TUC to help heal ASLEF-GMB rift

Members of the GMB general union working at rail union ASLEF have suspended their threat of industrial action which was sparked by a letter from ASLEF general secretary Shaun Brady threatening to sack them.

Meanwhile Brady has agreed to withdraw the letter as part of a deal brokered by the TUC to resolve "all outstanding problems in the internal industrial relations at ASLEF," as the TUC described it.

Brady had wanted to introduce a new much tougher regime which he said was needed so the union could provide a seven-day-a-week service to members.

Staff threatened to take industrial action, to which Brady responded by warning that he would replace striking employees with new staff.