Married railway union boss hit by crippling strikes and having a secret affair with an engineer 19 years his junior

A MARRIED railway union boss has been caught having an affair with an engineer 19 years his junior.

Dicky Fisher, 62, from Aslef standout, spent Thursday evening with Kerry Cassidy, 43, at a hotel in Birmingham.

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A source said: “They are both away on union business and what's worse, Aslef financed it.”

Although he is legitimate, his expense claims will be shocking to union members who give up their wages to strike.

Expense documents seen by The Sun reveal Fisher's lavish travels, huge bar bills and business shenanigans on the credit card funded by union members.

It is understood Fisher's wife Nancy suspected his affair had been going on for a year.

He and Cassidy met in hotels paid for by the union and in a union-owned flat in London.

The pair stayed indoors on Thursday Birmingham for a Aslef training weekend and arrived a day earlier than most delegates.

They were pictured kissing and holding hands before returning to their hotel at 12.30pm.

A source said: “Dicky's behavior is disgraceful.

'It's an open secret that he's having an affair.

“His wife feels deeply hurt and betrayed.

“He has led a double life, continuing with Kerry while they were both away on union business, and what's worse, Aslef financed it, even though the costs themselves are legitimate.”

District 6 organizer Fisher, of Leighton Buzzard, Beds, has worked in his £90,000-a-year role for 11 years.

He is friends with Aslef General Secretary Mick Whelan and former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Cassidy is a driving instructor at Great Western Railway and a member of the District 7 Women's Representation Committee.

She is a Labor councilor in Liskeard, Cornwalland recently divorced from Mayor Simon Cassidy.

She is pictured with the shadow Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and hopes to become one Work Member of Parliament.

Fisher's expenses claims show he spent £2,392 on a five-day trip for him and three others to attend a conference in SenegalWest Africa.

They stayed at the Palm Beach Resort and paid a bill of £483 for food and drinks.

Fisher ran up a bill for £1,497 at the Aslef District 6 Christmas party on December 12.

At a work meeting in September, he and a guest drank cocktails including five espresso martinis, three mojitos and two virgin apple mojitos, racking up a bill of £162.

In June he spent £2,152 on corporate hospitality tickets at The oval cricket with representatives of train drivers.

And he used the union credit card for a £1,098.10 iPhone in July.

Fisher, who loves free train travel, even spent £200 on a taxi ride in London.

Although all costs appear to be legitimately claimed and related to union business, members would likely be shocked by the amounts.

They might also assume he wouldn't have an affair while at work.

In September, Fisher and Cassidy attended an event in Edinburgh celebrating 100 female drivers.

Fisher's claims show he stayed at the Indigo Hotel and spent £53.40 on the bar.

That day, Cassidy shared a photo of her with a group outside the Scottish Parliament to say she was having a “great time”.

When asked about the trip, Cassidy told The Sun she didn't sleep with Fisher because they weren't an item at the time.

Days later they attended the TUC conference in Liverpool.

Expenses records show Fisher spent around £350 on drinks during the visit.

In December, union bosses held a celebratory party in Doncaster, attended by both. That evening Fisher spent £352.35 at the bar.

This week he booked a £140 room at the Holiday Inn in central Birmingham – part of a £12,000 group booking for an Aslef “weekend school” event.

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He, Cassidy and another couple had drinks at The Sly Old Fox and then dined at the Greek restaurant Santorini.

The source said: “Dicky and Kerry try to see each other when they can and make the most of Aslef trips.”

The source said Nancy, his wife who has worked for Network Rail for 30 years, found out in September and confronted her husband.

The source added: “He admitted everything.

“She never saw it coming.

“Even after they rowed, he ran to London to stay in a hotel with Kerry.”

Nancy, mother of their adult son, confirmed the affair to The Sun.

A source close to Fisher said Dicky had apologized and wants to save their marriage.

But they added: “He expects her to forgive and forget, but in her mind it's over.”

Cassidy confirmed her and Fisher's relationship, saying she was looking forward to “spending the rest of my life with him.”

She insisted they didn't become an item until October.

She added: “I've known him for about 15 years and yes, we may have been together once before, which he admitted to his wife, but he also admitted to having affairs for another 20 years or so .

“We've been to events together, but separate hotel rooms. He doesn't entertain me with the credit card.”

Cassidy said she and Fisher saved money by sharing a room in Birmingham.

She said she had been staying in an apartment in Aslef with Fisher and other union officials.

She said Fisher has a key to her house and even came with her ex-husband for a family Christmas.

Visser declined to comment.

His expenses may also relate to other union members and be covered by Aslef's expense policy.

Membership costs around £40 per month but varies by salary.

The strike is costing venues £4 billion

ONGOING rail strikes are expected to cost the hospitality industry more than £4 billion in lost revenue.

The union members first left the union in June 2022. The subsequent strikes involved 40,000 railway workers and affected most routes across the country.

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Industrial action in the run-up to Christmas was predicted to cost the sector £800 million, while business leaders said the latest round would cost £350 million, raising total costs since the first strikes to £4 billion.

Chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association Michael Kill said: “Our industry is on the brink of collapse, with billions in lost revenue, higher taxes and the devastating closure of countless businesses.”

They claimed there was a 22 per cent increase in the number of hospitality businesses filing for administration last year, compared to 2022.

The NTIA said: “This figure underlines the true scale of industrial action against businesses in the hospitality sector.”

Sarah Willingham of Nightcap, which runs bars Dirty Martini and The Cocktail Club, said: “I really can't believe these train strikes have been going on for so long and are impacting not only the hospitality sector but also good, hard-working businesses, small businesses and the shopping street.

“The government must intervene. It's time.”

Emma McClarkin, from the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “These strikes are a serious blow to pubs across the country.

“There is a financial cost to the country's pubs, which operate on thin margins and need all the visitors.”