Rail strike blocked by legal challenge
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.BARRIE CLEMENT
Labour Editor
Train drivers' leaders yesterday postponed the start of their campaign of six 24-hour strikes after a legal challenge.
The first day-long stoppage is now scheduled for tomorrow week instead of next Tuesday. The Cardiff Railway Company argued that it had not received the seven days' notice of industrial action required under law.
A British Rail spokesman said the decision to switch the first day's action would cause additional hardship because it would hit families planning weekend trips. The spokesman said management had asked Aslef, the train drivers' union, to think again about its planned disruption. No peace talks are planned.
Lew Adams, the union's general secretary, regretted the inconvenience caused to people who had already planned to make alternative travel arrangements for next Tuesday. He said that under the threat of a litigation the union had no alternative. Aslef plans strikes on 18 and 27 July, 8 and 25 August and 12 September. RMT, the industry's largest union, is announcing the result of its strike ballot tomorrow.
Tony Blair will almost certainly face questions about the dispute when he speaks at the biennial delegate conference of the Transport and General Workers' Union next Monday.
Mr Blair's appearance also follows a TUC report published yesterday which keeps up the pressure on the Labour leadership to set a figure for a national minimum wage ahead of the next general election. Published ahead of a TUC-sponsored conference today on a statutory minimum wage, it says that one in four workers would benefit from a pounds 4 lower limit.
The day after Mr Blair's speech to T&G delegates, the union, Labour's largest affiliate, debates motions in effect calling on the party to drop its commitment to a low pay commission which would advise a Blair administration on the level of a minimum wage. Some of the conference delegates will urge the union to propose a pounds 7 lower limit.
News Analysis, page 15
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments