The BBC reports that ASLEF and the Labour government are now “hopeful” of reaching a pay deal as they meet today. The union rejected the Rail Delivery Group’s last offer, which would have boosted the average annual pay for a driver to £65,000, because the Tory government proposed implementing training efficiencies. After 18 driver strikes they must be confident there will be no such cost-saving demands from Labour…

According to Electoral Commission records ASLEF has historically donated £922,252 to Labour and its politicians, £380,648 of which was trousered in the last four years. Money talks…

The Rail Delivery Group has been taken off negotiations, which are now run directly by the DfT under Louise Haigh. A former union employee, Haigh spoke at an ASLEF meeting in 2022 to proclaim it “an honour to work with this fantastic union on building a world class rail network.” Anyone who remembers British Rail will be dreading a re-nationalised Labour rail system…

UPDATE: Deal reached. 15% pay rise. Quelle suprise…