XC ASLEF industrial action.

[Zerothebrake!]

ASLEF have declared an overtime ban from 21/09/25 UFN and a Strike Day from 00.01 to 23.59 on Friday 03/10/25.

 

[whoosh]

From the ASLEF Journal:

‘The decision to ballot was not taken lightly,’ said DO3 Andy Hourigan. ‘The ASLEF team has battled with the company for some considerable time – XC constantly breaks agreements, arrangements, and procedures – and it’s been brought to a head by the misuse of the grievance and discipline process.
We had an understanding that the company would work to ACAS guidelines for disciplinary proceedings but this is no longer happening and has culminated in wild suspensions and allegations of “gross misconduct”. ‘They unilaterally, regularly, and conveniently, misinterpret terms & conditions. When we met the company to attempt to avoid going into dispute, they categorically dismissed any concerns by our union. We have regularly made agreements with XC and we keep to them, even when they no longer suit, but XC consciously ignores the same agreements. We are, of course, open to any dialogue to resolve this situation.’

The MD of Cross Country, along with the Employee Relations Director, both previously worked for Amazon - that bastion of good employer/employee working relations.

 

[Ellwill]

Hardly surprising given the breakdown in relations and subsequent strike action with RMT. Absolute shambles of a TOC at every level in my view.

 

[duffield]

Normally nationalisation would not make any *immediate* difference to the performance of a TOC, but in this case if the MD is actually at the root of this issue, their removal by nationalisation might actually achieve something.

It's just over two years before the DfT can give 3 months notice of termination without cause, but I understand the contract could be terminated at any time for serious non-performance and if that ever applied to any TOC it applies to XC right now.

 

[Hairyspotter]

Unless of course, such an MD and HR Head were brought in specifically to apply an agenda....

 

[Undiscovered]

Are you suggesting that incoming staff are recruited and employed, by a TOC, purely to ruin industrial relations and staff morale?

I mean, I could see that it's entirely possible, that new staff could come in and ignore previous agreements and arrangements, and that they could deploy rosters and diagrams that are, legally, completely correct, yet also break the spirit of things by working staff to the absolute maximum, whilst providing minimum breaks, both on the job and between jobs, destroying both staff morale and staff themselves, thus destroying what was an effective workforce and reducing it to a barely functioning mess...

But, what would be the point?

 

[PLY2AYS]

Solidarity with all drivers.

Breakdown of industrial relations summarised by a XC friend:

• Medical statuses are not being followed up correctly.
• Appointing inexperienced drivers to mentor and instructors roles without authority.
• Managers assessing a medical reports to impose part time working on a driver.
• Failing to follow the grievance process as written in the procedures; despite assurances that this was rectified.
• Failing to follow the disciplinary procedure and thinking that drivers can be suspended to keep them out the workplace, without a specific charge.
• ‘Imposing’ policies without consultation, no business etiquette/notice during meetings
• Undermining laid down collective agreements.

 

[dk1]

From the ASLEF Journal:



The MD of Cross Country, along with the Employee Relations Director, both previously worked for Amazon - that bastion of good employer/employee working relations.

Sounds about right. They are both about to learn life the hard way then.

 

[Bald Rick]

Normally nationalisation would not make any *immediate* difference to the performance of a TOC, but in this case if the MD is actually at the root of this issue, his removal by nationalisation might actually achieve something.

The MD is a ‘her’…

 

[Class 317]

Have cross country provided any service on previous Aslef Strike days?

 

[dk1]

Have cross country provided any service on previous Aslef Strike days?

I don’t think they did. I thought their managers like those on Avanti are not permitted by contract to drive alone.

 

[duffield]

The MD is a ‘her’…

Corrected, thanks.

 

[Brubulus]

Solidarity with all drivers.

Breakdown of industrial relations summarised by a XC friend:

• Medical statuses are not being followed up correctly.
• Appointing inexperienced drivers to mentor and instructors roles without authority.
• Managers assessing a medical reports to impose part time working on a driver.
• Failing to follow the grievance process as written in the procedures; despite assurances that this was rectified.
• Failing to follow the disciplinary procedure and thinking that drivers can be suspended to keep them out the workplace, without a specific charge.
• ‘Imposing’ policies without consultation, no business etiquette/notice during meetings
• Undermining laid down collective agreements.

So not stuff that would cost the government money to fix then.... Is there any way the government can strip an operator of its contract for failure to manage industrial relations to the extent that it harms the UK economy and general perceptions of the railway and government.

 

[Kite159]

Appointing inexperienced drivers to mentor and instructors roles without authority

Without authority from whom?

Or does the management need authority from an union bigwig if they wish for a driver to mentor or instruct a newbie?

 

[PLY2AYS]

Without authority from whom?

Or does the management need authority from a union bigwig if they wish for a driver to mentor or instruct a newbie?

Apologies, I paraphrased… the message received verbatim:

“unilaterally appointing drivers to mentors and into instructor roles when they have less than the agreed 3 years experience and ignoring getting dispensation from DCC.”

Hopefully that clears up your question.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Have cross country provided any service on previous Aslef Strike days?

They couldn't be bothered to provide a token service on 23.08 yet somehow managed it on 25.08!

ASLEF tends to equate to no trains if past experience is anything to go by.

 

[Hairyspotter]

Are you suggesting that incoming staff are recruited and employed, by a TOC, purely to ruin industrial relations and staff morale?

I mean, I could see that it's entirely possible, that new staff could come in and ignore previous agreements and arrangements, and that they could deploy rosters and diagrams that are, legally, completely correct, yet also break the spirit of things by working staff to the absolute maximum, whilst providing minimum breaks, both on the job and between jobs, destroying both staff morale and staff themselves, thus destroying what was an effective workforce and reducing it to a barely functioning mess...

But, what would be the point?

What, indeed. Whilst some of that could perhaps be attributed to the owning venture capital group seeking to maximise revenue extraction, there is perhaps a question of a more orchestrated effort at play from elsewhere rather than inexperience or ineptitude.

A demoralised workforce, still suffering from "strike fatigue" from the recent dispute, where those pulling the strings couldn't defeat a collective ASLEF, how about they try picking them off piecemeal? And if they succeed here, on to the next. And so on.

 

[NEDdrv]

Sounds about right. They are both about to learn life the hard way then.

The company have now asked ASLEF for talks to resolve the dispute.

 

[dk1]

The company have now asked ASLEF for talks to resolve the dispute.

i still don’t trust them. XC management are absolutely toxic. No need for this. What a vile organisation they are.

 

[NEDdrv]

i still don’t trust them. XC management are absolutely toxic. No need for this. What a vile organisation they are.

Don’t think anyone does, part of the reason RMT wouldn’t call off their strike days the other week.

 

[dk1]

Don’t think anyone does, part of the reason RMT wouldn’t call off their strike days the other week.

Awful isn’t it? And their industrial relations history stands out like a sore thumb compared to most of the other train operators.

 

[1D54]

So entering into discussions is a complete waste of time then? They must want this sorted out, it's in nobody's interest to having strikes yet again.

 

[PLY2AYS]

Awful isn’t it? And their industrial relations history stands out like a sore thumb compared to most of the other train operators.

The new MD’s history is Amazon and Post Office; and she’s had the audacity to bring her ‘Head of Industrial Relations’ with her!

 

[bahnause]

So entering into discussions is a complete waste of time then? They must want this sorted out, it's in nobody's interest to having strikes yet again.

To me it sounds as everything is sorted out, mangagement just doesn't bother to adhere to the agreements. What could you gain in engaging in talks as a union?

 

[dk1]

The new MD’s history is Amazon and Post Office; and she’s had the audacity to bring her ‘Head of Industrial Relations’ with her!

So I heard. She won’t last five minutes in the railway industry with that track record.

 

[Elecman]

So I heard. She won’t last five minutes in the railway industry with that track record.

She will if that’s what the DfT want

 

[dk1]

She will if that’s what the DfT want

I have my doubts.

 

[Bald Rick]

The company have now asked ASLEF for talks to resolve the dispute.

Theyve been talking for weeks!

 

[NEDdrv]

Theyve been talking for weeks!

Not according to ASLEF communications sent out to XC members.

 

[45Fox]

From the ASLEF Journal:



The MD of Cross Country, along with the Employee Relations Director, both previously worked for Amazon - that bastion of good employer/employee working relations.

Hardly surprising given the breakdown in relations and subsequent strike action with RMT. Absolute shambles of a TOC at every level in my view.

Whilst there are some good managers within XC, certainly at local and regional level, the culture at the top seems to be very abrasive; directors even trying to ignore/abrogate agreements and conditions with "I wasn't there when that was signed." (That's, frankly, chilling; if employers can get away with it then NOBODY'S conditions of employment are safe).

As the DfT are now the paymasters of the former franchises, surely they need to step in and get a grip? Taking into account the previous few years, all-out strikes at DfT financed TOCs could end up looking very bad for the current government.

Be under no illusions, this dispute has the potential to get EXTREMELY TOXIC.