Disruption will continue on East Midlands Trains next week after talks between members of the ASLEF union and the train operator ‘failed to reach any conclusion’.
East Midlands Trains said it was ‘frustrated’ that the meeting had ended without agreement and that two further days of strike action next week had not been called off.
The company said it had put forward ‘constructive proposals aimed at ending the dispute and reassuring employees on the future of their pensions’.
However, the union has ‘failed to take up the offer, which would have would put hundreds of pounds into the pockets of all employees with no loss of pension benefits’.
ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan, who led the union’s negotiating team, said he was ‘very disappointed’ that management had come to the table ‘without flexibility, without fresh ideas and without serious intent to end the dispute’.
Clare McCartney, HR Director for East Midlands Trains, said:
“We are frustrated our constructive attempts to provide a resolution on this issue have not been taken up by ASLEF today and the union have not offered any alternative way to resolve the dispute.
“Instead, it appears likely we will have two further days of strike action over nothing, with all of the associated disruption for our passengers.
“Our door remains open and we believe the way to solve this is for the union to talk and not walk.”
Strikes are due to take place next week on 15th and 17th May.
