So are they really a *xxxx* employer

[whole diary]

[gaf71]

smithy, thanks for your comments.

I (indeed, the whole moderation team) was sorry to see this particular discussion getting quite personal: your opinions are perfectly valid, and I'd really like to encourage further positive debate on this subject.

So, to everyone out there: do you have any ideas on how to address this problem of staff shortages, low morale, and lack of team spirit (all of which will affect how FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are perceived by their customers)?

Chris 

As most posters on this forum know, I am ex Wessex now working for FGW. I agree with smithy that pay and conditions have not improved for ex wessex staff of ALL grades, as there has been no harmonisation of pay or conditions. We do get benefits such as free travel, share scheme etc., but all that was available under Wessex(NX). Staff shortages have been part of the low morale, but that does seem to be being addressed currently with the extensive recruitment programme, to such extent that there will soon be low morale due to lack of available overtime.
Overall I think I was happier working for Wessex, mainly due to the fact that they didn't run the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) services and were obviously more interested, and took more pride in being a 'local' service. This is not an attack on HST crews, but just statement of fact from an ex Wessex point of view!
All that said, things do seem to be slowly improving from an employee (and passenger) point of view, and long may that continue.

[dog box]

Well they cant be that bad an Employer as i can think of Skilled Railway Staff joining FGW^▸ (First Great Western) within the last year from EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))), ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)) and SWT^▸ (South West Trains)

[vacman]

I too worked for Wessex and find it far better now in terms of benefits etc, as for harmonisation, well other new integrated franchises such as ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)) and "one/NXEA^▸ (National Express East Anglia)" have yet to harmonise staff after nearly 4 years, at least FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have made a couple of harmonisation offers to drivers/station staff and revenue staff! Wessex management were hopeless to say the least and all seemed to be in their own little planet.