ATW Strike info (thread not for staff bashing)

[Xenophon PCDGS]

They didn't need to, the Club 55 offer was just to put bums on seats in an otherwise quiet time. Some trains, there were so many Club 55 that the ordinary passengers couldn't get seats.

A large number of business-people were using Club 55 tickets as well. Not everybody over 55 is an improvised pensioner, and I don't think that the idea of introducing the offer was for that particular group.

The rules of Club 55 regarding travel were quite specific in what was the required documentation that you had to show to purchase tickets and the warning that proof of age had to be proved by showing certain approved documents, which had to be shown to the train staff whilst in transit if requested during a check on tickets. On ATW, it took much correspondance to get them grudgingly to agree that a Senior Citizen Railcard was a proof of age, as birth certificates had to be shown when first entering the computerised records of membership applicable to that scheme. Their last letter said the acceptance of these railcards would be now an acceptable proof of age at ticket checks during a journey, but it was too late to amend the ATW Club 55 leaflets for Spring 2011 as they had already been printed and distributed. It was then stated that this would be corrected in any future leaflet printing for sunsequent ATW Club 55 offers.

I cannot recall seeing any business class passengers bringing out such supportive documentation when ticket checks were made, but they would have had to meet the document requirements in order to travel. Our travellers hail from the Cheshire part of the ATW network and we are all retired people aged from 66 to 82 years of age.....the business users travel area that you quote are not stated in your reply, but the ATW network is not small in mileage terms.

Of course, I totally agree with your comments about Club 55 ticket use was to ensure better passenger loadings at off-peak travel months. Do you really then not want Club 55 passengers to take advantage of such an offer in off-peak months rather than to go in their cars? Saying that makes elderly people like me feel somewhat discriminated against by reason of our age. All the Club 55 passengers in our area have worked very hard during our working lives and not in such good conditions in our early working life as many people enjoy today. Some of the men worked permanent nights in their working patterns and many of us worked six days a week.

 

[airwolf21]

It will be accept. Despite overwhelming disgust at six branch meetings around the country, there was a referendum recently (no worry about committing to strike at that point, just a gathering of opinion) over a third voted to accept. Common 'reasons' are they want the back pay and fed up of how long it's been.

So the company can put out an offer loaded with strings, the staff are up in arms, but the company string it along for months (it dates back to July 2010) and eventually people forget their principles on committed Sundays for greed or inertia.

Cue acceptance then moaning about the Sundays then slagging off the union! So predictable.

Not strictly true, as per my last post, the meeting in cardiff was scrapped after 10 mins with the chairman saying he didnt know how long the room had been booked for. Nor is it being scrutinised as our RO is on holiday and not back till monday. People have no faith in RMT because of the fact there has been no pressure put on ATW, we've been having meetings every 2-3 months with atw and the drivers were every other week! They don't have faith in the representation either (not that they did before) due to a recent election which most of the depot was unaware of and therefore couldnt stop the reelection of the current rep which was done by show of hands....

 

[1V53]

The closing date for the referendum was 11 April. Now nearly a month on and all that has happened is counting the votes and then a meeting with ATW management nearly two weeks later! Now, two weeks after that, members are still awaiting the outcome of the meeting, as it had to be put to the exec first. Granted there have been 4 bank holidays in between but nobody actually seems to know when the exec will discuss this!

It's a pretty appalling state of affairs tbh, but nobody seems to be in a rush to get this out to members and get it resolved. Morale therefore is not the best.

 

[merlodlliw]

due to a recent election which most of the depot was unaware of and therefore couldnt stop the reelection of the current rep which was done by show of hands....[/QUOTE]

If an election was done in an undemocratic way you have recourse, however in my union days, there was little interest in meetings except by a hard core,if there was a show of hands in favour,some must have thought the rep was OK
I find members unaware of an election, not always the Unions fault, surely people must talk to each other, was a notice of election not posted or put out.

My opinion of course

Bob

 

[Flamingo]

The rules of Club 55 regarding travel were quite specific in what was the required documentation that you had to show to purchase tickets and the warning that proof of age had to be proved by showing certain approved documents, which had to be shown to the train staff whilst in transit if requested during a check on tickets. On ATW, it took much correspondance to get them grudgingly to agree that a Senior Citizen Railcard was a proof of age, as birth certificates had to be shown when first entering the computerised records of membership applicable to that scheme. Their last letter said the acceptance of these railcards would be now an acceptable proof of age at ticket checks during a journey, but it was too late to amend the ATW Club 55 leaflets for Spring 2011 as they had already been printed and distributed. It was then stated that this would be corrected in any future leaflet printing for sunsequent ATW Club 55 offers.

I cannot recall seeing any business class passengers bringing out such supportive documentation when ticket checks were made, but they would have had to meet the document requirements in order to travel. Our travellers hail from the Cheshire part of the ATW network and we are all retired people aged from 66 to 82 years of age.....the business users travel area that you quote are not stated in your reply, but the ATW network is not small in mileage terms.

Of course, I totally agree with your comments about Club 55 ticket use was to ensure better passenger loadings at off-peak travel months. Do you really then not want Club 55 passengers to take advantage of such an offer in off-peak months rather than to go in their cars? Saying that makes elderly people like me feel somewhat discriminated against by reason of our age. All the Club 55 passengers in our area have worked very hard during our working lives and not in such good conditions in our early working life as many people enjoy today. Some of the men worked permanent nights in their working patterns and many of us worked six days a week.

Well, First group decided that they didn't need to do the promotional offer again in the Spring, for whatever reason. I'm not high enough up the food chain to have been involved in that decision or know why it was made, and I really don't have an opinion on whether they should have or not. It's not really my problem.

Cheap advance tickets are available all the year round, which if someone is retired they are more likely to have the flexibility to be able to find a cheap train at a quiet time. Coupled with a Senior Rail Card, they can give some very good prices.

As regards the point that you made about taking cars off the road, that is something that should be of concern to politicians and civil servants. I'd guess the shareholders of First Group (and no, I'm not one) are mainly concerned in the company being run at a profit, as without the profit the investment won't come into the business, and eventually it will collapse, meaning no trains for anybody.

Anyway, this is getting a bit off-thread, sorry.

 

[airwolf21]

due to a recent election which most of the depot was unaware of and therefore couldnt stop the reelection of the current rep which was done by show of hands....

If an election was done in an undemocratic way you have recourse, however in my union days, there was little interest in meetings except by a hard core,if there was a show of hands in favour,some must have thought the rep was OK
I find members unaware of an election, not always the Unions fault, surely people must talk to each other, was a notice of election not posted or put out.

My opinion of course

Bob[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately it says in the union rules that a show of hands is allowed, however to address your othe rpoints, there was no notice of the election hence why there was sucha low turnout at the meeting. Cardiff branch includes freight and signallers too and apparently they outnumberd arriva staff at the meeting! Everyone the day after it had happened had an email telling them what had transpired and the general consensus was "fixed".

 

[1V53]

Unfortunately it says in the union rules that a show of hands is allowed, however to address your othe rpoints, there was no notice of the election hence why there was sucha low turnout at the meeting. Cardiff branch includes freight and signallers too and apparently they outnumberd arriva staff at the meeting! Everyone the day after it had happened had an email telling them what had transpired and the general consensus was "fixed".

If there was no notice of the election (ie a branch meeting poster) then I would advise you all sign a letter of complaint. Also all attend the next Branch (if you can find out when it is?!!) and register your protest.

However if you didn't have anyone standing as second choice then Im not sure what the objection is, or did you not even get informed so that someone could stand against the incumbent?

 

[airwolf21]

If there was no notice of the election (ie a branch meeting poster) then I would advise you all sign a letter of complaint. Also all attend the next Branch (if you can find out when it is?!!) and register your protest.

However if you didn't have anyone standing as second choice then Im not sure what the objection is, or did you not even get informed so that someone could stand against the incumbent?

as i understand a protest has been made but it isnt expected to get very far.... No problems with btranch meetings, im at every one possible.

Yep someone was going to stand, he had filled out the necessary forms and was on afternoons the day of the meeting so his intention was to submit it to the branch secretary at the next meeting.