Suspended union chief faces sack

The suspended £66,000-a-year chief of Aslef, the train drivers' union, today faces the sack when he appears before a disciplinary hearing.

Shaun Brady, 41, faces seven charges - one of which relates to a brawl at a union barbecue.

During the brawl with former president Martin Samways, who has since been sacked over the incident, union employee Julie Atkinson was struck to the ground.

Mr Brady also faces various charges of not helping with an earlier inquiry into the operation of the union, which included allegations of financial irregularities, talking to the media - including the Evening Standard - and bringing the union into disrepute.

Mr Brady has strongly denied all the allegations. He is expected to appeal and may take his case to an employment tribunal.

He said today: "I was elected by 4,500 members - now it seems I can be removed by just six or seven [on the executive committee]."