Contract

[Vicpaul]

Hi, I've had a search over the Christmas period and couldn't find anything concrete as an answer.

I am a trainee driver for southern and at the time of my interview I was in the process of relocating to bletchley. I expressed this at the interview and upon meeting my line manager and had always been advised it wasn't a problem providing I could get to work. One of the guarantees I was given and why I accepted was that there was car parking facilities, which has mysteriously been withdrawn making it a struggle for me to get in for dead earlies.

I have several other depots on my doorstep and although I would have to reapply and do routes and a traction conversion they are more favourable for family life.

This leads me to my main question, in my contract it states I cannot leave once I have qualified and if I do I owe the company money? Is this a true statement?

 

[GB]

If it is in your contract then I would say it is a true statement. It is to stop an employee getting expensive training at one company and then jumping ship to another company as soon as you have qualified.

You are usually tied to the first company XX years so think very hard before proceeding!

 

[A-driver]

That clause in your contract isn't worth anything. I know lots of new drivers at southern (several at your depot) who have left after a year or so of being productive and none were chased up for money. I believe a few were threatened with it but nothing more happened.

With that clause they would have to chase you through the courts for money. If you can't afford the money then you can make an offer and they can't refuse it-so £1 a week for the rest if their franchise will be fine.

Ask your colleagues about it but I think you will be fine. There are too many flaws in that part of the contract and too many legal loopholes in your favour that I can say with a fair amount of certainty that you won't be chased for any money.

As for a lack if car parking have you asked about taxi arrangements? If they can't give you car parking then a cab from euston at least may be provided-I would speak to the union guys there about that.

 

[O L Leigh]

Don't panic yet.

I'm guessing that, as you're currently in training, you're not yet working the daft shifts that the rest of us are having to contend with and that your travelling isn't a problem just yet. So you have some time to have a full and frank chat with the gaffers to explain your difficulties and your reasons for accepting the position, including the guarantees you were given. You probably should also get the union involved as they may be able to put some additional pressure to get the problem resolved. This is what they are there for, so do join up (assuming you haven't already done so).

One other option you have once you've qualified is to swap off your earlies for later start times that are more convenient. There are always drivers looking to swap shifts in order to suit their situation better.

As you were moving to Bletchley I am a little confused why you didn't try for London Midland who have a depot in the town. The work is broadly similar although you would obviously have to undergo traction conversion courses and route learning if you transfer there from another company. If it looks like you can't get your issues resolved one way or another it might be worth having an open and honest chat with LM about your situation. They are short of drivers and may be prepared to take you on even though you are currently under training with Southern. They may even be prepared to help you with paying Southern any financial penalty they may levy.

O L Leigh

 

[Vicpaul]

As you were moving to Bletchley I am a little confused why you didn't try for London Midland who have a depot in the town. The work is broadly similar although you would obviously have to undergo traction conversion courses and route learning if you transfer there from another company. If it looks like you can't get your issues resolved one way or another it might be worth having an open and honest chat with LM about your situation. They are short of drivers and may be prepared to take you on even though you are currently under training with Southern. They may even be prepared to help you with paying Southern any financial penalty they may levy.

O L Leigh

I've tackled the issues to a certain degree already just looking at other avenues/opinions.

The contract states that I need to basically provide one years service, if I leave in that first year I owe southern money (dropping gradually as my first years service progresses)

I've only driven on the underground previously which doesn't qualify me to come onto the mainline so LM were not an option as the majority of there drives have been for qualified mainline drivers. I was based in south London but house prices forced me away yet I had already applied.