Transpennine Express ASLEF Rest Day working deal

[CAF397]

Signs of movement, a rest day working deal has been agreed with ASLEF from the 7th May, however also from this date an overtime ban starts negating any use of it.

But, a major Bridge has been crossed getting the deal agreed, and hopefully the overtime ban will be short-lived.

Break-through deal in TransPennine driver dispute, but disruption continues | TheBusinessDesk.com

“Getting overtime agreement implemented is the single greatest barrier to services getting back on track"

www.thebusinessdesk.com

Train drivers’ union ASLEF has agreed to end a ban on working overtime, which has inflicted 16 months of disruption on TransPennine Express passengers, but imposed another ban on the same day.

A TPE spokesman said: “We welcome the decision by ASLEF to accept a rest-day working offer, at the rate they requested, effective from May 7.

“But we are disappointed industrial action short of a strike from that date has now been called. This means the opportunity to accelerate training and further reduce cancellations has been put back...

 

[EZJ]

Well when they stop making an absolute bonfire of our T&C's I'm sure things will start to get better. Until that happens not much will change.

 

[whoosh]

Well when they stop making an absolute bonfire of our T&C's I'm sure things will start to get better. Until that happens not much will change.

Reading the Executive Committee minutes, there seems to be a constant "We'll roster you whatever we like," irrespective of the parameters set in the Terms & Conditions.

It's a shame - the livery, the new trains - it should be a place beaming with pride.

I suppose that it appears an agreement has been reached which just needs 'switching on', may be a cause of optimism, at least.

 

[dctraindriver]

Reading the Executive Committee minutes, there seems to be a constant "We'll roster you whatever we like," irrespective of the parameters set in the Terms & Conditions.

It's a shame - the livery, the new trains - it should be a place beaming with pride.

I suppose that it appears an agreement has been reached which just needs 'switching on', may be a cause of optimism, at least.

I agree, I’d have loved to applied for the qualified role at York, but all this has put me off.

 

[snookertam]

Another example of TOC management with a scorched earth policy.

 

[dk1]

I agree, I’d have loved to applied for the qualified role at York, but all this has put me off.

Don't let it put you off. It'll all blow over.

 

[Mcrdvr]

16 months isn't a blow over lol.

 

[CAF397]

An update on the ASLEF web page regarding relations.

Transpennine Express: Setting the Record Straight | ASLEF

Mick Whelan, General Secretary, has spoken out after the rail company sent a misleading letter to stakeholders

aslef.org.uk

Earlier this week, train operating company Transpennine Express (TPE) sent a letter to stakeholders about the current poor service it is operating.

In this letter various claims were made in an attempt to blame train drivers and ASLEF for the failings of the company.

ASLEF understands that TPE is set to have their contract taken away. General Secretary Mick Whelan has said that 'the bosses and the managers at TPE should take a long, hard look at themselves in the mirror if they know want to know where it has all gone wrong and who is really to blame.'

 

[theironroad]

An update on the ASLEF web page regarding relations.

Transpennine Express: Setting the Record Straight | ASLEF

Mick Whelan, General Secretary, has spoken out after the rail company sent a misleading letter to stakeholders

aslef.org.uk

Dated 3 months ago - 27 January 2023

 

[EZJ]

Dated 3 months ago - 27 January 2023

There was an update posted today that you can view on the ASLEF website if you wish.

 

[theironroad]

There was an update posted today that you can view on the ASLEF website if you wish.

ok, thanks. I'll have a look.

 

[VauxhallNova]

So with ASLEF not willing to sanction Rest Day Work, and the wider pay issues leading to strike action, where does that leave TPE and FirstGroup?

 

[Watershed]

So with ASLEF not willing to sanction Rest Day Work, and the wider pay issues leading to strike action, where does that leave TPE and FirstGroup?

Likely to lose the "franchise" once the current contract ends, I'd have said. Of course they'll just be the scapegoats for the DfT.

 

[VauxhallNova]

Scapegoats, good one!

 

[Watershed]

Scapegoats, good one!

I mean, it's broadly true though. The #1 reason for the pathetic service over the last couple of years has been DfT intervention, preventing them from resolving the industrial dispute in a way that would allow RDW to resume for instance.

FG clearly didn't do a good job earlier in the franchise, but their control over things ended when Covid hit. And I don't think you can really blame them for much that has happened since.

 

[VauxhallNova]

Rail operator of the year in 2021, no less.

Did they ever have enough drivers I wonder?

 

[Watershed]

Rail operator of the year in 2021, no less.

Did they ever have enough drivers I wonder?

Never understood that award myself. It always seems to go to the operator that least deserves it!

There were never enough drivers for things to work without overtime, but with RDW in place, things were just about returning to some semblance of normality immediately before Covid.

Unfortunately everything has changed, and despite having quite a lot more drivers than before Covid, without RDW they're struggling to deliver even a reduced version of the pre-Covid TT. It's disappointing but hardly surprising.

 

[VauxhallNova]

Never understood that award myself. It always seems to go to the operator that least deserves it!

Presumably it goes to the best management team? It seems odd that only the government take the blame for any and all of the failings, and the management team all the credit for any success.

 

[DoubleO]

Rail operator of the year in 2021, no less.

Did they ever have enough drivers I wonder?

No, they didn't. They also made huge and fundamental mistakes when deciding on rolling stock, rosters, links, diagrams, route knowledge etc. Additionally, the RDW deal was so lucrative that drivers were willing to come and work anything, this meant that RDW masked the problem even more than it would at other TOCs. Offering such well paid RDW was a huge mistake.

 

[Buffer stop]

The railway can not work 100% without rest day working and never will.

 

[Mwanesh]

Can't the railways plan 7day rosters. I don't get why they can't just ask for volunteers when they are recruiting.

 

[Parjon]

16 months isn't a blow over lol.

16 months equates to people stopping trying to use their services, like me. How they can possibly win back people who need to get to work I do not know. So many people who have an alternative must be using it.

TPE actually run so few trains vs their obligations that I feel their claims to any share of walk up revenue merits independent scrutiny.

 

[43066]

Can't the railways plan 7day rosters. I don't get why they can't just ask for volunteers when they are recruiting.

It takes a little more than seven days to recruit and train a train driver.

16 months equates to people stopping trying to use their services, like me. How they can possibly win back people who need to get to work I do not know. So many people who have an alternative must be using it.

Well whose fault is that!? TPE are limited in why they can do by the current level of DfT interference.

 

[dk1]

Can't the railways plan 7day rosters. I don't get why they can't just ask for volunteers when they are recruiting.

Hugely complex process.