News ArchiveHatfield
Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, today paid tribute to those who died – and were injured – in the Hatfield rail crash 19 years ago.
Four people died, and more than 70 people were injured, when a GNER InterCity 225 travelling from London to Leeds was derailed, just south of Hatfield station in Hertfordshire, on 17 October 2000.
Mick said: ‘Hatfield exposed the serious shortcomings of the privatised infrastructure company Railtrack. The subsequent inquiry revealed that the company – which put profit before safety – had failed in its duty of care to passengers and workers. As some people talk about privatising Network Rail - and reforming the rail industry - we should reflect on what that means and where it goes.
'Private companies put profit – and their dividends to shareholders –before safety and take short cuts which result in accidents, injuries and deaths. In a safety-critical industry there is no room for a company, or chief executive, who wants his managers to take short cuts at the expense of fare-paying passengers, and those of us who work in the industry, and put safety, delivery, and public service first.’
News & Media
Keep up to date with the latest news and media releases. Below are the most recent stories. More can be found by clicking on News Archive.
| Articles Per Page: |
Have your say in the Labour leadership election
17 January 2020
As you'll know, the Labour Party is currently undergoing the process of electing a new leader and deputy leader. The Labour Party was created by the trade union movement to make sure that the voices of working people are heard in Parliament. It's therefore important that trade union members, including...Rail fare rises 2020
01 January 2020
On the eve of another round of above-inflation rail fare rises, Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, the train drivers’ trade union, said: ‘Once again the privatised train companies are telling passengers to pay more for...Queen's Speech
19 December 2019
ASLEF utterly condemns the Grant Shapps plan - revealed in the Queen's speech at the state opening of Parliament this morning - to curtail the right of train drivers, and other railway workers, to take industrial action. Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, the train drivers' union, said: "The right...Scotrail franchise to end early
18 December 2019
ASLEF, the train drivers' trade union, has welcomed, with reservations, the decision by the Scottish government to invoke its break clause on ScotRail. Kevin Lindsay, the union's organiser in Scotland, said: 'We are delighted by the decision announced today because we have argued for a long time...Curtailing the right to strike is not only a human rights abuse but bad for industrial relations
17 December 2019
ASLEF utterly condemns Transport Secretary Grant Shapps' plans to curtail the right to strike on public transport. Not only is the right to withdraw your labour a human right, but this is almost certain to worsen industrial relations, not improve them. Shapps' plan will mean that even when union...