A TRAIN drivers’ union has been cruelly branded for going on strike during the Commonwealth Games.
Aslefs strike will ruin the event in Birminghamaccording to the mayor of West Midlands Andy Street.
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Union boss Mick Whelan has been urged to call off the strike next Saturday – also the first day of English football league season.
Mr Street said: “This is a selfish, cruelly timed and cynical manipulation of a historic national event.
“I urge Aslef to step back from the brink and reconsider this heartless decision.”
Up to 1.2 million people are expected to participate in Games events, which begin on Thursday.
Mr Street added: “Choosing a day where we have the marathon and almost all the venues are in action is a particularly tough approach.”
Mr Whelan insisted last week: “Unfortunately, no one is coming to the table to find a solution.”
And this month he said: a Commons committee that the strikes were “a reluctance against poverty”.
The average 2021 salary for a machinist was £59,189.
Separately, the RMT confirmed that its 40,000 rail workers will go on strike on Wednesday after talks broke down.
Network Rail said the RMT had walked out of a two-year, eight percent wage agreement with no mandatory severance package.
Only seven percent of the public supports the drivers’ demands, a YouGov poll shows.
Ministers plan to move forward with minimum services legislation which will ensure: the public dependent on the railways will not be cut off of work and vital appointments.