A MASS PICKET calling for the reinstatement of a train driver sacked after he raised safety concerns shows unions will not go away, Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said today.

Mr Whelan accused Hull Trains of lying after 30 union leaders backed his union’s seven-month fight for justice, with dozens braving the rain in a show of solidarity at Hull Paragon station.

Mr Whelan said: “Thank you for coming today to show your support for a driver who has been sacked for doing nothing wrong.

“He is the victim of a witch-hunt. He has a completely clean safety record. 

“The company are liars and have lied consistently throughout this dispute. They couldn’t lie straight in bed! They think we will go away. Today shows they are wrong.”

National Education Union executive committee member Anna Scott said: “I am a teacher and on the NEU executive – and I’m here to show solidarity with Aslef. We teach our children the difference between right and wrong. Aslef is right and Hull Trains is wrong.”

Fire Brigades Union president Ian Murray said: “Hull Trains management are an absolute disgrace.”

The leaders of Unite, the National Education Union and Public and Commercial Services unions are among those warning the company of “escalating levels of action and wider campaigning from our whole movement” if the unnamed driver is not reinstated.

His sacking in November, after he raised a safety concern in an internal meeting over fatigue, has seen 73 days of walkouts by the union since February, which recently renewed its mandate for action into 2026.

Hull Trains said it “follows highly regulated industry standard agreements and procedures for safety which is always our main priority.”