South west trains guard pay query

[JR80]

Hi, I hope you can help. I've been offered a job working as a non commercial guard with south west trains. I've just got my contract through and it doesn't mention anything about what my salary rises to after competing training. The recruitment team advise me it will definitely rise to £28k but won't give me anything in writing to confirm this. Im suspicious as they won't confirm it in writing and I can't find the original advert. Can anyone confirm if this is definitely true and why it's not in my contract? If the salary doesn't rise then I probably won't take the job as the starting salary isn't enough. Any help/advice would be gratefully received!

Also, not so important but does anyone know if my wife will get any discount on her commute with south west trains? I know there is discount for leisure travel but is there any discount for a season ticket!

Thank you in advance, Jamie

 

[causton]

a) Dodgy, mine has the amount before and after, so I would be wary if they don't include it!

b) Unfortunately not for commuting, they get the PRIV for leisure travel only I'm afraid!

 

[JR80]

Thanks for your reply. They assure me that it's true and that they wouldn't keep staff if they didn't tell them the truth about salary. I find it odd they can't email me to confirm in writing though. Really don't know what to do!

 

[driver9000]

Why would they mislead you? If the advert stated £28k salary and HR have told you this then that is what it will be post training. When I started on the railway my contract only had my training wage but it still rose to the qualified rate when I passed out.

I understand you may have nerves and a bit of apprehension about a new career but I don't think you have anything to worry about. Sign it, relax and enjoy your new job!

 

[ItchyRsole]

I wouldn't sign it personally & I think you have a right to be sceptical.

May be completely innocent, but once you sign that contract they've got you by the nuts.

Straight from the off you need to know where you stand. I would make a friendly call to HR to send you an amended contract. They have accepted you & want you so have no fear about rubbing anyone up the wrong way. It's not an unreasonable request.

Good luck.

 

[Greenback]

Perhaps this is a training contract and you will get a new one once you have passed and start on the full duties?

 

[notadriver]

Do SWT still have a 42 hour week for their guards ?

 

[NLC1072]

This is why we have unions, they should make sure you get the same pay as the rest that are on the same contract.

 

[JR80]

Thanks for your replies. Yes it's still a 42 hour week. Recruitment just keep saying they don't do that (I.e give it in writing) and my contract doesn't mention anything about salary rising after training. They'll tell me verbally but won't send me an email. Not sure what to do as seems to be stalemate!

Has anyone had a similar experience? Is it normal for salary to jump significantly after passing training? Wish I'd kept advert as that would be some confirmation but I have nothing in writing.

 

[QJ]

If you are prepared to accept the salary during your training period my advice would be to sign the form and enjoy the training. You won't have lost out if the salary doesn't increase as you have been given to believe once you have completed your training. You will be free to look for employment elsewhere as a trained guard.

 

[Nuttytoffee]

It'll be cool. Your pay will increase when you pass out, everybody's does, and you will be on the same rate as others already in that position. I asked for my salary in writing as I needed it for proof to buy a house. I was told they don't do this. I still got the house, and the pay advertised once I had qualified.

 

[455driver]

Dont sign it, insist on them sending you a new contract with both the training rates and qualified pay on them and you can stay on that second rate of pay until the day you retire (IE no pay rises ever because that rate of pay is written in your contract which cannot be altered)!

If it is written in your contract then that is what you will get paid, if anyone wants to change things written in that contract then you would need a new contract to sign, has anyone here had to sign a new contract when they get a payrise?

 

[driver9000]

Dont sign it, insist on them sending you a new contract with both the training rates and qualified pay on them and you can stay on that second rate of pay until the day you retire (IE no pay rises ever because that rate of pay is written in your contract which cannot be altered)!

If it is written in your contract then that is what you will get paid, if anyone wants to change things written in that contract then you would need a new contract to sign, has anyone here had to sign a new contract when they get a payrise?

No. Have you?

 

[455driver]

No. Have you?

Nope, never!

 

[driver9000]

Nope, never!

Can't think of anyone who has. My first contract stated my grade as Trainee Driver along with the trainee rate of pay yet I still progressed to Driver with the appropriate rise in salary. Just like everyone else.

I honestly think the OP is worrying over nothing and has reassurances from the HR team regarding the rise in salary.

 

[NX]

Hi, I hope you can help. I've been offered a job working as a non commercial guard with south west trains. I've just got my contract through and it doesn't mention anything about what my salary rises to after competing training. The recruitment team advise me it will definitely rise to £28k but won't give me anything in writing to confirm this. Im suspicious as they won't confirm it in writing and I can't find the original advert. Can anyone confirm if this is definitely true and why it's not in my contract? If the salary doesn't rise then I probably won't take the job as the starting salary isn't enough. Any help/advice would be gratefully received!

Also, not so important but does anyone know if my wife will get any discount on her commute with south west trains? I know there is discount for leisure travel but is there any discount for a season ticket!

Thank you in advance, Jamie

SWT NON COMMERCIAL Guard is £28k, COMMERCIAL Guards are on £38k approx.

I would though seriously take the job even at 28k !

NX

 

[455driver]

Can't think of anyone who has. My first contract stated my grade as Trainee Driver along with the trainee rate of pay yet I still progressed to Driver with the appropriate rise in salary. Just like everyone else.

I honestly think the OP is worrying over nothing and has reassurances from the HR team regarding the rise in salary.

Plus the scaremongering from the 'usual suspects' who think they know what they are talking about but unfortunately dont!:roll:

 

[CatfordCat]

I would question the idea that because an (initial) contract of employment says pay is X that you might never get a pay rise. I've never had a new contract with any pay rise - I just get a letter saying "as from X date, your pay will be increased by Y percent to Z"

It seems odd they don't want to clarify things though - I'm sure SWT adverts usually say what the pay rate is after training.

Some employers (bus companies have a tendency to do this when advertising bus drivers' jobs) will be slightly obscure by quoting an "average" or "up to" (or in some lines of work an "on target") wage.

On the buses, this will often include non guaranteed overtime / rest day working / bonuses / enhancements for unsocial hours that you won't work every week. And a lot of bus companies have a pay structure where your basic rate goes up a bit (outside any inflation pay rises) every year for the first few years.

I don't know enough about SWT to know what the rate (or rates) for the job is, or how much of it is basic rate / enhancements that will vary, or what 'London weighting' may be attached to it or in what locations.

There are employers out there who put staff on individual contracts, have a 'divide and rule' culture and use the concept of 'confidentiality' to stop staff having any idea how much their colleagues are on.

I am fairly sure that most train companies are still on 'collective agreements' negotiated via the recognised trade unions - there will therefore be a transparent pay structure for train crew, so you will get the agreed rate for the job.

 

[Mike11]

You will get your normal salary ONCE you pass out as a guard after passing all assessments,rules and after doing your route knowledge you will then get full salary. You will need to pass all exams 1 by 1 as a fail means no job. I hope this helps I'm on my routes now so if u need anything just pm me pal!!!

 

[JR80]

Thank you all! I'm slightly reassured I think. Mike11 are you with swt? What depot are you based at?

 

[Mike11]

Yes mate Iam. I'm based at bournemouth. Where are you based at? Are you still at the training school?

 

[JR80]

Yes mate Iam. I'm based at bournemouth. Where are you based at? Are you still at the training school?

I'm going to be based at Guildford. Not started yet as wanted to resolve the salary issue before handing my notice in to my current job. How long have you been a guard? Are you commercial/non commercial? Did your salary rise to £28k after training? Sorry for all the questions!

 

[Mike11]

I'm commercial and I'm passed out as guard BUT still need to learn all my routes and do my commercial course for tickets. Training will last for about 16 weeks which is based at Basingstoke. When do u start ur training?

 

[TrainBod]

I am thinking about applying for non-commercial guard at Wimbledon...but how safe is the job, is it likely that in the future they may not need guards

What do people think?

 

[theironroad]

Depends what youre giving up to become a guard. The future is a little uncertain and will depend on what the government want from the stagecoach or new operator from feb or oct 2017 when the franchise runs out( there has been some disagreement between government and stagecoach on when it will end) stagecoach have hinted that they will need to make a competitive bid and the current business with fgw dispute and the government demand for doo on northern make it a bit uncertain.

Probably still worth giving it a go, there's def a few years and probably more and if new to rail, all good experience.