Train strike over ‘sleeping driver' to continue beyond Christmas
Strikers at Hull Trains have been walking out for the past six months to demand the reinstatement of a colleague who nodded off while at the controls of a 125mph service.
Union representatives have since claimed there is 'no evidence' of this happening, although a letter sent to Hull Trains staff by its bosses said the driver had experienced 'fatigue matters' more than once.
Unions involved in long-running disputes must by law reballot their members every six months to see if they want to continue walking out.
'This is a moral issue'
Mick Whelan, the general secretary of Aslef, said the union would 'keep going' until the driver was reinstated.
Mr Whelan said that Hull Trains had 'behaved deplorably', adding: 'The company's failure to act responsibly has enormous implications not just for rail workers and passengers at Hull Trains but for staff and passengers right across the wider rail network.
'This is a moral issue because we have a culture on the railway designed to keep everyone safe.
'Anyone who works on the railway should be able to report a safety concern without fearing they will be penalised, punished or lose their livelihood.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Cruelty claims knock £150m off pork producer Cranswick after second Mail probe at its farms
More than £150million was wiped off Cranswick's value after a second Mail on Sunday investigation into animal cruelty at its farms. Shares in the pork producer tumbled as much as 5 per cent yesterday after an exposé revealed workers at Somerby Top Farm in Lincolnshire routinely hitting pigs and overseeing botched killings of piglets. Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons cut ties with the site following the harrowing footage recorded by the Animal Justice Project. However, the supermarkets are still sourcing meat from other farms owned by Cranswick, one of Britain's biggest pork producers. It is the second time this year that The Mail on Sunday has exposed shocking animal abuse at one of the FTSE 250 firm's suppliers. The share price slump in early trading wiped £155million off the value of Cranswick. The shares clawed back some of the losses to close down 0.8 per cent. Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'This is both a reputational risk for Cranswick and a supply worry. 'Recurring controversies can signal to investors that there is a deeper problem with policy implementation.' In May, the newspaper obtained footage that appeared to show farm workers in Lincolnshire grabbing piglets by their hind legs and smashing them to the ground. The harrowing videos filmed by the Animal Justice Project at Northmoor Farm, also in Lincolnshire, showed sows being kicked and beaten as well as botched killings. The report claimed that piglets are killed if they are the runts of the litter and not growing fast enough to be profitable. Following the horrific revelations, Cranswick suspended workers at the farm and carried out an 'urgent and thorough investigation'. But new footage from Somerby Top Farm showed workers hitting pigs with boards, paddles and their fists, deliberately targeting areas such as their snout and eyes. One piglet was left dying for 33 hours as other piglets cannibalised an open wound. A Cranswick spokesman said: 'We find the treatment of the pigs in the footage distressing to watch and we apologise unreservedly for this lapse in our standards. 'It does not in any way reflect the operating practices at our farms today.'
The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
Gun-nut thug held SHOTGUN to Scots victim's face over £30 debt – but she had final revenge
A MANIAC who held a shotgun to a terrified woman's head was nailed after she bravely snapped him holding the weapon. Crazed Gary Strachen is seen holding the huge 'unsafe' gun after going into rage against the woman after row over £30. 2 2 The 46 year-old left the woman in tears when he stormed into a bedroom and brandished the firearm at her. But despite her fear she still managed to snap him clutching the gun on her mobile phone. The photos helped police catch him for the gun crime and he was yesterday jailed for more than five years at the High Court in Glasgow. The woman was known to Strachen who'd been at her flat in the city's Scotstoun on August 12 last year. The victim had called her mother asking for a loan of £30 who'd agreed but made an error in transferring the cash. That send Strachen into a rage. Prosecutor Kath Harper KC said: 'This caused Strachen to become annoyed and an argument started. 'He screamed and shouted at her. This caused the woman to go into a bedroom. 'Strachen then burst in minutes later waving a sawn-off shot gun and pointed it at her.' The court heard he went on to press the barrel of the weapon against the terrified woman's cheek and then forehead. The victim told Strachen she was going to call the police. He replied: 'Do it, go for it. Do it right in front of me.' It was soon after the woman managed to capture Strachen brandishing the gun before he fled the flat with the weapon. The woman dialled 999 then called her mum. She was described as 'crying uncontrollably'. Strachen was not immediately traced but the weapon was found wrapped in a towel at a unit he rented in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire. It was said to be 'not a traditional shotgun', but an old musket which firearms officers could not make safe. It was in fair condition and was apparently in working order. DNA linked Strachen to the gun. He was eventually arrested by police two weeks later, but made no comment initially about the incident at the flat. The court heard Strachen had 28 previous convictions for crimes including for violence, disorder and drugs although had never been given a jail-term. He was on bail for this latest crime. Strachen admitted to charges of assault and possession of a firearm. Lord Colbeck locked him up for five years and three months. The term was cut from six years and eight months due to the guilty pleas. The judge: 'You appear to diminish the effect of what you did by insisting the woman has forgiven you. 'it cannot be disputed that serious psychological harm was caused. 'However one looks at it, behaving as you did with a sawn-off shotgun reflects a high degree of culpability.' After the hearing, prosecutors praised the bravery of the woman involved.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Driver crashes stolen car into armed officers' van following 100mph chase
A driver, Marlon Henriques, crashed a stolen car into an armed police van during a 100mph chase through country roads in Wiltshire. The 12-minute pursuit began when officers tried to stop Henriques for speeding, during which he displayed extremely reckless driving, including running red lights. Henriques's dangerous driving resulted in him crashing into another van, causing it to overturn, before then colliding with a police firearms vehicle. The 30-year-old was jailed for 22 months and disqualified from driving for four years and 11 months after admitting to multiple offences, including dangerous driving and taking a vehicle without consent. Watch the video in full above.
