Train Drivers’ Meets in Aviemore Against Anti-Semitism Union Since 1880 Railway Enginemen’S Tax Free Saver Plans
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L A N R U O ASLEFThe ASSOCIATED SOCIETY of LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS & FIREMEN J JUNE 2016 Highland games Annual conference Marching on May Day The train drivers’ meets in Aviemore against anti-Semitism union since 1880 railway enginemen’s tax free saver plans you can save for your future for the cost of your TV sports package tax free policies from £5 per week products saver plan children’s saver plan saver and disability plan for further information call us on freephone 0800 328 9140 visit our website at www.enginemens.co.uk or write to us at Railway Enginemen's Assurance Society Limited, 727 Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, B8 2LE Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority & the Prudential Regulation Authority Incorporated under the Friendly Societies Act 1992 L A N 6 R 1 0 2 U E N O U J Published by the AASLEFSSOCIATED SOCIETY of LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS & FIREMEN J Humbled by humanity of delegates at conference Democracy and debate at AAD WRITE this column after spending a week 6 8 at our annual assembly of delegates, I reinvigorated by the discussion and debate, and the overwhelming humanity of those who belong to, and care about, this trade union, News this industry, and everyone’s future; not a society of individuals but a collective that operates for all. Ticket to ride for every railway worker 4 Some might consider it a risk, handing the union over to its own members to formulate policy, but I Pat Hanlon sets out to climb every mountain 5 believe it’s the purest form of democracy. We do Marching on May Day against anti-Semitism 6 not appoint; at every level of this trade union, 10 those who represent are elected, and the branch- ASLEF Education’s learner of the year 7 based structure of our union was endorsed. We Images of railway up for Haworth Prize 8 seek to shape our future and not rely on successes, industrially and politically, in the past. Yes, there are things we could and should do better but we will strive to achieve them together, whatever the AAD challenge. It’s a couple of years since the case of Neal v Ian Smith – from boil in the bag driver to 10 Freightliner, waiting as the TOCs and FOCs tried to honorary life member – opens conference get the judgement watered down after what we were told we are legally entitled to as part of our Tory government is coming for us 11 annual leave. It’s now been brought to a head by Neil Findlay, Andy McDonald, and 12-13 the executive committee; all overtime and Hilda Palmer address AAD allowances should be included in your annual 12-13 leave payments. Standing shoulder to shoulder on DOO 14 We are in dispute with a very poor employer who has challenged us legally over our Authentic voices of the footplate 15 agreements and the method of bargaining they Cover shot of Aviemore railway station and 22 used to honour. Because of this, and their claim conference photos by Douglas Robertson that if I tell you, as we’ve done for 136 years, what agreements we have in place, I am ‘inducing some form of action’ you will understand why I cannot go further. But we are balloting and will take the Regulars appropriate legal industrial action if we get a Branch News and 100 Years of Union 16-17 mandate subject, of course, to further legal challenge. People have only to look at the actions Obituaries 19 taken against other grades in that company to Letters and Classified Advertisements 20-21 form a view! We are writing to Patrick McLoughlin about Last Word: Keith Richmond reviews the 22 suggestions that companies invited to bid for best of the books on the Journal desk franchises under the Invitation to Tender process have been asked how they will undermine Food & Drink, Prize Crossword, ASLEF’s 23 collective bargaining and destroy our existing Legal Services and Change of Address agreements. We want an unequivocal response. We wish Sadiq Khan, the new Mayor of London, a bright and successful future. We are proud to The ASLEF Journal is published every month by: have supported Sadiq and look forward to ASLEF, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN Tel: 020 7324 2400 working with him. It will be nice to have a full-time mayor whose focus will be on the needs of email: [email protected] website: www.aslef.org.uk everyone in the capital. Yours fraternally EDITOR Mick Whelan l DESIGNER Michael Cronin l PRINTER TU Ink, 107 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2AB ADVERTISING Ten Alps, Portland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5BH. Contact Edwin Rodrigues on Mick Whelan, general secretary 0207 657 1819 or [email protected] l CLASSIFIED ADS [email protected] or call 020 7324 2400 The acceptance of an advert does not necessarily imply endorsement of that product or service by ASLEF CHANGE OF ADDRESS Please post your details to ASLEF, 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN June 2016 l The ASLEF Journal 3 News don’t. The joint statement says: Ticket to ride ‘Rail workers who entered employment in the railways SLEF, the RMT and the before 1 April 1996 are TSSA have launched a safeguarded and eligible for the A joint campaign for equal full range of protected rail travel and improved travel facilities for facilities for themselves and their all staff right across the rail families. Nearly all those who industry. The general secretaries entered the industry after 31 of the three main rail unions – March 1996 are either not entitled Mick Whelan, Mick Cash and to free travel at all or only Manuel Cortes – have called on restricted facilities on an Mick Whelan (centre) flanked by Mick Cash of the RMT and Manuel the government, devolved individual company basis if they Cortes of the TSSA launch the campaign at Euston station transport authorities and rail work for a passenger train companies to introduce a fairer operating company. countries, such as Spain and QUotE … ‘Travel facilities are an France, are entitled to free travel system for staff travel. ‘The real communication important benefit and we are across the UK rail network, yet a ‘ASLEF has long campaigned in our union happens in concerned that, despite British rail worker employed after for a more equal system of staff the mess room and the representations by our unions, 1996 is not. We believe all rail travel for train drivers across the branch room, in the the employers and government workers, and their families, UK,’ said Mick Whelan. ‘I look bothies and the lobbies.’ have allowed a damaging two- irrespective of service, should forward to campaigning with our – Simon weller , AGS tier system to develop amongst receive equal, free and improved sister trade unions to ensure …UNQUotE workers across our industry have UK rail workers. travel facilities which may be fairer travel facilities.’ ‘Rail workers from other multi-modal.’ The three rail unions are twEEtS oF tHE MoNtH campaigning together against a FG tARGEtS VIRGIN: The ORR has given the green light for First two-tier system where some staff Group to run open access services between London and Edinburgh, HSBC moves IT ops abroad. receive travel benefits and some competing with VTEC, on the East Coast main line. As ruthless as it is reckless. Unite wESt coASt bAck IN Dock Boris puts personal interest West Coast Railways – the controversial heritage ahead of national interest. operator run by Yorkshire farmer David Smith – Corbyn can take him down. is under scrutiny again after investigators Liam young revealed that what would have been Britain’s worst-ever rail disaster was only avoided Gone off England at the because one of the trains was running late. The Euros. This season Defoe’s Rail Accident Investigation Board report reveals scored more goals than that the heritage locomotive Tangmere ran a Sturridge, Rooney, Rashford, signal set at danger at a busy junction on the Sterling, Townsend… Great Western main line at Wootton Bassett just kevin Maguire 44 seconds after a packed high speed FGW passenger train went by. The RAIB has slammed EC president Tosh McDonald spoke at a May Day march Marz colombini was the company after discovering that a device to and rally in Chesterfield. ‘The photo shows Chesterfield posting on Facebook and automatically apply the brakes if a signal is MP Toby Perkins, a vice-chair of Progress, applauding me Simon weller and Ian beckett passed at danger had been deliberately disabled at the beginning of my speech,’ said Tosh. ‘He looked were tweeting from AAD. and West Coast Railways suffers from what it more and more uncomfortable as my speech went on! Reports on pages 10-15. describes as a ‘weak’ safety culture. Ronck’n’roll…’ Photo: John Giddins MAtcH oF tHE DAy the Viner/turrell football tournament is at whittington Park, Holloway Road, north London on 29 June. ‘It’s five years since Andy’s death,’ said Debbie Reay, branch secretary of Northern Line North. ‘So we want as many teams as possible coming out to play to make it a great day in his memory.’ DARk DAy FoR ASLEF woRkERS !"#$%&#!'()!&'*'!"#$%'+#,!-%' PRESENTS THE Despite some last- 2016 minute concessions, the Trade Union Act GS Mick Whelan VINER/TURRELL became law last addresses activists FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT month on what Len on a branch TH 29 JUNE 2016 McCluskey, general 1PM – 5PM secretaries’ course 6 A SIDE (SQUAD OF 10) secretary of Unite, organised by Simon £50.00 PER TEAM AT Britain’s biggest Weller and Marz WHITTINGTON PARK, HOLLOWAY ROAD, trade union, called Colombini at Stoke LONDON N19 4RS FOR MORE INFORMATION ‘a dark day for Rochford in EMAIL: [email protected] workers’ in Britain.