Hull Trains drivers vote to strike in row with operator over colleague's dismissal

Drivers at Hull Trains are to go on strike in March and April after one was fired.

ASLEF has announced that drivers will walk out on Fridays and Saturdays between March 7 and April 26, claiming that one was sacked for raising a safety concern.

The row between the union and open access operator broke out after a company meeting about fatigue, when a driver shared information about their own workload and a previous incident.

After an investigation, Hull Trains management felt the information provided about the incident breached health and safety protocol and dismissed the driver. It’s understood they had not raised the issue before the company briefing took place.

Announcing the strike action, ASLEF said members had voted overwhelmingly in support of their colleague.

The union’s full-time organiser in the north-east and lead officer at Hull Trains, Nigel Roebuck, said the operator had got things “completely wrong”.

He said: “It has ridden roughshod over the rule book, and all our agreements, and needs now to have a sensible rethink and do the right thing.”

Mick Whelan, ASLEF’s General Secretary, added: “We have a culture on the railway designed to keep everyone safe. Anyone who works on the railway should be able to report a safety concern without fearing they will be penalised, punished, or lose their livelihood.”

 Hull Trains said it hadn’t been officially notified about the strike and told passengers there was “no planned disruption to be concerned about at this time”.

A spokesman said: “Our position remains unchanged. The safety concern claimed by ASLEF relates to the individual involved in this dispute, but it would be inappropriate to comment further on this 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.”

Hull Trains said it will provide updates in due course if there are changes to its services.