Striking train drivers’ union branded ‘selfish and cruel’ for causing misery during Commonwealth Games

A TRAIN drivers’ union has been branded cruel for going ahead with a strike during the Commonwealth Games.

Aslef’s walkout will blight the event in Birmingham, according to West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.

Union boss Mick Whelan has been urged to call off the strike next Saturday — also the first day of England’s football league season.

Mr Street said: “This is a selfish, cruelly timed and cynical manipulation of a landmark national event.

“I urge Aslef to step back from the brink and rethink this heartless decision.”

Up to 1.2million are expected to attend Games events, which begin on Thursday.

Mr Street added: “To choose a day when we have the marathon and nearly all venues in action is an especially harsh approach.”

Mr Whelan last week insisted: “Unfortunately, no one is coming to the table to find a solution.”

And this month he told a Commons committee that the strikes were “dissent against poverty”.

The median 2021 salary for a train driver was £59,189.

Separately, the RMT confirmed its 40,000 rail worker members will strike on Wednesday after talks broke down.

Network Rail said the RMT had walked away from a two-year, eight per cent pay deal with no compulsory redundancy guarantee.

Just seven per cent of the public back the drivers’ demands, a YouGov poll shows.

Ministers are planning to push ahead with minimum service legislation which will ensure the public who rely on the railways are not cut off from work and vital appointments.