Avanti West Coast, Aslef agree 3.6% pay deal; first under Burnham government

Avanti West Coast and Aslef union reached a 3.6% pay rise agreement on Saturday, averting strike threats on key UK routes including the London-Manchester line. This is the first such deal approved under Prime Minister Andy Burnham's premiership, signaling a potential shift in labor relations. The deal's impact on broader rail pay negotiations and industrial action remains uncertain.