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Post by aslefshrugged on Oct 2, 2018 9:48:05 GMT
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Post by aslefshrugged on Oct 1, 2018 18:35:37 GMT
If management still refuse to address the issues the next step is another strike, maybe coordinate it with other lines. RMT Central Line drivers are currently balloting for strike action over similar grievances management with the additional gripe over a Leytonstone driver who got sacked after a dodgy drugs and alcohol test, that closes on Tuesday 9th October so the result should be announced by the end of next week. ASLEF drivers have already voted to strike on the Central Line so you could have both unions striking together. (From Piccadilly line Industrial Action thread - MoreToJack)So anyway I've just come back from two weeks annual leave, I booked on for work around 3pm this afternoon to discover that ASLEF have called a strike on the Central Line from 00:01 until 23:59 Friday 5th October with another strike planned for Wednesday 7th November. Talks will be held tomorrow to attempt to resolve the issues but if not I guess I get to see West Ham v Brighton after all...
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Post by aslefshrugged on Oct 1, 2018 12:41:06 GMT
Southeastern has the Javelin service which doesn't have first class.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Oct 1, 2018 12:01:43 GMT
"Are settlements agreed at ACAS not legally binding?" I'll assume that you've not been with the company very long but nothing agreed at ACAS is legally binding, if they were we wouldn't have these problems! If management still refuse to address the issues the next step is another strike, maybe coordinate it with other lines. RMT Central Line drivers are currently balloting for strike action over similar grievances management with the additional gripe over a Leytonstone driver who got sacked after a dodgy drugs and alcohol test, that closes on Tuesday 9th October so the result should be announced by the end of next week. ASLEF drivers have already voted to strike on the Central Line so you could have both unions striking together. (More about the Central line strike can be found on this thread - MoreToJack)
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Post by aslefshrugged on Oct 1, 2018 7:21:56 GMT
420 RMT drivers were balloted, 298 voted (70.9%), 285 voted in favour of a strike (67.9%). The ballot is done by post so no bullying, two thirds wanted to strike and the other third accepts the democratic decision. ASLEF drivers can cross the picket line if they chose to but I suspect a lot of them sympathise with RMTs grievances. However; this strike ballot took place earlier in the summer. At this time there was a clear and defined list of issues in place. A strike was called for early July and this did not take place because an agreement was made at ACAS with a plan for resolution in place. You correctly state that the Members voted, that is true, however, they voted for a strike based on a list of issues that have since been resolved or are in process of being resolved. The strike last week is therefore using this existing mandate for a strike but with new issues inserted as a reason - issues nobody seems to know what they are! From the RMT website: www.rmt.org.uk/news/piccadilly-line-strike-suspended/That doesn't say that the issues had been resolved, rather it seems that management have once again agreed to do something at ACAS and then failed to honour their commitments. If RMT had tried to use the strike ballot in June for a separate dispute management would have gone to court to have the strike declared illegal, as they didn't I think it safe to say that this is the same dispute.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Oct 1, 2018 3:47:55 GMT
They're not waiting for Corbyn or nationalisation. Last year Grayling said first class should be abolished on commuter trains and its possible that it will be removed from Southeastern when the next franchise is awarded in 2019. Great Western reduced the number of first class seats on their High Speeds by half in 2011 and Chiltern abolished first class in 2002 but reintroduced "Business Class" in 2011.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Oct 1, 2018 3:30:33 GMT
I listened to a rather flustered RMT official called Leach being interviewed by Nick Ferrari. He was confused about the ballot results but also threw into the mix that drivers were being pulled off trains to be interviewed about their attendance record. That was a new addition to the list as far as I'm aware. Being a T/Op on the Picc, I personally have had no problems with any Controllers but when Connect was in duplex and we heard both sides of the conversation, I'm not surprised that on the odd occasion, a Controller snapped as they are at times severely provoked. It does amaze me that the guys with the loudest mouths seem to have the thinnest skin. If you can't take it, don't dish it out! One of the other issues is the reps that aren't on full time release at Arnos Grove have had their ad hoc release time reduced. So probably, substitute "A Complete breakdown in Industrial Relations" with "They are making me drive a train! As I think I mentioned above somewhere, most drivers I speak to have no idea what it's about. Will be interesting to see RMT's next move. John Leach is RMT Regional Organiser, London Transport Region 11, was RMT President from 2006 to 2009, used to be a Station Supervisor on the Central Line. He stood for General Secretary in 2014, I think he came 2nd or 3rd.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Oct 1, 2018 3:20:49 GMT
So all these drivers are striking and inconveniencing the public without knowing why? In that case, why are they striking? Is it because of intimidation and bullying by their union colleagues? Where I work intimidation and bullying mean instant dismissal. 420 RMT drivers were balloted, 298 voted (70.9%), 285 voted in favour of a strike (67.9%). The ballot is done by post so no bullying, two thirds wanted to strike and the other third accepts the democratic decision. ASLEF drivers can cross the picket line if they chose to but I suspect a lot of them sympathise with RMTs grievances.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 29, 2018 8:18:15 GMT
Yes, was a bit messed about, hope he gets what he wants, he's a good guy! Let's hope he doesn't succumb to the virulent contagion that seems to infect everyone at Wood Lane which makes you say everything twice, everything twice. When did Tube drivers go on strike over pay in the last 20 years? As per usual this strike is over management failing to honour previous agreements, some of which were negotiated after a previous strike.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 28, 2018 6:45:26 GMT
Under TfL's Conditions of Carriage passengers are only allowed as much luggage as they can carry up a flight of stairs, I'm not sure what the restrictions are on the TOC'S but an undpecified amount of luggage, a dog and a walking frame sounds like more than the passenger could manage on their own. I'd be careful about classifying the walking frame as luggage - you get dangerously close to taking a position that says someone with a disability cannot carry the same as an able-bodied passenger, which would be a breach of their legal rights, not to mention awful customer service. Similarly, in the Edgware Road buggy example, I'd be careful about how you view the passenger with the buggy. From experience, there sometimes just isn't a choice in how you have to manage with children, and blaming the passenger is more than a tad unreasonable. If someone needs a walking frame then it is quite possible they CANNOT carry as much as an able-bodied passenger and they would need assistance, either from station staff or from someone travelling with them. The passenger in this case clearly needed assistance, whether that was the fault of Thameslink for not having station staff available or the passengers for not requesting assistance is unknown, hopefully the report will clarify the issue. With the Edgware Road incident the passenger was travelling with more items than they could manage and they did not seek assistance. I certainly don't think its unreasonable to expect passengers (or anyone else) to take responsibility for their decisions.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 28, 2018 6:22:02 GMT
Train staff will not strike and lose money if they feel the dispute is not justified Unions will not call strikes if they feel there is a risk of staff working through it after seeing both sides. Nonsense. The union can't call a strike unless it gets a "yes" vote from more than 50% of the members balloted (not just 50% of those members who bother to vote) and if staff didn't feel the strike was justified they wouldn't vote for it.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 28, 2018 6:13:02 GMT
Last week I was chatting to one of the Piccadilly line Service Controllers. He was saying that one of the T/Ops complaints was that they don’t like the way the Controllers speak to them or give instructions over the radio. The RMT train side reps insisted that all Piccadilly line Controllers go on a course on ‘how to speak to people’ or something of that ilk. However, the Controllers with their RMT and TESSA reps are refusing point blank to go on any courses. They believe they’ve done nothing wrong and are just doing their job. This could run and run. Point of order its TSSA as in Transport Salaried Staff Association not TESSA. If the Service Controllers on the Piccadilly are anything like those on the Central then some of them certainly need training as they don't seem to have had much practise communicating with other human beings (or maybe they consider drivers to be a lower form of life)
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 27, 2018 11:21:13 GMT
My experience over the last 21 years is that apart from the 2001 strikes against the "Public-Private Partnership" every strike has been a result of management failing to abide by agreed procedures.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 26, 2018 23:21:27 GMT
Trouble is, social media and the press are confusing people about what's going on, including drivers, or just that people are so connected to their cyber worlds, they zone out of reality 🤔 Maybe the unions have some work to do then communicating to their members? If the unions occupied these 'cyber worlds' would they be more effective? I get most of my ASLEF communication through text messages, Twitter and Facebook while my depot has a Whatapps group.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 26, 2018 12:47:01 GMT
Whether the journey actually involves stairs or escalators is irrelevant, the idea is that passengers shouldn't travelling on the Tube with excessive amounts of luggage, the idea being if a passenger can't carry all their luggage at the same time its too much. It's a passenger service not freight.
Section 23 of the Network Rail Conditions of Travel states "Taking luggage and other articles with you on your journey" states "23.1 You may take up to three items of luggage into the passenger accommodation of a train." The section "Luggage & animals" on the National Rail website says that "Customers may take up to three items of personal luggage free of charge, this includes two large items (such as suitcases or rucksacks) and one item of smaller hand luggage (such as a briefcase)" and "Passengers may take with them, free of charge and subject to conditions below, dogs, cats and other small animals (maximum two per passenger)".
Not quite as restrictive as the Tube.
Its not just luggage and pets, a few years ago there was an incident at Edgware Road (Met) I believe where a passenger with luggage and a baby in a buggy was boarding a train while the drivers were changing over. She got on with the buggy then got off to get the luggage, the relieving driver hadn't seen her get on but saw her get off on the CCTV, closed the doors and drove off with the baby on board leaving her on the platform with the luggage. Another example of trying to take too much stuff on public transport.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 25, 2018 23:58:48 GMT
Under TfL's Conditions of Carriage passengers are only allowed as much luggage as they can carry up a flight of stairs, I'm not sure what the restrictions are on the TOC'S but an undpecified amount of luggage, a dog and a walking frame sounds like more than the passenger could manage on their own.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 25, 2018 23:40:30 GMT
At the risk of being repetitive on strike days trains are usually put away early rather than have drivers work up to their book off time to find the driver that was meant to relieve them hasn't booked on.
The last time there was a strike on I stabled a train around 21:00 in Loughton when I was meant to book off around 22:30 at Leytonstone.
The whole ''take the train to the nearest depot or siding'' thing is only used when something unexpected happens, as strikes have to be announced well in advance management can hardly claim it's unexpected.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 25, 2018 14:29:29 GMT
Usually if they have booked on they usually finish the shift but the service management team would start to wind down the service early to ensure the trains are in the right place for when the strike gets called off / finishes I suppose it all depends on safety as well. If the gaps between trains become too large it might be easier to close the services. The other question relates to booking off. If a driver books off at Acton Town, the train can’t just stay there. Would they be asked to stable it in Northfields depot, even though it goes past the end of their shift? From my own experience they put trains away early to ensure drivers don't go over their booking off time e.g.someone due to finish at 15:00 will stable the train at 13:00 I'm aghast that were once again having to ensure a strike. I was intending to get a group of young exchange students to LHR on the tube that day. Makes our transport look a right dog's breakfast. This commuter has lost patience with Piccadilly drivers. But infinite patience for the Piccadilly management who created the problem... <<superteacher: consecutive posts merged.>>
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 20, 2018 11:56:42 GMT
When I was training as a station assistant (not CSA) we were instructed that if we feel threatened we should go somewhere with a door that could be secured which in most cases that would be the station control room. On train the only place we have is the cab which as has been demonstrated cannot be secured.
If a member of station staff is assaulted they will be sent home or to hospital as necessary. If a train driver is assaulted on an ATO line the train will carry on until the next station (providing the emergency brake wasn't tripped during the assault) and they can then be sent home or to hospital but if the driver is assaulted on a non-ATO line the train stops where it is, any assistance will have to go to the train (and driver) which obviously is going to take a lot longer.
On the operational side of things if a member of station staff is unable to continue working the station possibly would have to close until replacement staff arrive which would be inconvenient for passengers who want to use that station but usually there are alternative routes available. If a driver is unable to continue working the train stays where it is until a replacement driver can arrive and the line part suspended which is going to inconvenience a lot more passengers, especially if they're stuck on a train between stations.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 20, 2018 7:11:57 GMT
I want my railways (operated) by the people for the people. It's staggering how airports, the DLR and other similar railways manage to get away without killing or injuring people. The DLR has staff and just like the Tube people get killed or injured. Airport railways don't have anything like the level of passenger numbers compared to the Tube but all the ones I've been on had platform edge doors.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 18, 2018 9:46:36 GMT
Have they tried switching it off, waiting 30 seconds and then switching it back on again?
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 11, 2018 17:46:36 GMT
I've been told that the original plan was to start "flash & dash" on Saturday 8th September but that was cancelled and there will now be a trial on two Saturdays, 29th September and 6th October. During the week station staff will still be on the platform as usual.
Management claims "in the unlikely event that a customer stays on the train, IICBs and canopy barriers prevent the customer leaving the train" - IICBs being Inner Inter Car Barriers or "dragons teeth" introduced after they tried "flash & dash" on the Bakerloo Line and "canopy barriers" are the blocks above the end of car doors introduced after the Holland Park incident.
Quite amusing that managers seem to have forgotten that passengers have another way of leaving the train despite ASLEF and RMT currently balloting drivers on all lines over the issue of cab security.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 11, 2018 11:41:12 GMT
From the supplement... Or as we call it "flash and dash". Not sure why there's a comma in the last sentence.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 11, 2018 10:35:39 GMT
Last month I was given Waterloo & City Line Supplement Issue 3 giving instructions that drivers should use "Flash and dash" when terminating at Waterloo. At the same time RMT announced that they had balloted their 67 members at Leytonstone, 53 had voted and all voted "yes" for industrial action short of a strike.
Last week there was a rumour that "flash and dash" would be introduced at the weekend on a trial basis. On Wednesday RMT announced that from 1am Sunday 9th September as part of the industrial action if there was no station staff on the platform to assist with detrainment drivers would walk back to visually check that the cars were empty and close the doors on the porter buttons.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 9, 2018 7:03:34 GMT
If that means guards for a few months, and quick assurance that 315s (or whatever) could be used on the line safely with adequately trained crew, it simply needs to be done. "Guards for a few months"? And pray tell where will these guards come from? LO hasn't had guards since July 2014, any ex-guards still working for LO as drivers or whatever would have to be retrained as their licences have expired. Except there's no one at LO to retrain them, I know of one guard/instructor who still works there but he would need to be retrained for the same reason.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 8, 2018 11:57:28 GMT
The 315s are leased from Eversholt, they'll probably lease them somewhere else after TfL are done with them.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 8, 2018 10:58:19 GMT
On the class 710 delays, had Crossrail got to the point of recruiting staff for the core section who will now have no work. Could they be redeployed as guards and/or station despatchers on the Goblin so that non-DOO units could be used in the interim? Apart from Liverpool Street and Paddington all the stations in the core section are managed and staffed by London Underground. Crossrail/TfL is operated by Hong Kong MTR, London Overground is operated by Arriva.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 8, 2018 9:02:34 GMT
Just for clarity I wasn't referring to the language but rather that his parents came from Pakistan.
His parents came to London from Karachi where the most commonly spoken language is Urdu although his grandparents moved there from Lucknow after Partition where they mostly speak Hindustani.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 8, 2018 8:47:41 GMT
Jubilee Line, the twitter feed says service was suspended between Waterloo and West Hampstead 22:16, later Finchley Road 22:28. Service was reported to have resumed at 22:48 so just a half hour delay.
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Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 7, 2018 22:31:55 GMT
Unfortunately you've demonstrated that spelling his name is beyond you. Its Khan (Pakistani) not Kahn(German).
Khan inherited a mess from Boris and a TfL that has been crippled by the withdrawal of Treasury funding by George Osborne making London the only capital city in Western Europe that doesn't get financial support from the national government. Instead of Sadiq we could have had Zac Goldsmith who declared that buses would be redundant by 2018 because we'd all be driving electric cars. Yeah, there's a bloke with a good grasp of transport in London...
Boris gave us the Boris bus, the cable car, closed the ticket offices despite promising they'd stay open, cycle superhighways that weren't properly planned and £30m of TfL money wasted on the Garden Bridge.
Ken gave us London Overground, increased bus services, expanded Oyster cards to Network Rail and would have given us the cycle hire scheme except he'd have gone with the cheaper Paris Velib rather the Montreal Bixi system.
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