Avanti West Coast train drivers to receive pay rise
Train drivers operating the London-Manchester line, frequently used by Andy Burnham, are set to receive an above-inflation pay rise of 3.6 per cent, reports BritPanorama.
The wage agreement between Avanti West Coast and the Aslef union marks the first deal approved under the current Prime Minister, who regularly travels from London to Downing Street North. The company facilitates services from London to various destinations including Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, and Blackpool.
Aslef has negotiated time-and-a-half pay on Sundays, a one-year wage increase of 3.6 per cent—which is 0.7 per cent above the latest inflation rate—and incentives of up to £720 for attending work on a fifth day of the week, as first reported by the Sunday Times.
This development follows the union’s announcement in late June to ballot its members on potential strikes over pay disputes. An Aslef spokesperson stated: “Our job is to enhance our members’ terms and conditions and this deal, struck with Avanti West Coast and approved by the DFTO (Department for Transport Operator), has been accepted.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport remarked: “This Government has prioritised resolving the rail union disputes, improving services for passengers and saving hundreds of millions in lost revenue to ease the burden on taxpayers. We are pleased to see Avanti West Coast work with Aslef to enable a fair and affordable settlement to keep Britain’s railways moving and prevent disruption for passengers.”
Avanti West Coast has been contacted for further comment.
