Part-time train drivers?

[stephenhartley]

I think someone's having a laugh here! Quote from BBC News article entitled Strike-hit Govia Thameslink seeks Southern train drivers:

Govia Thameslink (GTR) is seeking new drivers for the Southern network, which has seen months of strikes in a dispute with the RMT and Aslef unions. GTR said the company wanted to reduce its reliance on rest-day working.
A Department for Transport source told the Press Association the government would work with GTR to help with the recruitment drive, including targeting people who may want to work part time as drivers.
The source said having more flexible working in the role could open up careers to people "from all parts of society".

"Part-time drivers" - are they serious? I think that most readers here (including many from harsh personal experience) know that the supply of candidates far exceeds TOC demand (for whatever reason(s), be they political or economic). What would be the sense in casting the net wider? The cynic in me reads "people from all parts of society" as "non-unionised applicants". I wonder if DfT has given a moment's thought to the logistical practicalities of rostering a part-time driver...

Unless of course someone is going to blow me out of the water completely and tell me there are already part-time drivers on the rosters...

 

[amateur]

have a reserve (pool) of qualified train drivers on zero hour contracts to be on stand by for any unforeseen circumstances.

 

[greatkingrat]

From a rostering point of view there is no reason why you couldn't create a link of people working two days a week for example. LU have already done this for the Night Tube.

The problem is more that it costs twice as much to train eight part-time drivers, rather than four full-time drivers.

 

[306024]

........ Unless of course someone is going to blow me out of the water completely and tell me there are already part-time drivers on the rosters...

Not exactly blowing you out of the water, but they do exist. However they are more likely to be drivers approaching retirement who 'job share' as part of winding down to full retirement.

 

[ComUtoR]

Unless of course someone is going to blow me out of the water completely and tell me there are already part-time drivers on the rosters...

Confirming we have part-timers.

 

[Jackson99]

Yes, we also have part time drivers at my toc

 

[BTU]

I think someone's having a laugh here! Quote from BBC News article entitled Strike-hit Govia Thameslink seeks Southern train drivers:



"Part-time drivers" - are they serious? I think that most readers here (including many from harsh personal experience) know that the supply of candidates far exceeds TOC demand (for whatever reason(s), be they political or economic). What would be the sense in casting the net wider? The cynic in me reads "people from all parts of society" as "non-unionised applicants". I wonder if DfT has given a moment's thought to the logistical practicalities of rostering a part-time driver...

Unless of course someone is going to blow me out of the water completely and tell me there are already part-time drivers on the rosters...

Think about what kind of company you are dealing with and there is you answer.

 

[E&W Lucas]

1. It's a press release - be seen to be doing something.
2. There is a long held management fantasy that new drivers will go along with new ideas. Reality - they go native very quickly.
3. The training requires full time commitment, to ensure continuity of learning, and I've never heard of part time being permitted within the two year probation period. The only exception is some "drivers" from a certain charter company, but that's not a subject for this thread.

Mick Wheelan nails it: "I see the hand of [Transport Secretary] Chris Grayling here, who wants a headline on a quiet Sunday, rather than a sensible plan to resolve the problem at the heart of this industrial dispute."

 

[theironroad]

have a reserve (pool) of qualified train drivers on zero hour contracts to be on stand by for any unforeseen circumstances.

Well as the ORR has said in context of the WCRC incidents of the last couple of years that zero hours contracts are not compatible with train driving I can't see that being a starter.

Any part-time drivers will need to start out training on a full-time basis. As training takes 12-15 months for a full timer, I shudder to think how long it will be take if a person is a part-timer from the outset.

there are drivers who do part time hours, either through a job share or by making a case for flexible working which usually involves having care responsibilities.

 

[Trainguy90]

Part-time isn't to much of a problem (many close to retirements have job shares) as it would probably suit some people down to the ground (2 days work a week and still pull 25k) the issue is if it becomes the norm and then if those drivers end up doing close to full-time hours without receiving any of the holiday and pension benefits.

the real threat is zero hours which I think people will be keeping a very close eye on

either way it is a slippery slope

 

[stephenhartley]

there are drivers who do part time hours, either through a job share or by making a case for flexible working

I'm guessing that this means drivers work a reduced number of days rather than working the full four days but on shorter shifts?

 

[Qwerty133]

Apparently if you're a woman you can go to court if your TOC expect you to work unsocial hours...
http://www.williambrose.com/mother-...ain-company-tribunal-indirect-discrimination/

 

[Class2ldn]

Plenty of drivers already who would love to go part time but can't or don't have the option.
This would never work