SHAUN Brady, the former general secretary of locomen’s union Aslef, has been appointed acting general secretary of the Associated Train Crew Union, a rival breakaway union.

The former Aslef general secretary was elected at a special conference of ACTU in June. Another former senior Aslef official, Jim Carrigan, is acting president for ACTU.

Mr Brady was dismissed from Aslef in August 2004 following an incident at a barbecue in May 2004. He had been general secretary for just 10 months after ousting Mick Rix. 

Mr Brady said that ACTU was moving “to the next stage of its evolution” with a formation of policies, district organisers in place and a programme to set up headquarters services.

However, a large HQ is not planned. “We are not going to waste members’ money,” Mr Brady said.

And he added: “We are not just about pay negotiations. We want to look at problems facing the industry and at ways to improve it.”

The union has recently produced a report analysing operational incidents and suggesting that sugar levels were relevant. As a result some operators are looking at providing fruit and cereal bars in messrooms.