Union baron calls Shapps a liar on negotiations
The Aslef union has called the transport minister a “liar” regarding rail negotiations.
Grant Shapps had written in The Times: “The ‘two Micks’, Lynch of the RMT and Whelan of Aslef, are making fun of the taxpayer, but not in the way they are intended.
“RMT is blocking reforms and Aslef is dragging his feet in negotiations as both are calling for more strikes. Enough.”
Guardian Online reports that Whelan replied:
“I say Mr Shapps is lying, very simply, very clearly.
“We don’t drag our feet in the negotiations, we negotiate with 14 private companies, we don’t work for the government or the DfT [Department for Transport].”
“I would like Mr Shapps to get us out of this catch-22 situation which he misrepresents at every opportunity.”