This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18958434#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| East Midlands Trains: Aslef 'hell-bent on Olympic disruption' | East Midlands Trains: Aslef 'hell-bent on Olympic disruption' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The union representing East Midlands Trains drivers has been accused of being "hell-bent on disrupting the Olympic Games". | The union representing East Midlands Trains drivers has been accused of being "hell-bent on disrupting the Olympic Games". |
| Aslef confirmed members employed by the rail firm will take strike action on 6,7 and 8 August over pension changes. | Aslef confirmed members employed by the rail firm will take strike action on 6,7 and 8 August over pension changes. |
| David Horne, managing director of East Midlands Trains, called the union's behaviour "nothing short of shameful". | David Horne, managing director of East Midlands Trains, called the union's behaviour "nothing short of shameful". |
| The union said it would not allow the Olympics to "affect what is happening to our pensions". | The union said it would not allow the Olympics to "affect what is happening to our pensions". |
| Aslef and East Midlands Trains have been in talks since Friday, the day after Aslef announced plans for its members to strike during the Games. | Aslef and East Midlands Trains have been in talks since Friday, the day after Aslef announced plans for its members to strike during the Games. |
| Mr Horne said: "Every time we make progress and reach an agreement, the union creates further obstacles." | Mr Horne said: "Every time we make progress and reach an agreement, the union creates further obstacles." |
| He accused the union of refusing to put an agreed deal to members. | He accused the union of refusing to put an agreed deal to members. |
| 'Way out' | |
| Andy Botham, from Aslef, said the union had offered "numerous options" to East Midlands Trains and had looked at "finding a compromise". | Andy Botham, from Aslef, said the union had offered "numerous options" to East Midlands Trains and had looked at "finding a compromise". |
| "We're far from being hell-bent on disrupting the Olympics; that's the last thing we want to do," he said. | "We're far from being hell-bent on disrupting the Olympics; that's the last thing we want to do," he said. |
| "We've continued with strike action that was in place... we don't feel the Olympics should affect what's happening industrially and certainly shouldn't affect what's happening to our pensions." | "We've continued with strike action that was in place... we don't feel the Olympics should affect what's happening industrially and certainly shouldn't affect what's happening to our pensions." |
| Mr Botham added that Aslef was open to further discussions and hoped that it could "find a way out of this without taking any action". | Mr Botham added that Aslef was open to further discussions and hoped that it could "find a way out of this without taking any action". |
| In June, the union suspended two strike dates to allow negotiations to take place. | In June, the union suspended two strike dates to allow negotiations to take place. |
| The union said its members oppose the firm's plans to reduce both its own and staff contributions to its pension fund from July. | The union said its members oppose the firm's plans to reduce both its own and staff contributions to its pension fund from July. |
| The train operator said last month that the change would leave drivers £500 a year better off without affecting pension benefits. | The train operator said last month that the change would leave drivers £500 a year better off without affecting pension benefits. |