Aslef leaders suspended
Three of the most senior leaders of Aslef have been suspended from the union.
General secretary Shaun Brady, assistant general secretary Mick Blackburn, and president Martin Samway have been suspended by the union’s executive council following an argument last Thursday at a barbecue.
The men allegedly became involved in a brawl after Mr Samway overheard criticism of the former general secretary Mick Rix.
However, Mr Samway has denied he was the aggressor.
Last year left-winger Mr Rix surprisingly lost the leadership to the Blairite Mr Brady.
Since the election result there have been a number of internal clashes within the union’s hierarchy and Mr Brady has repeatedly complained that he has been stripped of the ability to run the union day to day.
Leaving the building after the decision to suspend him, Mr Brady said he would consider taking legal action.
He told waiting reporters: “I have been the democratically-elected general secretary for eight months. It has been eight months of absolute hell.
“This is not a battle between left and right – it is a battle between right and wrong. I call on the membership to get up and start fighting for the union.
“I was elected by the biggest majority ever known and I have been suspended against the wishes of my membership.”
Aslef is one of the most powerful and largest trade unions with 17,000 members in the railway industry.
Comment from the union has so far been limited, but speaking before the suspension announcement, spokesman Andrew Pakes told the BBC a number of complaints had been received.
Mr Pakes said: “The complaints, made by several members of staff, alleged that the president hit a female member of staff.”
“This is regarded as a serious complaint, and rightly so – a member of staff has been hit quite badly and is still off sick.
