ASLEF union balloting over dismissal of Hull Trains driver

A ballot for strike action will take place at Hull Trains, after an argument broke out between the operator and drivers’ union ASLEF over the treatment of one of its drivers.

ASLEF is calling for the driver, fired by FirstGroup’s Hull Trains after raising a safety concern, to be reinstated.

However, Hull Trains said that it has put safety first regarding the case. It added that plans would be put into place regarding the strike action, should it go ahead.

The argument arose after a driver shared information about their own workload and a previous incident, during a company briefing about fatigue.

After an investigation, Hull Trains management felt the information provided about the incident breached health and safety protocol, and dismissed the driver. RAIL understands that the driver had not raised the issue before the company briefing took place.

ASLEF is now balloting its HT members over the issue. Voting started on January 20 with the results expected on February 12.

HT said it is “disappointed” that strike action has been called.

A spokesperson said: “The safety concern claimed in the response by ASLEF is in direct relation to the individual concerned, but it would be inappropriate to comment further on a specific case.

“We always put safety first for both our customers and colleagues. The action taken in this matter is in line with upholding these standards.”

ASLEF disputes this, arguing that Hull Trains did not act appropriately when sacking the driver, and did not follow industry practice. It accused the operator of not offering support to the driver once the concern was raised, or throughout the investigation.

“FirstGroup and Hull Trains need to explain why they feel they’re different from other operators in our industry,” said ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan.

“Anybody who works on the railway should be able to report a safety concern without fear or favour, not to fear that they cannot speak up and report problems under threat of losing their livelihood.”

An inside source told RAIL that negotiations will continue, but that industrial action remained a “very real threat”.