
very
democratic
organisation,
it
is
their
decision
–
we
have
successfully
negotiated
significant
pay
increases
for
our
members
with
the
governments
of
the
devolved
nations.

‘Sadly,
this
is
in
stark
contrast
with
the
response
from
the
Westminster
government.
The
train
companies
with
which
we
are
in
dispute,
because
they
have
not
offered
their
drivers
an
increase
in
salary
since
2019,
and
the
Tory
government
that
stands
behind
them
do
not
appear
to
be
interested
in
getting
a
resolution
that
serves
passengers
and
businesses
as
well
as
staff
and
will
help
to
get
Britain’s
railways
back
on
track.

‘This
is
further
proof
that
ASLEF
is
willing
to
negotiate
in
good
faith
and
modernise
our
railway.
And
further
proof
that
the
failure
of
negotiations
with
the
TOCs
in
England
is
the
responsibility
of
Mark
Harper,
the
DfT,
and
the
RDG.
That
has
been
laid
bare
for
all
to
see.’

ScotRail
service
delivery
director
David
Simpson
told
the
Guardian:
‘I’m
pleased
that
the
ASLEF
executive
committee
has
approved
this
strong
pay
offer
and
has
recommended
that
its
members
vote
to
accept
it.’