Philip Hammond to confront rail unions over transport costs

[whole diary]

[woody]

Transport secretary Philip Hammond will spark a confrontation with unions this week by demanding steep cuts in the wage bills of Britain's railways, citing an official study suggesting that they cost 40% more to operate than equivalent systems in France, Germany and the Netherlands.

The report, by former Civil Aviation Authority chief Sir Roy McNulty, will set an "aspiration" of reducing the cost of transporting passengers by 30% by 2019, with potential savings of more than ^1bn annually by the end of the decade.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/14/philip-hammond-rail-unions-transport
Difficult times ahead I think.

[Timmer]

All the best with that one Mr Hammond. I don't think strike action will be far off.

[anthony215]

I praise his courage, i doubt many would be willing to do this.

Then again i do think some of the unions and they members do need to be taken down a peg, especially when they are demanding stupidly high wages and dont like having to work sundays.

If they dont like it get a job in another industry and give them to people like myself who ware happy to work sundays etc.

[dog box]

And actually what is it to do with Hammond...we have a privatised rail industry and as far as i am aware he is a Minister, so this will be yet more micro management from Daft, The Rail Industry has higher costs due to privatisation in the first place with all extra levels of administration needed and market forces.
And if i dont want to work Sundays i wont, there are plenty of others who will take the turn i want to be able to retain this right to spend the day doing stuff families do.

[Super Guard]

I praise his courage, i doubt many would be willing to do this.

Then again i do think some of the unions and they members do need to be taken down a peg, especially when they are demanding stupidly high wages and dont like having to work sundays.

If they dont like it get a job in another industry and give them to people like myself who ware happy to work sundays etc.

How is a payrise matching inflation (so in fact a pay freeze) stupidly high?  Especially when the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) have been able to put up ticket prices by inflation+1%.  (Yes I know others are having pay cuts, losing jobs etc, but then as you quote, people are not forced to do the job they do, they could join another industry.)  FYI^▸ (for your information) Sir Moir Lockhead was being paid more in 2 weeks then most train crew get in a year (including those greedy drivers).

I work 45hr weeks most of the time (rostered), and so working extra Sundays takes me to nearly 55hours... when you add in unsociable hours too, I only then get 1 day off a week in a safety critical role.  I have a life away from home, yet some seem to think train staff are not entitled to 2 days off a week (generally not 2 days off together either!) 

Are you also aware of how much is wasted by having Network Rail contracting out to other companies needing to make a profit?  An Early Day Motion has been put to Parliament taking in a review of bringing all maintenance jobs in house again rather than any sort of outsourcing.

But as usual, it's the greedy train staff and big bad unions that are to blame for everything    (And I am NO fan of Bob Crow for the record.)

[Super Guard]

This is a rather good comment from the Guardian report linked initially:

Many guards in my company, like me, detest Chairman Bob and his agenda but need union representation to protect ourselves against an organisation that would do away with our jobs to save money and reward shareholders. We have little or no choice of which union to represent us. If I left the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) I have no other union to protect me in the case of any unfair practise against me by management.
Most of us are not militant and love the job we do. We equally hate the idea of driver-only trains and the lack of service to the passenger that would result. We live with a top-heavy management earning large salaries that make efficiency and cost-cutting impossible as they advocate cuts in on-train staff while increasing the numbers of higher-grade administrators.

Inevitably, it will be front-line staff that will lose out in reducing costs and, as a result, quality of passenger service will suffer.
I spend my day advising passengers of the best way to complete their journey, helping them on and off the trains with prams and luggage, getting out ramps for wheelchair users, calming drunks and abusive passengers and generally getting passengers from A to B in safety and comfort. That is what being a guard is meant to be.

It still confuses me that I work for a company that bids on a franchise, gets money from the government in sudsidies to run that franchise but still has shareholders that receive dividends.

[matt473]

The view of Donkey Guard and many other rail staff somes up the problem. Those at the top of companies and unions rarely seek to reach a compromise for everyones benefit including rail staff as either profits or political motives get in the way of achieving what everyone wants. Unions have their place to protect employees from being exploited, however many withn companies also seek to treat staff farly. The only real solution is for those on the ground to be running things with less people at the top so that the rght decisions can be made by those with a passion for the industry and not for self interest and gains. If only it were a realistc opportunity for decent folk with regards for staff and passanger well being in charge of both companies and unions, not fat cats or the likes of Bob Crow

[Tim]

I don't have any issue with the pay levels of front line staff.  The unions are right to fight for these.   

[brompton rail]

Perhaps Mr Hammond intends to re-nationalise the railways then! For the Government (and he works for HMG and not a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)) to dictate wages they must employ the staff. Only the Government can afford to take on one or all of the rail unions and sit there until the unions give in, because such a course would take months if not years. Remember the Thatcher took on the NUM in 1984 at a huge cost to the exchequer (policing being just a small part) and didn't "win" until 1985.

Therefore if First group (for example) are encouraged by HMG to reduce pay and conditions and the unions go on strike would HMG bail out First group when they go bust?

[dog box]

Hammond and McNulty{ who as former head of the CAA^» (Civil Aviation Authority - about) was paid 90K per yr for a 3 day week} should try booking on a 1.45am and working a 10hr shift once in a while in a safety critical role
I am rostered over a 6 Day week up to 45 hrs, with no bank holidays off and i dont work long enough according to this pair

[JayMac]

The issue of the working week for on train staff does, in my opinion, need to be addressed. We currently have a hotch-potch of arrangements across the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) for working hours. Sundays, rest day work, Bank Holidays, overtime etc etc. Many different contract terms depending on which TOC you work for, and in some cases, which area of operation within a TOC.

I guess it suits the unions to have these differences - it gives them a bargaining position.

Don't shoot me down though. Just an observation on my part. I don't have an easy solution that would suit all interested parties. 

[Electric train]

The issue of the working week for on train staff does, in my opinion, need to be addressed. We currently have a hotch-potch of arrangements across the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) for working hours. Sundays, rest day work, Bank Holidays, overtime etc etc. Many different contract terms depending on which TOC you work for, and in some cases, which area of operation within a TOC.

I guess it suits the unions to have these differences - it gives them a bargaining position.

Don't shoot me down though. Just an observation on my part. I don't have an easy solution that would suit all interested parties. 

The Government can not have a privatised and competitive rail industry and have common terms and condition of employment that really is making a cartel

[dog box]

precisely..they seem to want to have it both ways , and dont get me going on spanish practices what ever they are

[JayMac]

Don't worry about 'Spanish practices' dogbox. Won't work over here. Spain is predominately 5' 5 2⁄3". Our trains won't fit 'Spanish' practice. 

[eightf48544]

I guess it suits the unions to have these differences - it gives them a bargaining position.

The Government can not have a privatised and competitive rail industry and have common terms and condition of employment that really is making a cartel

Wasn't one of the reasons quoted by the Major government for splitting up the railways during privatisation to lessen the power of the unions? Another failure of privatisation.

As I've said before the unions should be praised they are only acting as good capiltalists selling their members unique skills for the highest possible price.

What's the difference between Bob Crow selling his members skills and Tesco selling a bag of sugar. They both go for the maximum the market will bare.