Train Drivers to Vote on Pay Deal

Train drivers in the UK are set to vote on a multi-year pay offer that could conclude a prolonged dispute lasting over two years. The proposal, negotiated by the Aslef union with the new Labour government, includes pay increases of 5% for 2019-2022, 4.75% for 2022-2024, and 4.5% for 2024-2025 without any additional conditions. Aslef's general secretary, Mick Whelan, expressed satisfaction with the new government's willingness to negotiate, contrasting it with the previous Conservative administration's refusal to engage meaningfully. This agreement comes after extensive strikes and overtime bans that disrupted rail services across England. The union is recommending acceptance of the offer, which marks a significant improvement from a previous rejected offer. If accepted, this deal could bring an end to the longest-running dispute in British railway history, affecting 16 rail operators.