Burnham approves 3.6% pay rise for Avanti West Coast train drivers

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has approved a significant above-inflation pay rise for train drivers on the Avanti West Coast network, a move his government says is aimed at resolving industrial disputes and preventing major service disruptions. The deal, confirmed by the Department for Transport, represents the first major public sector wage agreement under Burnham's leadership. Under the agreement, drivers represented by the Aslef union will receive a single-year pay increase of 3.6 percent. This rise is 0.7 percentage points above the most recent inflation rate of 2.9 percent.