Fury as Burnham agrees pay rises with train drivers to avoid embarrassing strikes on London to Manchester line

ANDY Burnham has agreed above-inflation pay rises with train drivers to avoid embarrassing strikes on the London to Manchester line. It is his first public sector pay deal since he set up No10 North in Manchester — where his ministers now routinely have to travel via Avanti West Coast services. Andy Burnham has agreed above-inflation pay rises with train drivers Credit: Henry Nicholls/PA Wire The PM wanted to avoid embarrassing strikes on the London to Manchester line Credit: EPA Burnham has referred to this as a “transfer of power” out of London. Leaked union correspondence shows the PM signed off a 3.6 per cent deal for Aslef drivers who start on £70,000 a year. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden accused Labour of capitulating to the unions. He told The Sunday Times: “Taxpayers are being asked to stump up millions simply to save Burnham’s blushes.” “This is Labour paying more for less. “And it’s passengers and taxpayers footing the bill.” The pay deal represents a huge win for the Aslef union, whose drivers are also set to receive a £720 bonus simply for turning up to work on a fifth day of the working week. It came after their refusal to work on the rest of the days forced cuts to 38 services this summer. Most read in The Sun Ministers have separately offered LNER drivers on the east coast mainline a 12 per cent pay rise over the next four years. As well as softer requirements for sick notes and non-attendance. Comment now