Cancellations and changes this morning

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

They're only 'prevented' by the threat if being called a scab. Legally, the driver could choose still to work a rest day, there is nothing legally that 'prevents' them

[IndustryInsider]

ChrisB, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are not rostering any drivers to work their rest days, because the rest day agreement between the company and the union is currently in dispute.  If a driver is on a rest day, they have no legal right to work it if they wish, though when the rest day agreement is in force they will be given the opportunity to work by abiding by the details of that rest day agreement.  Nothing to do with being a 'scab' - that is when a union has called for industrial action, i.e. a strike, and a member of that union chooses to come in and work their shift.

So, to repeat, no driver is currently able to work a rest day whether they want to or not, because there is currently no rest day agreement in force.

[ChrisB]

I now understand the agreement is berween union & GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), and hence GWR are mot rostering, hence no choice for drivers.

Hence your use of prevented.

Shouldn't GWR fess up in which case as they're the ones (deliberately) nolonger having enough crew to man their services on a day to day basis.

[IndustryInsider]

That's a difficult one to answer.  GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are arguably in the best position regarding driver availability then they have been in years - had this rest day ban been in place two years ago it would have caused absolute turmoil in my opinion.  That being said, GWR are about to embark on one of the most comprehensive traction training programmes ever, so they do need to be in a good position to be able to release drivers to learn the new SET^▸ (Super Express Train (now IET))'s and Class 387s, which will be swiftly followed by Class 365s, not to mention all of the 'West' drivers who will need to learn Turbo's. Even with a full establishment or even an over establishment of drivers, they'll be looking for rest day working volunteers to ensure that can happen effectively and still crew the timetabled services.   

The unions realise all this, and even though it's not directly related to the specific rostering issues that caused the rest ray ban, it is all part of a wider bargaining position they will be keen to exploit.  Let's not forget that the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) is still in dispute regarding the method of despatch that the Hitachi trains will undertake, and ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) are, I think, prepared to stand by them with that.  Then you have other outstanding issues such as the agreement to learn to new trains, and the use of tablets and other technology, and the 'holy grail' of harmonisation of terms and conditions for drivers, and it soon becomes clear that there's an awful lot of issues to resolve.

[TaplowGreen]

   

The unions realise all this, and even though it's not directly related to the specific rostering issues that caused the rest ray ban, it is all part of a wider bargaining position they will be keen to exploit.  Let's not forget that the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) is still in dispute regarding the method of despatch that the Hitachi trains will undertake, and ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) are, I think, prepared to stand by them with that.  Then you have other outstanding issues such as the agreement to learn to new trains, and the use of tablets and other technology, and the 'holy grail' of harmonisation of terms and conditions for drivers, and it soon becomes clear that there's an awful lot of issues to resolve.

I guess it's comforting to those who like nostalgia to know that in one sector at least, it will always be 1975 as far as industrial relations are concerned.......if you listen carefully and the wind's blowing in the right direction, you can probably hear the sound of chests being beaten.

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, I'm certainly not going to defend some parts of the union movement which are frankly ridiculous in this day and age - though they do an awful lot of 'good' as well.

[ellendune]

Yes, I'm certainly not going to defend some parts of the union movement which are frankly ridiculous in this day and age - though they do an awful lot of 'good' as well.

Ah if only it was so simple. Like the old westerns when you could tell the goodies from the badies by the colour of their hats. 

[IndustryInsider]

 I think the days when Traincrew had to work Rest Days and extra Sundays to make their money up
 probably ended with the extinction of British Rail.

There are many drivers who are very keen on working rest days, and a few of those will be finding it hard to cope without the extra income they've got used to!

[Jason]

Lack of drivers is apparently an 'outrageous excuse'...
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/caversham-commuter-slams-gwrs-outrageous-11152553

[ChrisB]

I can't disagree with the complaint - the reason given was an over-simplification. But the actual reason is unacceptable too. They ought to employ enough drivers to not require rest day working. Maybe something to write in to franchise requirements?

[GBM]

Take on more drivers to fully cover all duties?
Can only speak from my time with First bus, but yes and no.  First will never pay drivers to sit around as spare. It is very rare to have spare drivers.  Locally we have minimum staffing in winter, but need a considerable increase for the summer duties.  Early in the new year, recruitment takes place and new drivers are trained up and drip fed into depots to ensure there are more for the summer.  However, pay and duties ensure several of the newbies leave before long.  So generally a shortage in summer and overtime rules.  I think the last few years staffing improved for the summer (but still a lot of overtime).  Going into the winter with leave and sickness, there was still some overtime.  Plus use of casual drivers throughout the year when not enough staff to cover all the duties.
Neither are there 'spare' busses.  If a bus goes down, then something is pulled from another route to cover, or the next run is cancelled.  First are then fined by the Council for loss of a service!
School holiday time helps as additional vehicles can be available.

[ChrisB]

It might mean rearranging leave days etc, but yes, across each depot, it ought to be possible to cover all duties without very many/any spare on at least a regular basis.

[IndustryInsider]

The railways can't rely on casual labour given the time it takes to train (one year minimum) and cost of each train driver.  I think the only way to do it would be to severely restrict the amount of drivers who can be off on holiday at any one time, and of course for the company to ensure all vacancies are always filled and all traction and route knowledge are fully up-to-date, you might need to extend route and traction knowledge to give added flexibility.  And you'd need Sunday's brought into the working week, and probably need to enforce a ruling where spare drivers can be moved to any open shift provided they don't break Hidden regulations.  None of those are particularly easy nuts to crack - either costing a lot of money or needing to negotiate significant T&C's with the unions. 

In summary, that is why all TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s struggle on occasions.

[ChrisB]

In which case, aren't they beholden (at least to season ticket holders) to explain this in reasonable detail?

[Billhere]

Because there isn't a simple explanation without getting into the minutae of how it all works.

I always pitied the roster clerks when they put there efforts up on the walls only to see it become the wailing wall with drivers stood there, diaries in hand, tearing it all to pieces.

Any spaces had to be covered by the duty Traincrew  Supervisor, another job I had a go at when they were short too. I seem to remember that came about because 'somebody' decided they didn't need them anymore because they had bought a computer which could do it all. Made them all redundant, and it all fell to pieces on the first day and required five of us to learn the job on the hoof at Reading, find three at Oxford and another three at Paddington. It was pandemonium for a while.             

A thankless, pressure job where you were trying to paper over the holes by getting Drivers to stay on late, come in early, or work a day off at short notice. None of those? - train gets cancelled. I don't suppose it has changed for a minute.

Unless you have been in this sort of public service job then it is difficult to explain how it all works. GBM summed it up quite nicely. Very, very similar in many ways except you just can't recruit like that and put them out on a train as you can with a bus. A week learning routes and off you go.