Walk On, Walk On, with Hope in Your Heart and You'll Never Walk Alone
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ASLEFJOURNAL NOVEMBER 2018 The magazine of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers & Firemen Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart and you’ll never walk alone Inside: ASLEF in action at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool; and The train drivers ’ 100 years after the guns fell silent on the Western front, we remember union since 1880 the sacrifice of Britain’s railwaymen during the Great War of 1914-18 GS Mick Whelan The work of a weasel ASLEFJOURNAL NOVEMBER 2018 The magazine of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers & Firemen ‘Are the wheels and steel coming back together?’ HERESA May wants a rail review after Chris Grayling, her Secretary of State for 4 11 T Transport, dishonestly attacked the wages of railway staff, seeking to link them to fares, in News August. It was the work of a weasel; attacking those who have to take the abuse for the failings of his l Tube strike over management bullies 4 government department. David Brown, chief l ‘Getting up early’ by Jamie-Max Caldwell 5 executive of the Go-Ahead Group, which includes GTR, is only going to get a £582,000 bonus, on top Tube train cab security on the Underground 6 l of his £1 million salary, after a summer of chaos for l Adi Pearce’s Ode to Donny Dave 7 his company. It’s OK, apparently, because he decided to take only a 2.7% pay rise and declined l Mick Holder on the TUC’s h&s reps survey 8 25% of his proffered bonus, never mind what the 12 rest of the board will pocket. I looked forward to Features anguished cries from Mr Grayling, copious references to CPI, and talk of relating senior rail l Gregor Gall analyses how the SNP talks 10 managers’ salaries to fares – but not a peep. progressive left but acts boss class right We have not seen the remit for the Prime l You’ll never walk alone: ASLEF in action 11 Minister’s rail review but will it include, as at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool rumoured, a real look at alternative models? Will it look at directors’ pay which, under a nationalised Mick Whelan, Tosh McDonald and 12-13 l system, would not have seen such massive Jeremy Corbyn speak at conference increases and so much duplication? Will it look at l Partying at conference; Paul drops a plum; 14 the need for a long-term investment strategy? Will Justice for Colombia; Marz Colombini; 15 it look at the needs of the freight sector which has and the children of the revolution to be part of our integrated railway to protect and maintain the infrastructure? And will the voices of At the going down of the sun: sacrifice of 15 l passengers and employees be heard? I doubt it, Britain’s railwaymen during the Great War and token efforts should be called out for what they are. Rumours abound about the wheels and Regulars steel coming back together in some form of bastardised alliance. This is not the solution as false l Branch News, Upcoming Events and 16 company or geographical borders will only 100 Years of Union exacerbate problems and hurt regional investment. l Andy Hudd on what ERTMS means for us 17 16 Passengers want a railway run as a public service – clean, safe, and affordable – that delivers for local l Obituaries 19 and national domestic product. A nationalised l Letters and Classified Advertisements 20-21 service that enhances communication as a factor of production rather than reinforcing the north-south Last Word: Books to buy for Christmas 22 l divide. That drives not only economic equality but l On Track, Prize Crossword, ASLEF’s 23 social equality, too. People want a fully-staffed Legal Services and Change of Address environment which meets the needs of a growing population and changes of expectations in a 24 l Cover photos: Andrew Wiard hour, seven days a week, world. Integrated transport that delivers a better, greener, system not based on faux competition that deters useage. The ASLEF Journal is published every month by: Privatisation has caused havoc in an industry this ASLEF, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN country invented; people want their railway back, Tel: 020 7324 2400 l email: [email protected] linking homes and businesses and delivering the website: www.aslef.org.uk l twitter: @ASLEFUnion green targets to which this country is committed. 22 Maybe we have just saved the government some money to be spent on that review? EdiToR Mick Whelan l dESiGNER Michael Cronin l PRiNTER College Hill Press, London, SW19 4HE AdvERTiSiNG ASLEF Journal, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN. Contact Keith Richmond on 020 7324 2407 or [email protected] l cLASSiFiEd AdS [email protected] or call 020 7324 2400. The acceptance of a Yours fraternally display or classified advertisement does not necessarily imply endorsement of that product or service by ASLEF Mick Whelan, general secretary chANGE oF AddRESS Please post your details to ASLEF, 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN November 2018 l The ASLEF Journal 3 News because they had the temerity to take time Tube drivers walk out off sick after a SLEF traumatic incident. members ‘LU management A shut the had ample Central line in London opportunities to when they went on resolve this dispute. strike on Friday 5 But they chose not to, October after a imposition of new and because they believe breakdown of unsafe ‘flash and dash’ they will get what industrial relations working practices. they want by using with London ‘What links these sticks instead of Underground. Tube by reps regarding issues is a basic failure carrots. They have drivers voted by more service control to treat drivers on the tried to create a The GS on the picket line at West Ruislip; than 9:1 for action. problems; abuse of line with fairness and climate of fear on the West London Electric; and do8 Finn Brennan Finn Brennan, the attendance at respect,’ said Finn. ‘We Central line but our ASLEF’s organiser on management on a result of a campaign work procedure; have seen drivers drivers will not be the Underground, whole range of issues, of bullying and breach of agreements dismissed because of bullied. The huge “Yes” said: ‘Industrial action we have, reluctantly, intimidation by senior regarding managers one mistake after a vote for industrial is always the last decided this is our Central line managers driving trains; unfair quarter of a century of action shows our resort but, given the only course of action.’ and their failure to use of the disciplinary excellent service or members will not be intransigence of The strike was the deal with issues raised procedure; and the reduced in grade intimidated.’ RMS up That beard ain’t bad EC president Tosh McDonald was voted Beard of Labour conference – ahead of Jeremy to speed Corbyn, Ben Bellamy and Jyoti Wilkinson – in a The Retired Members’ poll conducted by the Beard Liberation Front. Section held its AGM ‘Tosh shaved his rivals,’ bristled organiser Keith at the International Flett. ‘He took 52% of the popular vote after his Transport Workers’ passionate conference speech.’ Federation head office l Conference coverage starts on page 11 in Borough, south Alan Taylor, Jan Shortt, Ray Jackson, Mick Whelan and Tosh Mcdonald London, on CONFERENCES & RALLIES Wednesday 3 October. secretary of the support of both our country, and for those The STUc women’s conference is at the Caird We had the pleasure National Pensioners’ members and our who will follow us; this Hall, Dundee, from Monday 29 to Tuesday of being addressed by Convention. Mick and customers. Jan gave a government can’t be 30 October. The STUc disabled workers’ the general, Mick Tosh brought us up to full and frank trusted to look after conference is at the Golden Jubilee Whelan, retiring speed on what the rundown on what the your future so we Conference Hotel, Glasgow, from Saturday president Tosh union is doing for its NPC is striving to must make sure they 17 to Sunday 18 November. The Scottish McDonald, and Jan members and its achieve for the do. Labour Party conference is at the Caird Hall, Shortt, general continued action in pensioners of this Peter Smith , RMS Dundee, from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 March 2019. The Welsh Labour Party conference is TWEETS OF THE MONTH Remember the fallen at the Venue Cymru in Llandudno from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 April. The Scottish Trades This year’s ASLEF poppy badge, If you don’t like same sex marriage, 2018 Union congress is at the Caird Hall, Dundee, don’t marry someone of the same marking 100 years since the end of from Monday 15 to Wednesday 17 April. the Great War in 1918, is available ASLEF’s ann ual assembly of delegates is at sex. But please don’t seek to impose your ASLEF in three versions: a traditional red the Marriott Ho tel, Leeds, from Monday 13 to bigotry on others in the name of principle. It won’t wash. poppy; a white poppy with the Thursday 16 May. The STUc youth conference Marz Colombini raised metal detail in black and is at the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel, gold; and a white poppy with the Glasgow, from Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 June. Isn’t it joyful that we’ve taken the detail in gold. Price £5 (inc p&p); The durham Miners’ Gala is on Sa turd ay 13 power to rule our country back from ema il info @aslef.org.uk July.