Commercial Guard - New Year start!!

[Chris1978]

So having now been medically cleared I am due to start my Commercial Guard training on 20th January with SWR.

I have a pay related question - what date do SWR employees get paid on each month? I'm assuming its monthly pay as that's something I didn't discuss at the interview.

Just need to know as I'm trying to work out if I can afford to take a week off between exiting my current job and starting with SWR. Obviously 20/01 is more than mid-way through the month so would I receive payment for those last two weeks at the end of Jan or would I likely have to wait until the end of February for my first SWR pay?

 

[bb21]

Four-weekly pay cycles in line with rail industry standard practice and the last pay day was 29th November.

Payroll is normally finalised the week before payday so if you had done no work by then it will roll over into the next pay cycle.

 

[Thomas C]

Just been paid today the 27th then every 4 weeks from then apparently

 

[LRV3004]

I would assume pay dates would be listed in your contract of employment, once you receive it! You could have asked at interview, but understand why you didn't; I didn't at my interview either as I didn't want the interviewers to give the impression of "this one's only thinking about the money"!
On another note, congratulations on your new career, and the hope the Guard issue all gets sorted soon!

 

[Chris1978]

Thanks for the info all. If I've worked it out right starting on 20th Jan means I start at the beginning of the next pay cycle so I should get a full 4 weeks pay on the Feb pay date.

Regarding the guard issue, I only know what has been made public about this so far, am I right in thinking there is heavy discussion about modern trains being designed so the driver has full control of all doors meaning there is not a need for a guard on board?
I could understand this could maybe work on trains with fewer carriages during very quiet periods but surely for all trains during peak times this would not be feasible from a safety perspective?

 

[theironroad]

Thanks for the info all. If I've worked it out right starting on 20th Jan means I start at the beginning of the next pay cycle so I should get a full 4 weeks pay on the Feb pay date.

Regarding the guard issue, I only know what has been made public about this so far, am I right in thinking there is heavy discussion about modern trains being designed so the driver has full control of all doors meaning there is not a need for a guard on board?
I could understand this could maybe work on trains with fewer carriages during very quiet periods but surely for all trains during peak times this would not be feasible from a safety perspective?

You might want to make a pot or two of tea and search through these threads as the subject has had millions of words written on here about it.

 

[Chris1978]

You might want to make a pot or two of tea and search through these threads as the subject has had millions of words written on here about it.

Thought that might be the case. Could you point me towards any threads that best cover the subject to save me hunting through hundreds of different posts?

I've had my contract and welcome pack through now which I've completed.
Can anyone give me a outline of the commercial guard training? I know it is largely classroom based followed by a period of carrying out the role on board a train under supervision. Just would be nice to have a bit of a overview on what to expect. My first day it seems will be spent at Southampton doing new starter paperwork and going through all the Ts and Cs.

 

[theironroad]

Thought that might be the case. Could you point me towards any threads that best cover the subject to save me hunting through hundreds of different posts?

I've had my contract and welcome pack through now which I've completed.
Can anyone give me a outline of the commercial guard training? I know it is largely classroom based followed by a period of carrying out the role on board a train under supervision. Just would be nice to have a bit of a overview on what to expect. My first day it seems will be spent at Southampton doing new starter paperwork and going through all the Ts and Cs.

Tbh mate, I wouldn't depress yourself reading through it all at the moment.

You've got the job, nothing is going change overnight so just crack on and get your head down with the training and getting productive.

I'm not exactly sure of the guard's training but what you said is the broad brush, the classroom stuff at Basingstoke ROC I think. There are swr commercial guards on here who I'm sure will be able to answer more.

Good luck.

 

[Chris1978]

Tbh mate, I wouldn't depress yourself reading through it all at the moment.

You've got the job, nothing is going change overnight so just crack on and get your head down with the training and getting productive.

I'm not exactly sure of the guard's training but what you said is the broad brush, the classroom stuff at Basingstoke ROC I think. There are swr commercial guards on here who I'm sure will be able to answer more.

Good luck.

That's the view I'm taking, any major change isn't likely to happen soon so I'm just going to focus on my training and becoming productive and taking a positive attitude towards my new role.

I would like to know one thing though - is the strike action due to talk of removing the guard role completely or is the suggestion to revise the guard role and make it less safety critical etc?

 

[theironroad]

That's the view I'm taking, any major change isn't likely to happen soon so I'm just going to focus on my training and becoming productive and taking a positive attitude towards my new role.

I would like to know one thing though - is the strike action due to talk of removing the guard role completely or is the suggestion to revise the guard role and make it less safety critical etc?

Well ask two people that question and you'll get 3 answers....

Officially the strike action started because when First/MTR room over the franchise from Stagecoach, they wouldn't accede to the RMT s demand for a guarantee that very train in passenger service would have a safety critical guard which Stagecoach had undertaken.

SWR claim that every train will have guard, but more focused on customer service. Tbh commercial guards are already heavily involved with this (as a new entrant you must be going to a coastal or rural depot) as some depots have two grade of guards , some who are non commercial and less customer visible, though some are better than others. All control doors.

The RMT's fear is a slippery slope will occur and while initially every train may have a guard ,once th driver has full operational control (Inc doors) then it will be possible to start shedding guards as they'll have no operational need. This would be primarily in London area, but could affect all depots as staffing levels could be reduced to remove the numbers needed for sickness , training, holidays etc.(though I'd imagine through natural wastage ) So while a longer distance train may be intended to have a guard, if one wasn't available for all or part of the journey the train could still run. (similar to obs on Southern) There are issues that not all swr stock is currently technically set up full driver control of doors, which is why the battle has been over the new trains for metro services that are to be introduced in 2020 providing the timescale doesn't keep slipping.

 

[Chris1978]

Well ask two people that question and you'll get 3 answers....

Officially the strike action started because when First/MTR room over the franchise from Stagecoach, they wouldn't accede to the RMT s demand for a guarantee that very train in passenger service would have a safety critical guard which Stagecoach had undertaken.

SWR claim that every train will have guard, but more focused on customer service. Tbh commercial guards are already heavily involved with this (as a new entrant you must be going to a coastal or rural depot) as some depots have two grade of guards , some who are non commercial and less customer visible, though some are better than others. All control doors.

The RMT's fear is a slippery slope will occur and while initially every train may have a guard ,once th driver has full operational control (Inc doors) then it will be possible to start shedding guards as they'll have no operational need. This would be primarily in London area, but could affect all depots as staffing levels could be reduced to remove the numbers needed for sickness , training, holidays etc.(though I'd imagine through natural wastage ) So while a longer distance train may be intended to have a guard, if one wasn't available for all or part of the journey the train could still run. (similar to obs on Southern) There are issues that not all swr stock is currently technically set up full driver control of doors, which is why the battle has been over the new trains for metro services that are to be introduced in 2020 providing the timescale doesn't keep slipping.

Thank you that's a very good overview, it's more or less what I expected, a revision of the commercial guard role which could have a knock on effect which could lead to the reduction of staffing levels.

Could this not just result in reduced hours though rather than removing staff completely? Guards average 42 hours per week dont they which is quite a lot when you factor in extra time for delays and overtime.
If this was trimmed down to say 35 per week it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

 

[theironroad]

Thank you that's a very good overview, it's more or less what I expected, a revision of the commercial guard role which could have a knock on effect which could lead to the reduction of staffing levels.

Could this not just result in reduced hours though rather than removing staff completely? Guards average 42 hours per week dont they which is quite a lot when you factor in extra time for delays and overtime.
If this was trimmed down to say 35 per week it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

Lol, a pay deal a few years ago focused on reduction in hours from 42 to either 37 or 35 I think, but the deal came with so many strings related to terms and conditions that it was rejected by the guards in a ballot , so still 42hr 5 day week.

The future is in the realms of a crystal ball.

However, if it was trimmed down to 35 , depending on the time scale and inflation it could result in a real terms pay cut, but that may end be a best worst option .

 

[Chris1978]

I would assume pay dates would be listed in your contract of employment, once you receive it! You could have asked at interview, but understand why you didn't; I didn't at my interview either as I didn't want the interviewers to give the impression of "this one's only thinking about the money"!
On another note, congratulations on your new career, and the hope the Guard issue all gets sorted soon!

Exactly. The generous salary is obviously very inviting and one of the main reasons people apply to work the railways but I made a point of trying not to focus on pay during the interview. To be honest while the salary is very good there were many other factors as to why I persued this career path. I was more annoyed at myself for not asking more about the shift rotation during the interview.

Lol, a pay deal a few years ago focused on reduction in hours from 42 to either 37 or 35 I think, but the deal came with so many strings related to terms and conditions that it was rejected by the guards in a ballot , so still 42hr 5 day week.

The future is in the realms of a crystal ball.

However, if it was trimmed down to 35 , depending on the time scale and inflation it could result in a real terms pay cut, but that may end be a best worst option .

I personally would have been willing to take a drop in pay for a shorter working week but I know that's easy for me to say as I haven't started yet so I haven't become accustomed to the salary and I also dont know the strings attached to the terms and conditions that came with the deal. From my point of view a 35-37 hour week would provide a better work/life balance but it would depend on how that would be reflected in the pay and the contractual Ts and Cs. In my experience people tend to just dig their heels in when the subject of a pay reduction comes up even if it means a lighter workload and a better quality of life.

 

[pompeyfan]

The problem (if you can call it that!) is that com guards, non coms and platform (possibly revenue) are all bundled into collective bargaining. Pay increase is awarded as a percentage. 3% increase for platform staff is worth a lot less than 3% to a guard or com guard.

If guards were to be split from collective I’d imagine SWR wouldn’t offer pay talks to the grade for being naughty boy’s and girls.

also worth mentioning that guards based in non com areas (WA, WM, VZ, SN, WK), the cost of living is considerably more and so wages keeping up with cost of living is worth more than having a few extra hours off each week, compared to outer guards where house prices like for like are probably halved.

finally, just be aware that you’ve put a lot of personal details on here, name, start date, depot etc. When you start you’ll be expected to work within the company’s social media policy, and you’ll have already blown any anonymity by being so open. Managers etc read these boards and you’ll effectively be typing with one hand behind your back.

 

[Chris1978]

finally, just be aware that you’ve put a lot of personal details on here, name, start date, depot etc. When you start you’ll be expected to work within the company’s social media policy, and you’ll have already blown any anonymity by being so open. Managers etc read these boards and you’ll effectively be typing with one hand behind your back.

Noted. I received the company social media policy this week so from this point I will be a lot more subdued I think. It's very easy to be more outspoken than you mean to be on social media so sometimes it's best to just say nothing especially if a company has a strict code on it.

 

[pompeyfan]

Lots of employees post on here and sometimes it’s close to the line but where they’ve managed to keep some anonymity they get away with it. That said I’m sure I could be identified if they truly wanted to, but I’ve not had my collar felt.

 

[Chris1978]

Lots of employees post on here and sometimes it’s close to the line but where they’ve managed to keep some anonymity they get away with it. That said I’m sure I could be identified if they truly wanted to, but I’ve not had my collar felt.

Keeping tabs on every employees social media would be a impossible task, in my experience as long as you dont name and shame the company or certain people or make it blatantly obvious who you're moaning about then you should be ok. If you list your employer in your profile on platforms like Facebook probably best to only ever mention them in a positive light if you value your job, I knew somebody who absolutely slated one of the top brass in the company he worked for and because they were linked to his profile his post appeared on the company Facebook page!

 

[Stigy]

Keeping tabs on every employees social media would be a impossible task, in my experience as long as you dont name and shame the company or certain people or make it blatantly obvious who you're moaning about then you should be ok. If you list your employer in your profile on platforms like Facebook probably best to only ever mention them in a positive light if you value your job, I knew somebody who absolutely slated one of the top brass in the company he worked for and because they were linked to his profile his post appeared on the company Facebook page!

I tend not to even mention work on the likes of Facebook or Twitter. Mainly because I don’t live and breathe work and aren’t the type to take to social media about my day. I have my work listed in my profile but it’s private other than to friends.

 

[Chris1978]

I tend not to even mention work on the likes of Facebook or Twitter. Mainly because I don’t live and4 breathe work and aren’t the type to take to social media about my day. I have my work listed in my profile but it’s private other than to friends.

I'm the same, I'm very much someone who likes to leave work at the office and keep my personal life separate so I wont be constantly droning on about my job on social media.
Like you I normally list my job on my profile but only friends can see it.