Are the railways overmanaged and so overexpensive?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From Facebook - a public post from Richard Garde

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=148304784318048&set=a.110315381450322

[Worcester_Passenger]

Are these the people who failed to spot that a drainage installation in the Stonehaven area was not constructed according to the drawings, and that no 'as-built' documentation was ever received?

[broadgage]

Obviously they need some more highly paid managers, "chief inspector of drains and culverts" one per region, plus an even more senior national position to oversee the work of the regional inspectors.

Each will need a deputy and a team so as to ensure "that no stone is left unturned" unless of course newts might be under the stone.

[Robin Summerhill]

That photograph and captions are clearly designed to shock and perhaps annoy, but the guy is really ply comparing cheese and apples

There is nothing new about senior management being paid annual salaries an order of magnitude above those being paid to the lowest graded staff. That happens throughout business from the widget factory in Rochdale to the international oil giant. It is not something just found on the railways

Now, one can argue whether the differentials are just or reasonable until the cows come home, but that is a matter of politics and social justice and not a sensible indicator of how the railways are managed or indeed their total overall costs

[TaplowGreen]

That photograph and captions are clearly designed to shock and perhaps annoy, but the guy is really ply comparing cheese and apples

There is nothing new about senior management being paid annual salaries an order of magnitude above those being paid to the lowest graded staff. That happens throughout business from the widget factory in Rochdale to the international oil giant. It is not something just found on the railways

Now, one can argue whether the differentials are just or reasonable until the cows come home, but that is a matter of politics and social justice and not a sensible indicator of how the railways are managed or indeed their total overall costs

Last time I looked, Directors of "International oil giants" salaries were not paid by the taxpayer.

Best indeed to compare apples with apples, although I'm not averse to a bit of cheese! :-)

[CyclingSid]

Maybe, more to the point, do any of them have any experience or knowledge of the business the "manage". Increasingly this is not the case, any more than the person who sells you shoes this week was probably flipping burgers last week and will be a barista next week. Its called flexibility at the bottom end of the payscale, not sure what you would call it politely at the top end.

[Electric train]

It is not correct to use 'Pete risks his life every day' and the £13.88 ph.  The reality of the working conditions and wages paid with in NR^» (Network Rail - home page) is not a stark as the image tries to portray.

The senior executive of NR and line managers have recognised for many years now that working on open railway using 'unassisted lookouts' had to cease, there is a low tolerance of people taking risks.  Within the last year there has been the  removal of working on or being on or about and open railway Nationally. Often it has been the risk taking 'Pete' who have voice objection to the move

Many of the Technicians, Team Leaders, Signallers, Control Room staff earn in excess of £50k admittedly that is with overtime and shift allowances, which is more than their Line Managers earn as they not paid overtime but working more than contracted hours is expected.

Is NR in need of a restructure, yes; and it is in the process of 'modernising maintenance and management' and that is what is generating such images as there will be job cuts, NR senior leaders are in meetings with the Unions to discuss the how to implement the restructuring.

NR Executive and Route Exec's will cease to exist when GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) takes over control, some will get jobs within GBR but many will have to seek opportunities elsewhere  

[eXPassenger]

In addition to the comments above, while I also wonder quite how many of those management roles are needed, remember that there are a large number of 'Pete's for each group of managers.

[Robin Summerhill]

Last time I looked, Directors of "International oil giants" salaries were not paid by the taxpayer.

It is very unwise even to take into consideration who picks up the tab for a post. The important consideration is whether the post is needed. If not, you don’t have a vacancy to fill; if you do need to find someone for the job then the market rate for the job has to be offered.

If an organisation sets the rate of pay too low, then they either don’t get applicants of the right calibre, or they run the risk of high staff turnover and the time and expense of advertising the vacancy again. If they set the rate too high they are wasting their own money and, in this case and the watchful eye that the Treasury and DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) will keep over managerial expenses, the fact that it taxpayer’s money that is paying for it will probably make no difference.

So, in short, if the going rate for one of those managers in wider industry is £174k, then £174k is going to be about the amount offered. How much “Pete” gets for an honest hour’s toil is neither here nor there in this context.