RAIL union bosses held a glitzy festive bash while inflicting misery on passengers with crippling industrial action.
Aslef chief Mick Whelan joined more than 100 members and Labour MPs in a ballroom at the four-star Earl of Doncaster Hotel.
Labour MP Kate Osborne told of her delight at celebrating with “comrades”.
Ms Osborne posted a video of her receiving a gift from Aslef’s Mick Whelan and pulling crackers — on the day an overtime ban hit rail services.
Next to the clip, set to festive music, she wrote: “Great to be with Aslef comrades in a womderfully (sic) Christmas venue and solidarity to all those taking strike action today.”
Labour receives funding from Aslef as its affiliate.
Friday’s scenes will infuriate millions whose own party plans have been ruined by walkouts.
The knees-up came on the same day the union began more than a week of strikes and overtime bans, kiboshing Christmas parties nationwide.
Aslef’s overtime ban lasts until Saturday.
Drivers are also staging a rolling programme of one-day walkouts until Friday.
Today passengers were complaining of reduced or no services with crowded carriages.
More than 100 union members packed into the Doncaster hotel which costs £4,000 to hire.
Mr Whelan gave a speech to guests, who also included Labour MPs Ian Lavery, Grahame Morris and Ian Mearns.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper blasted: “While Aslef bosses have lavish parties with Labour MPs, they remain intent on causing more disruption with strikes targeting working people who could only dream of a train driver’s salary north of £60,000.”
Tory MP Greg Smith accused militant bosses of “laughing in our faces at swanky dinners”.
The British Beer and Pub Association’s Emma McClarkin said a year’s action has cost the sector millions and told Aslef to “end these punishing strikes”.
The lunch was organised by Aslef’s District 4, covering the North East. A source said: “It was their Christmas party. They were having a very good time.”
Aslef denied it could be called a party, saying: “There was no music, no disco, no karaoke, and no dancing.”
It added: “It was an annual lunch to commemorate those people we have lost in the last 12 months and to look ahead to what we hope to achieve in the next year.”
