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Aslef
Women tarring a street
May Day 2026 / 1 May 2026
1 May 2026

Aslef general secretary DAVE CALFE looks at how rail workers and miners stood together against wage cuts 100 years ago – and why the legacy of collective action endures today

Train drivers from the Aslef union on the picket line at Euston station in London, April 5, 2024
Features / 21 February 2026
21 February 2026

The newly elected general secretary of the Aslef train drivers’ union speaks to Ben Chacko about union wins, a welcome shift in approach to the rail sector and what still needs to be done

A Hull Trains passenger train at Kings Cross Station in London, September 25, 2025
Workers' Rights / 7 December 2025
7 December 2025
Dave Calfe (left) with Mick Whelan for Aslef
Workers' Rights / 6 November 2025
6 November 2025
A ScotRail train at Edinburgh Waverley Station
Workers' Rights / 5 November 2025
5 November 2025
Train drivers from the Aslef union on the picket line at Euston station in London, as they are launching a wave of fresh walkouts in a long-running dispute over pay. Train drivers at 16 rail companies are holding a rolling programme of one-day walkouts between April 5 and 8, coupled with a six-day ban on overtime. Picture date: Friday April 5, 2024
TUC Congress 2025 / 8 September 2025
8 September 2025

On the eve of the 157th Trades Union Congress, MICK WHELAN, general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers’ union, celebrates victory in his campaign to get dignity for drivers at work

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan on the picket line at Euston train station in London, as members of train drivers union are launching a wave of fresh walkouts in a long-running dispute over pay, April 5, 2024
Trade Unions / 13 August 2025
13 August 2025
Pic: Neil Terry
Britain / 25 July 2025
25 July 2025

 Birmingham’s striking bin workers and supporters bring waste sites to a standstill

Train drivers from the Aslef union on the picket line at Euston station in London, April 5, 2024
Features / 19 July 2025
19 July 2025

As the labour movement meets to remember the Tolpuddle Martyrs, MICK WHELAN, general secretary of train drivers’ union Aslef, says it’s an appropriate moment to remind the Labour government to listen to the trade unions a little more

Train drivers from the Aslef union on the picket line at Euston station in London, April 5, 2024
Workers' Rights / 1 June 2025
1 June 2025
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander (right) speaks to SWR train drivers ahead of boarding the first operational renationalised train service at Waterloo train station in central London, May 25, 2025
Railway / 25 May 2025
25 May 2025

But unions warn renationalisation must not be fudged

mich whelan
Your paper / 21 May 2025
21 May 2025
A piper walks the platform alongside the Avanti West Coast Class 390 EMU train as it arrives at Glasgow Central Station from London Euston, failing to break the 36-year-old record for the fastest train journey between London and Glasgow, June 17, 2021
Railways / 8 May 2025
8 May 2025

Our groundbreaking report reveals how private rail companies are bleeding millions from public coffers through exploitative leasing practices — but we have the solutions, writes Aslef Scottish organiser KEVIN LINDSAY  

People board a bus in the rain in Glasgow, December 12, 2023
Public Transport / 28 April 2025
28 April 2025
Members of the Aslef union on a picket line near to Leeds tr
Transport / 18 April 2025
18 April 2025

Walkout follows long-running dispute over sacking

Commuters walking past a ScotRail train at Edinburgh's Waver
Britain / 11 April 2025
11 April 2025
Sign for the London Underground seen through the closed shut
Britain / 11 April 2025
11 April 2025
Forest and Lime + Uber e-bikes on the pavement in Parliament
Britain / 13 March 2025
13 March 2025
Stand Up to Racism Sabby Dhalu co-convenor speaks at a side
Stand Up / 2 March 2025
2 March 2025
Farage's far-right party seek to scapegoat migrants to weaken workers' rights, Stand Up to Racism conference warns
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan (centre) on the picket l
Features / 22 February 2025
22 February 2025
Aslef general secretary MICK WHELAN speaks to Ben Chacko about rail renationalisation, the Employment Rights Bill and why we shouldn’t write off this Labour government
Trains at Elizabeth Line depot at Old Oak Common, in west Lo
Britain / 13 February 2025
13 February 2025
Aslef General Secretary Mick Whelan (centre) at a picket lin
Britain / 10 December 2024
10 December 2024
Members of the Aslef union on a picket line near to Leeds tr
Features / 21 November 2024
21 November 2024
NEIL FINDLAY slams the shocking lack of facilities and breaks forcing drivers to risk health and endure degrading conditions following a new report from train drivers’ union Aslef
Britain / 19 November 2024
19 November 2024
Amazon staff members on a GMB union picket line outside the
Britain / 10 October 2024
10 October 2024
Unite's Sharon Graham says the Bill fails to end zero-hours contracts and fire-and-rehire
A picket against peak fares
Britain / 1 October 2024
1 October 2024
Commuters and travellers at Edinburgh's Waverley Station
Britain / 30 September 2024
30 September 2024
Members of the Aslef union on a picket line near to Leeds tr
Britain / 25 September 2024
25 September 2024
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan (centre) on the picket l
Britain / 18 September 2024
18 September 2024
TUC 2024 / 9 September 2024
9 September 2024
Aslef general secretary MICK WHELAN writes for the Morning Star on the eve of the TUC in Brighton, about the pay offer from the DfT, relations with the Labour government, and the union’s motion at Congress calling for the renationalisation of rail freight
Members of the Aslef union on a picket line near to Leeds tr
Britain / 16 August 2024
16 August 2024
Deputy Labour Party leader Angela Rayner speaking at the TUC
Britain / 4 August 2024
4 August 2024
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan outside the Palace of We
Britain / 29 July 2024
29 July 2024
Mick Whelan joins MPs outside Parliament ahead of the second reading of Labour’s railway nationalisation Bill
Pipe bands and banners parade through Durham during the Durh
Durham Miners' Gala / 13 July 2024
13 July 2024
MICK WHELAN, general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers’ trade union, writes for the Morning Star as union activists prepare to march through Durham today in a display of working-class solidarity at the 138th Durham Miners’ Gala
Mick Whelan with Labour candidate Matt Bishop, and a life si
Features / 4 July 2024
4 July 2024
MICK WHELAN, general secretary of train drivers’ trade union Aslef, writes for the Morning Star as voters prepare to go to the polls in the general election today
CLASS FIGHTER: Tosh McDonald is seeking Doncaster Central’
Features / 29 June 2024
29 June 2024
Former president of Aslef, the train drivers’ union, TOSH McDONALD is the Workers Party candidate for Doncaster Central constituency on July 4. He talks to Morning Star northern reporter Peter Lazenby
Mick Whelan (left) with EC president Dave Calfe
Features / 20 May 2024
20 May 2024
MICK WHELAN, general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers’ union, writes for the Morning Star on the eve of his union’s annual conference in Manchester from Monday 20 to Friday May 24
Bill Ronksley (centre, in suit) with Tosh McDonald (centre,
Tribute / 7 May 2024
7 May 2024
Former Aslef president TOSH McDONALD pays tribute to his political mentor and to the lifetime he spent serving the left and labour movement
CLARITY AND RESOLVE: Railworkers on a picket line at Euston
Workers' Memorial Day 2024 / 27 April 2024
27 April 2024
Aslef general secretary MICK WHELAN warns that any attempt to run trains with a skeleton crew due to the outrageous stipulations of the Tories’ anti-strike Bill could easily lead to a disastrous loss of life
Diane Abbott addressing the People's Assembly Britain is Bro
Britain / 24 April 2024
24 April 2024
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan on the picket line at Eu
Britain / 22 April 2024
22 April 2024
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan (centre) on the picket l
Britain / 7 April 2024
7 April 2024
Protesters during the Protect The Right To Strike march in L
Northern TUC Conference 2024 / 24 March 2024
24 March 2024
A London Underground roundel at Oxford Circus station, in Lo
Britain / 26 February 2024
26 February 2024
ASLEF picket line in Newcastle where LNER drivers are taking
Britain / 2 February 2024
2 February 2024
A member of staff assists a person at the ticket machines in
Britain / 22 December 2023
22 December 2023
Passengers in Paddington station in London, during a strike
Britain / 8 December 2023
8 December 2023
Members of the Aslef union on a picket line at Euston statio
Britain / 5 December 2023
5 December 2023
Members of the Aslef union on a picket line at Euston statio
Britain / 1 December 2023
1 December 2023
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan on a picket line at Eust
Britain / 30 November 2023
30 November 2023
ALWAYS RESOLUTE: Aslef picket line at Euston station in Lond
Features / 29 November 2023
29 November 2023
As train drivers prepare for their next round of industrial action, the Aslef general secretary talks to Morning Star reporter PETER LAZENBY
Britain / 24 October 2023
24 October 2023
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan
Interview / 30 September 2023
30 September 2023
With rail services in England at a standstill again today, general secretary of drivers’ union Aslef MICK WHELAN talks to Morning Star reporter Peter Lazenby about why members are taking strike action
Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, joins union members
Britain / 29 September 2023
29 September 2023
‘Any government that indentures its own citizens should understand the ire they have caused,’ Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan says
A worker at HS2's Curzon Street site in Birmingham, May 10,
Britain / 29 September 2023
29 September 2023
THE GOOD FIGHT: Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan (second
Features / 16 September 2023
16 September 2023
Aslef leader MICK WHELAN talks to Ben Chacko about how the government is preventing resolution of the rail dispute and how other countries put Britain to shame when it comes to transport planning and green travel
Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union general secretary M
Britain / 31 August 2023
31 August 2023
Unions and campaigners to unite for latest major protest against ticket office closures
Members of the Aslef union on a picket line near to Leeds tr
Britain / 17 July 2023
17 July 2023
Members of the Aslef union on a picket line near to Leeds tr
Britain / 16 June 2023
16 June 2023
Aslef members to strike on July 1st and 2nd
Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, joins union members
Britain / 31 May 2023
31 May 2023
Rail union slams demands for productivity to increase ‘by thousands of per cent’ while slashing wages
Members of the drivers' union Aslef on the picket line at Ne
Britain / 30 May 2023
30 May 2023
‘We’re in this for the long haul,’ Aslef's Mick Whelan says as pat dispute rumbles on
General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress Paul Nowak
Britain / 24 May 2023
24 May 2023
Rail companies profit while public bears the cost, says TUC chief at rail union Aslef's annual conference
Southeastern trains in sidings at Ramsgate railway station i
Britain / 12 May 2023
12 May 2023
‘The government seems to think they can starve us back to work, or that we will give up, but that isn’t going to happen,’ Aslef head Mick Whelan says
TransPennine Express will be nationalised after years of poo
Britain / 11 May 2023
11 May 2023
Unions reiterate calls to renationalise railways after TransPennine Express joins London North Eastern Railway, Northern, and Southeastern
We are in no doubt that in the days leading up to the strike
Features / 28 February 2023
28 February 2023
The Tories are starving TfL of funds and now the company is tearing up agreements and coming for our pensions. Our members won’t accept this — in March, we strike, writes MICHAEL CULHANE
Aslef General Secretary Mick Whelan (centre) joins train wor
Britain / 3 February 2023
3 February 2023
Aslef members return to pickets for a series of 24-hour strikes
Protesters outside Downing Street, London, demonstrating aga
Britain / 1 February 2023
1 February 2023
Half a million workers down tools over pay, jobs and working conditions
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Tran
Britain / 6 January 2023
6 January 2023
RMT leader Mick Lynch says Tories want to ‘close down the unions and stop us from campaigning against poverty’
(L to R) RMT pickets at Euston station; Inga Bystram
Culture / 4 January 2023
4 January 2023
ALEX GORDON introduces painter Inga Bystram - the picket line phenomenon
Aslef General Secretary Mick Whelan (right) at a picket line
Britain / 4 January 2023
4 January 2023
Passengers wait at the barriers at King's Cross station in L
Editorial / 3 January 2023
3 January 2023
Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union on
Britain / 28 December 2022
28 December 2022
READY TO ACT: Aslef members on strike in November 2022
Features / 28 December 2022
28 December 2022
With Tube management seeking to force workers to work harder, for longer and for less, is it any wonder that fed-up Aslef members are likely to deliver a Yes vote for industrial action in the new year, asks MICHAEL CULHANE
The front of an Avanti West Coast train showing the new logo
Britain / 14 December 2022
14 December 2022
Aslef General Secretary Mick Whelan (right) at a picket line
Britain / 18 November 2022
18 November 2022
Aslef General Secretary Mick Whelan (centre) at a picket lin
Features / 19 October 2022
19 October 2022
From its crucial part in industry, to its central importance to our social and cultural life, to the role it must play in our commitment to achieving a carbon-neutral nation, Britain has to back rail, writes MICK WHELAN
A ScotRail train at Edinburgh's Waverley Station.
Britain / 20 September 2022
20 September 2022
Members of the Unite union man a picket line at one of the e
Britain / 18 September 2022
18 September 2022
More than 500 Liverpool dockers to be the first in action on Monday night as they strike for two weeks over pay
Aslef General Secretary Mick Whelan (centre) and Labour MPs
Britain / 16 September 2022
16 September 2022
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady
Britain / 9 September 2022
9 September 2022
Socialists warn ‘cost-of-living crisis hasn’t and will not go away’
Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA)
Britain / 31 August 2022
31 August 2022
GOING STRONG: A lively RMT picket in Penzance, west Cornwall
Features / 24 August 2022
24 August 2022
Although the Labour Party has shifted to the right, socialism is thriving down in the south-west. DAWN EVANS reports
Mick Whelan, ASLEF general secretary gives evidence to the T
Features / 30 July 2022
30 July 2022
MICK WHELAN, general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers’ union, explains why its members are on strike today
A view of Southeastern trains in sidings near Ashford railwa
Britain / 29 July 2022
29 July 2022
Kwasi Kwarteng Secretary of State for Business, Energy and I
Britain / 27 July 2022
27 July 2022
ROCK SOLID: Mick Lynch gives a speech to workers at a rally
Features / 16 July 2022
16 July 2022
The government claims that there is no money in the industry, yet international investors are falling over themselves to get in on the act, says RMT leader MICK LYNCH
Aslef General Secretary Mick Whelan
Britain / 14 July 2022
14 July 2022
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps speaks to the media College
Britain / 29 June 2022
29 June 2022
The train drivers union said the Transport Secretary was either ‘inept, exceptionally badly briefed, or a liar’
Britain / 15 May 2022
15 May 2022
Features / 31 March 2022
31 March 2022
Now that Scotland's railways are back in public hands, we must make sure they stay that way — and that the government invests in more services, better stations and lower fares for our passengers, writes KEVIN LINDSAY
Features / 9 November 2021
9 November 2021
Cop26 was a chance to commit to green jobs and a just transition to a carbon neutral economy — but the Tories' attitude to transport alone tells you they have no intention of tackling ecological Armageddon, writes MANUEL CORTES
Relatives of Wilston Samuel Jackson, Britain's first black t
Britain / 26 October 2021
26 October 2021
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks at the relaunch of Gla
Britain / 4 October 2021
4 October 2021
Aslef, RMT, TSSA and Unite members make their feelings known at the official unveiling of the new Queen Street station
Mick Whelan of Aslef
TUC 2021 / 8 September 2021
8 September 2021
MICK WHELAN, general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers’ trade union, is urging the government to use public-sector procurement to create – and protect – good jobs here in Britain
Britain / 20 August 2021
20 August 2021
A carriage is lifted by crane from the site of the Stonehave
Britain / 11 August 2021
11 August 2021
A carriage is lifted by crane from the site of the Stonehave
Britain / 19 April 2021
19 April 2021
Britain / 2 December 2020
2 December 2020
LNER train at King's Cross Station in London
Britain / 21 September 2020
21 September 2020
But taxpayers will continue to cover losses for the next 18 months
Britain / 14 September 2020
14 September 2020
Britain / 19 August 2020
19 August 2020
Unions and passenger groups hit out at another 1.6% rail price rise
Empty stairs and escalators in London's Oxford Street Underg
Britain / 3 May 2020
3 May 2020
Transport trade unions tell leaders that lifting lockdown early would risk worker and passenger safety in the name of profit
Britain / 5 April 2020
5 April 2020
An empty looking platform at Edinburgh Waverley station
Britain / 23 March 2020
23 March 2020
However it should not have taken a pandemic to bring rail back into public ownership, trade unionists say
Labour Party Conference ’19 / 21 September 2019
21 September 2019
MICK WHELAN, leader of train drivers’ union Aslef and chair of Labour Unions, reflects on the importance of the labour movement to the Labour Party
Transport is the biggest polluter, in terms of greenhouse ga
TUC Congress ’19 / 6 September 2019
6 September 2019
MICK WHELAN, general secretary of Aslef, calls on Congress to back the train drivers’ demands for the government to tackle climate change by investing in rail
Police lead away an injured picketer at Orgreave Coking Plan
Landin in Scotland / 13 July 2019
13 July 2019
Britain / 16 May 2019
16 May 2019
Richard Burgon
Aslef Conference ’19 / 13 May 2019
13 May 2019
Features / 10 May 2019
10 May 2019
Aslef’s annual assembly of delegates begins today in Leeds, where the train drivers’ union was formed back in 1880. MICK WHELAN looks back — and forward
Britain / 27 February 2019
27 February 2019
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks to MPs of his
Britain / 15 January 2019
15 January 2019
General secretaries of 14 unions remain defiant after Turkey's ambassador demands they pull out of the Freedom for Ocalan campaign
Features / 4 December 2018
4 December 2018
PETE LAZENBY writes on ‘a tower of strength for Britain’s railway workers and the whole trade union movement’ who has passed away aged 94
TUC 2018 / 11 September 2018
11 September 2018
On the eve of the TUC in Manchester, MICK WHELAN makes a plea for the Conservative government to show some common sense
BFAWU Conference ’18 / 12 June 2018
12 June 2018
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan fires up food and hospitality workers
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling
Railways / 9 May 2018
9 May 2018
Train divers' union Aslef criticised the Department for Transport for failing to reveal figures on the cost of subsidies to private rail operators
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling
Transport / 29 March 2018
29 March 2018
Mick Whelan (fifth from right) joins an Aslef protest
Labour Movement / 12 March 2018
12 March 2018
Aslef general secretary MICK WHELAN reflects on a controversial call for the disaffiliation of trade unions from the Labour Party
Railways / 10 January 2018
10 January 2018
Damning report finds misery on Britain's worst performing railway ‘could have been avoided’
Britain / 7 December 2017
7 December 2017
Transport / 5 December 2017
5 December 2017
Labour presses Tories to renationalise 'rip-off' privatised railways
Trade Unions Against the EU fringe at TUC congress 2017: / 11 September 2017
11 September 2017
Britain / 31 July 2017
31 July 2017
Editorial / 13 July 2017
13 July 2017
Britain / 20 June 2017
20 June 2017
Britain / 13 June 2017
13 June 2017
Union leaders demand Tories reverse £3bn cuts
Britain / 1 June 2017
1 June 2017
Britain / 24 May 2017
24 May 2017
Britain / 23 May 2017
23 May 2017
Britain / 23 May 2017
23 May 2017
Britain / 23 May 2017
23 May 2017
Features / 22 May 2017
22 May 2017
Aslef’s annual assembly of delegates opened in Bristol yesterday. MICK WHELAN explains why renationalising the railways is a vote-winner
Features / 21 May 2017
21 May 2017
Aslef’s annual assembly of delegates opens in Bristol today. MICK WHELAN, the union’s general secretary, spells out why a Labour government would be good for Britain
Britain / 17 May 2017
17 May 2017
Britain / 15 May 2017
15 May 2017
Britain / 23 April 2017
23 April 2017
Britain / 3 April 2017
3 April 2017
Aslef members vote to continue long-running dispute with shambolic franchise
Britain / 20 March 2017
20 March 2017
Britain / 16 March 2017
16 March 2017
But conductors’ union RMT says offer will still slash guards
Britain / 15 March 2017
15 March 2017
Britain / 20 February 2017
20 February 2017
Britain / 20 February 2017
20 February 2017
Drivers ballot on strike action after bosses lock them out of promotion
Britain / 19 February 2017
19 February 2017
‘Disgraceful’ franchise threatens to punish strikers
Editorial / 16 February 2017
16 February 2017
Britain / 16 February 2017
16 February 2017
Aslef vote puts brakes on railway’s plans for driver-only trains
Britain / 15 February 2017
15 February 2017
Britain / 8 February 2017
8 February 2017
Britain / 7 February 2017
7 February 2017
Union insists second person is still on train
Britain / 2 February 2017
2 February 2017
Britain / 19 January 2017
19 January 2017
Britain / 17 January 2017
17 January 2017
Union and Southern agree to talks to resolve ongoing dispute
Britain / 10 January 2017
10 January 2017
Frankie Cottrell calls on company to negotiate with unions so his parents can get home on time
Britain / 10 January 2017
10 January 2017
The Morning Star’s industrial reporter Conrad Landin speaks to Aslef district organiser Graham Morris
Editorial / 5 January 2017
5 January 2017
Britain / 4 January 2017
4 January 2017
Aslef members on Southern cut walkout to three days
Britain / 23 December 2016
23 December 2016
Britain / 22 December 2016
22 December 2016
Britain / 19 December 2016
19 December 2016
Britain / 17 December 2016
17 December 2016
Britain / 16 December 2016
16 December 2016
Britain / 15 December 2016
15 December 2016
Union furious over snub at Acas strike sitdown
Britain / 13 December 2016
13 December 2016