THIRTEEN years of Tory government have “broken this country,” TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said today.

Speaking at Aslef’s annual conference in Cardiff, Wales, the TUC leader praised the hundreds of thousands of workers standing up to take action for fair pay across the country.

He said: “To each and every worker considering, or taking, strike action I say together we win, solidarity, comrades!

“The work every Aslef rep does, every day, makes a difference not just to your members but for passengers, too.

“But we need a change in ideology – since privatisation, the TOCs [train operating companies] and RoSCos [rolling stock companies] have made a fortune, leaving the rest of us with the bill. 

“It is time to take back control and bring our railways back where they belong – in public ownership.

“The dead hand of the government is trying to sabotage a deal in the rail industry. 

“It’s time for the government to stop being a barrier to reaching a fair settlement for Aslef members who deserve it.”

Steve Gurdler of the retired members’ section also hit out against the pernicious Tory anti-union laws in a debate about the fight for workers’ rights.

He said: “There are some good Labour MPs, but some not so good, and we need to keep the pressure up and make sure we get the anti-trade union laws repealed.”

Aslef vice-president Andy Hudd added: “If we lose the right to strike – through the Minimum Service Levels Bill – then we will no longer be a proper trade union, we will be a staff association. 

“The measures won’t work – they don’t work in Europe and they won’t work here – but the Tories seem determined to drive them through.”