TRAINS across Wales will grind to a standstill on Monday after workers accused bosses of negotiating in bad faith.

 

A bitter dispute over pay and conditions has seen tense negotiations between transport giant Arriva, which operates most services in Wales, and rail unions RMT and Aslef.

 

A strike in November was averted after last-minute talks.

 

Drivers’ union Aslef said it had reached an agreement with Arriva over pay, but that the company was seeking to force its members to accept changes to terms and conditions.

 

The company said it was “extremely disappointed” that Aslef had rejected its “latest offer of improvements to terms, conditions and pay for their members,” adding that it was cancelling all services on Monday.

 

But Aslef national organiser Simon Weller said: “The company has not made a new offer. It has sent us a form of words. But it is not new and it is not an offer.”

 

A source said negotiators had “agreed a deal, in principle, a few weeks ago, which we were prepared to recommend to members.” 

 

But Arriva, the source said, rowed back from this agreement “at the last minute.”

 

Drivers are also taking part in an overtime ban, which bosses have admitted could lead to service alterations until the dispute is settled.

 

The source added: “Arriva Trains Wales is being at best disingenuous, and at worst lying.”