London Midland - shortage of drivers

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

A 24-hour strike by drivers on London Midland train routes planned for Thursday has been suspended following an injunction by the High Court.

The court upheld the service operator's claims of irregularities in the strike ballot held by members of Aslef union.

The union called the 23 December strike over a pay and conditions row. Aslef leader Keith Norman said: "I am desperately disappointed".

London Midland said the union needed to be "realistic" in its demands.

The train firm operates through London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, the West Midlands, Shropshire, Cheshire and Merseyside.

London Midland obtained an injunction claiming there were irregularities in the strike ballot. The union said the issues involved three ballot papers.

A London Midland spokesman said the firm was "delighted" that customers would not face "unnecessary disruption at such an important time of the year".

He added that the firm remains "open to discussion and want to resolve this dispute with Aslef, but they have to be realistic".

Mr Norman said: "I am desperately disappointed. My private opinion of the legal system is best not quoted."

Aslef said it had been trying for three years to "harmonise the conditions" of 600 drivers from two firms - Central Trains and Silverlink - which merged to form London Midland.

The train company said former Central Trains drivers were being paid ^1,200 more than their ex-Silverlink colleagues.

London Midland said the union turned down a deal which could have achieved equal terms and added that former Silverlink drivers "receive a more generous holiday entitlement".

[eightf48544]

Was at Watford Junction on Saturday special to North Wales to do combined FR and WHR, Another post!

Saw a prominent poster with a whole list of LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) trains cancelled on Sunday.

The comment being "unable to find enough drivers willing to work on a Sunday".

[JayMac]

Yes, London Midland drivers are currently taking industrial action on Sundays. No union involvement apparently. All drivers are, according to ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) General Secretary Keith Norman, 'individually deciding how to act.' They are efusing to work overtime following a phased reduction in Sunday pay rates from double time to time and a half.

A few recent BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News articles:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12876006

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12870388

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12777443

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12777443

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12577008

London Midland's side of the story:

http://www.londonmidland.com/news/latest-news/london-midland-says-aslef-should-get-off-the-fence-and-end-the-disruptive-overtime-ban/

And from ASLEF:

http://www.aslef.org.uk/information/100012/122786/aslef_and_london_midland/

[Deltic]

Relying on overtime to deliver a contractual service is ridiculous.  In any other industry, you would be penalised for breaching the contract and probably had the contract terminated.  Passengers need to be able to depend on the service being provided on all days of the week, subject to necessary engineering works and emergencies.  Are other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) in the same boat?

[eightf48544]

I didn't put any comments on my original post.

Thanks bignosemac for routing out the necessary links.

Wasn't one of the reasons why the then Major government wanted to privatise the railways was to break the power of the unions ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) in particular?

It seems, however, that by breaking it up  into the various TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) they've given ASLEF a hand of Aces. As drivers take so long to train and our now very route and traction specific just a few drivers not working can cripple a TOC.

All the drivers are doing is making their capital (driving skills) available for the highest price.

Just like the banks.

Isn't capitalism wonderful?

[dog box]

Yes Deltic they are...Sundays do not fall within the working week and are therefore overtime

[Deltic]

I used to work in the care industry.  We were contractually required (and required by regulation) to provide a level of staffing 24 hours per day.  This was achieved by either having a roster that included some weekend working or by having a separate group of staff who worked at certain times, e.g. nights or weekends.  Presumably signallers work on such arrangements or the system would grind to a halt every Sunday.  You also have to wonder whether drivers working high levels of overtime is not a safety risk.  Sensible working arrangements that meet the needs of the customer should be put in place and if this means more drivers have to be trained then so be it.  TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) unable to deliver their specified service for this reason should be heavily penalised, in my view.

[Super Guard]

I used to work in the care industry.  We were contractually required (and required by regulation) to provide a level of staffing 24 hours per day.  This was achieved by either having a roster that included some weekend working or by having a separate group of staff who worked at certain times, e.g. nights or weekends.  Presumably signallers work on such arrangements or the system would grind to a halt every Sunday.  You also have to wonder whether drivers working high levels of overtime is not a safety risk.  Sensible working arrangements that meet the needs of the customer should be put in place and if this means more drivers have to be trained then so be it.  TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) unable to deliver their specified service for this reason should be heavily penalised, in my view.

This is the problem - we are not in the care industry with such contractual requirements.  I totally understand the Customer side of view, however, the TOCs are there to make a profit, and training more drivers is a huge cost to the business.  More importantly though, unless the Conditions of Employment for Rail Staff are changed (through agreement on both sides of the fence) that brings Sunday into the working week, LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) could train 100,000 new drivers, but if they all put themselves unavailable to work a Sunday then LM are back at square 1.

Yes, the whole Sunday strike situation is a huge bargaining chip for staff, however TOCs benefit from paying premium overtime, rather than having to pay extra salaries, pension, annual leave, sick etc etc.  Don't believe for one second the poor little TOCs do not like the Sunday setup - it's just this is the only time that the Sunday agreements bite them on the bum!

[Tim]

I totally understand why the drivers are doing this.  But does boggle my mind that we are not slowly (perhaps even with new drivers only) moving to making sunday part of the working week (with enhanced pay if neccessary)

[JayMac]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

London Midland and Aslef reach agreement in pay dispute

Train drivers' union Aslef says it has reached agreement with London Midland in a long-running dispute which has caused weeks of disruption.

Drivers have been refusing to volunteer to work overtime, leaving a shortage of staff, especially at weekends.

A three-year pay deal was discussed which brings parity to employee pay, a large part of the dispute, Aslef said.

The deal has been described by Aslef as a "win-win" agreement. The rail operator was not available to comment.

The proposal will now be put to the union's 605 members who are being advised to accept it. There are 614 London Midland drivers.

London Midland was formed from Central and Silverlink in 2007 and operates services from the Midlands to London and the North West.

Former Silverlink workers had six days more annual leave than former Central workers but were paid up to ^1,500-a-year less.

The union has said there had been an undertaking by London Midland to harmonise pay and conditions by March 2009 affecting up to 1,000 issues, which had not happened.

'Recommending acceptance'

But after talks in London on Wednesday, Simon Wellar, national convener for Aslef, said pay harmonisation has been reached by the union offering more "flexibility" and agreeing some productivity changes and the rail operator also "moving" on other issues.

Services should return to normal at weekends while members are consulted and a new pay rate of time-and-a-half has been agreed for Sunday working, he added.

Sunday services have been disrupted by the dispute most weekends since 29 January which both parties have apologised for.

Mr Wellar said: "It's a two-way street this. It's what you would call a win-win agreement and our negotiators are recommending our members accept the deal."

Rail watchdog, Passenger Focus, said it welcomed the news and is awaiting more detail.

London Midland operates services through London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, the West Midlands, Shropshire, Cheshire and Merseyside.

[IndustryInsider]

Sounds as thought the root cause of the problem, that Sunday's were in effect voluntary, hasn't changed though.  Could this unofficial bargaining tool be used again in the future?

[Worcester_Passenger]

A very long list of problems on the London Midland 'journeycheck' page tonight (including a fascinating piece of clairvoyance on the last item):

16:55 Northampton to Birmingham New Street due 18:01

Services full and standing.
This train will call additionally at Hampton-In-Arden.
This is due to train crew having been unavailable earlier.
17:53 Birmingham New Street to London Euston due 20:19

This train will call additionally at Hampton-In-Arden.
This is due to train crew having been unavailable earlier.
17:07 Birmingham New Street to Rugeley Trent Valley due 18:06

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
18:12 Rugeley Trent Valley to Birmingham New Street due 19:09

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
22:47 Birmingham New Street to Walsall due 23:14

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
23:40 Walsall to Birmingham New Street due 00:09

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
17:42 Rugeley Trent Valley to Birmingham New Street due 18:36

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
21:17 Birmingham New Street to Rugeley Trent Valley due 22:15

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
22:05 Milton Keynes Central to London Euston due 23:12

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
22:33 Rugeley Trent Valley to Birmingham New Street due 23:33

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
20:39 Birmingham New Street to Birmingham International due 20:55

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
21:17 Birmingham International to Birmingham New Street due 21:33

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
21:39 Birmingham New Street to Birmingham International due 21:55

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
22:22 Birmingham International to Birmingham New Street due 22:38

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
16:57 Redditch to Lichfield Trent Valley due 18:16

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
18:20 Lichfield Trent Valley to Longbridge due 19:24

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
19:32 Longbridge to Birmingham New Street due 19:52

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
16:50 Lichfield Trent Valley to Longbridge due 17:54

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
18:02 Longbridge to Lichfield City due 19:02

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
19:13 Lichfield City to Longbridge due 20:14

This train will be terminated at Birmingham New Street at 19:50.
This train will no longer call at Five Ways, University, Selly Oak, Bournville, Kings Norton, Northfield and Longbridge.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
21:30 Lichfield Trent Valley to Redditch due 22:52

This train will be terminated at Birmingham New Street at 22:12.
This train will no longer call at Five Ways, University, Selly Oak, Bournville, Kings Norton, Northfield, Longbridge, Barnt Green, Alvechurch and Redditch.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
22:57 Redditch to Birmingham New Street due 23:36

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
17:50 Lichfield Trent Valley to Longbridge due 18:54

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
19:02 Longbridge to Birmingham New Street due 19:22

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
20:30 Longbridge to Birmingham New Street due 20:50

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
20:53 Birmingham New Street to Longbridge due 21:14

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
21:27 Longbridge to Birmingham New Street due 21:47

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
21:53 Birmingham New Street to Longbridge due 22:14

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
22:27 Longbridge to Blake Street due 23:24

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
18:50 Lichfield Trent Valley to Longbridge due 19:54

This train will be terminated at Birmingham New Street at 19:31.
This train will no longer call at Five Ways, University, Selly Oak, Bournville, Kings Norton, Northfield and Longbridge.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
20:02 Longbridge to Birmingham New Street due 20:23

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
21:27 Redditch to Lichfield Trent Valley due 22:46

This train will be terminated at Birmingham New Street at 22:03.
This train will no longer call at Duddeston, Aston, Gravelly Hill, Erdington, Chester Road, Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, Four Oaks, Butlers Lane, Blake Street, Shenstone, Lichfield City and Lichfield Trent Valley HL.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
22:56 Lichfield Trent Valley to Longbridge due 23:54

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
17:20 Lichfield Trent Valley to Longbridge due 18:24

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
18:32 Longbridge to Lichfield City due 19:32

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
19:43 Lichfield City to Longbridge due 20:44

This train will be started from Birmingham New Street at 20:23.
This train will no longer call at Lichfield City, Shenstone, Blake Street, Butlers Lane, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, Wylde Green, Chester Road, Erdington, Gravelly Hill and Aston.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
17:33 Birmingham New Street to Northampton due 18:34

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
17:46 London Euston to Birmingham New Street due 20:01

This train will be terminated at Northampton at 18:50.
This train will no longer call at Long Buckby, Rugby, Coventry, Canley, Tile Hill, Berkswell, Birmingham International, Marston Green, Lea Hall, Stechford and Birmingham New Street.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
18:31 Walsall to Wolverhampton due 19:33

This train will be terminated at Birmingham New Street at 18:58.
This train will no longer call at Smethwick Rolfe Street, Smethwick Galton Bdg L.L., Sandwell & Dudley, Dudley Port, Tipton, Coseley and Wolverhampton.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
19:49 Wolverhampton to Birmingham New Street due 20:14

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
20:08 Birmingham New Street to Wolverhampton due 20:33

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
20:38 Birmingham New Street to Wolverhampton due 21:04

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
20:49 Wolverhampton to Birmingham New Street due 21:14

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
21:19 Wolverhampton to Birmingham New Street due 21:44

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
22:08 Birmingham New Street to Wolverhampton due 22:33

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
22:49 Wolverhampton to Birmingham New Street due 23:14

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
17:47 Four Oaks to Redditch due 18:52

This train will be started from Birmingham New Street at 18:13.
This train will no longer call at Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, Wylde Green, Chester Road, Erdington, Gravelly Hill, Aston and Duddeston.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
17:52 Longbridge to Four Oaks due 18:41

This train will be started from Birmingham New Street at 18:15.
This train will no longer call at Longbridge, Northfield, Kings Norton, Bournville, Selly Oak, University and Five Ways.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
23:46 Northampton to London Euston due 01:09

This train will be delayed between Milton Keynes Central and London Euston.
This is due to disruptive passengers.

This was at 18:00. Are there disruptive passengers on the 23:46 from Northampton every Friday night?

[TonyK]

This was at 18:00. Are there disruptive passengers on the 23:46 from Northampton every Friday night?

If there are, it can hardly come as a surprise, given that litany of woe above.

[JayMac]

Disruptive staff would be more appropriate.

Although management must take some responsibility for the continued problems London Midland face in getting sufficient staff to cover all timetabled services. Too much reliance on overtime and rest-day work I believe, and with the poor industrial relations within London Midland, many staff are sticking to contracted hours and nothing more.

[broadgage]

Perhaps what they mean is "due to many previous problems with disruptive passengers, this service is likely to be delayed in order that police officers, PCSOs, and Ticket examiners may carry out thorough checks"