Rachael Maskell – I Ran for Parliament on a Burning Sense of Injustice the Train Drivers ’ Union Since 1880 Railway Enginemen’S Tax Free Saver Plans

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ASLEFThe ASSOCIATED SOCIETY of LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS & FIREMEN J JANUARY 2018

Rachael Maskell – I ran for Parliament on a burning sense of injustice The train drivers ’ union since 1880 railway enginemen’s tax free saver plans

tax free savings plans for Resource Managers, Roster Clerks, Driver Assessoors, Driver TeamTeam Managers, Customer Service AssistantAssistants,ts, Driver Instructors, Drivers, Customer Service Managers,gers, TTrainrain Managers, Conductors, Retail Sales Managers,s, First Class Hosts, On Board Cleaners, Controllers, GuarG ds, Revenue Protection Inspectors & Senior Conductorrs and anyone we’ve missed out who works on the railways or for train operating companies!

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Mick: ‘How many TOCs will go back cap in hand?’ Heads they win, tails we lose 5 12-13

IRGIN Care, having lost a contract, sued V the health authority and were awarded hundreds of thousands of pounds and, News to rub salt into the wounds, awarded a major contract in Lancashire. When Virgin Stagecoach  Failures of management to blame for crash 4 lost the West Coast gravy train they used the same tactics; we have never quite understood how they  Swan waits at Lincoln city level crossing 5 then retained it? The warning, of course, is that if, First ASLEF Young Workers’ Forum 6 in future, we are in a TTIP or CETA type trade deal  14 these are the tactics big companies use to  Paddington Bear really hates marmalade 7 challenge governments to the detriment of the Andy Botham on ‘one under’ on 5 Live 8 needs of the people and communities concerned.  That resonates very loudly to me with all the Brexit talk about sovereignty. The government is considering re-opening Features lines closed by Beeching which, naturally, we would, in normal circumstances, welcome. But this  Kerry Cassidy reports from the ITF women 10 15 re-announcement was really made to mask the transport workers’ conference in Marrakech failure of Virgin Stagecoach on the East Coast – the third time a train operating company has had to  Uber, Amazon and Deliveroo: Gregor Gall 11 hand back the keys or go cap in hand to the lifts the lid on bogus self-employment government. Difficult after the success on the  Shadow Rail Minister Rachael Maskell 12-13 same line as publicly-owned Directly Operated talks about transport, health and Brexit Rail and the millions of pounds returned to the Treasury! So from 2020 it will be a private-public  Bill Dale reports from the RMS annual 14 partnership letting Virgin Stagecoach off general meeting in Peterborough 16 contractual payments of millions of pounds. Why  ASLEF in action at London Labour; RMS 15 don’t they admit it’s dogma – and the model has weekend forum at Low Hall, Scalby failed? How many more companies will be going back cap in hand on the back of this? A lot has been made recently of drivers’ pay; shame it’s not reported that it’s been earned by Regulars productivity and flexibility over the past two decades. So while we do not do the politics of  Branch News and 100 Years of Union 16-17 envy it’s worth noting that more than 70 people at  Obituaries 18-19 Network Rail earn more than the Prime Minister. How many more earn more than train drivers?  Letters and Classified Advertisements 20-21 That neatly takes us onto directors’ pay which Last Word: Red Star Over Russia – a 22 often contains share options and bonuses. We  openly show what we earn so I would like to see revolution in visual culture at Tate Modern all the share options and bonuses as well as the 22  On Track, Prize Crossword, ASLEF’s 23 pay of managers and directors published – and Legal Services and Change of Address Cover photo by Andrew Wiard then we would have a true comparison of those who, serially and for poor performance, get rewarded against those of us routinely castigated. The ASLEF Journal is published every month by: Homelessness has increased 65% in seven years but on Christmas Day Euston station was ASLEF, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN Tel: 020 7324 2400 open to the homeless. Maybe as an industry we email: [email protected] website: www.aslef.org.uk could and should do more as the railway can be the hub of our communities. Happy New Year! EDITOR Mick Whelan l DESIGNER Michael Cronin l PRINTER TU Ink, 5 Wythburn Place, London, W1H 7BU Yours fraternally ADVERTISING ASLEF Journal, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN. Contact Keith Richmond on 0207 324 2407 or [email protected] l CLASSIFIED ADS [email protected] or call 020 7324 2400. The acceptance of a Mick Whelan, general secretary display or classified advertisement 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

January 2018 l The ASLEF Journal 3 News

While individual entire system, Failure of management senior managers especially given that have changed since management and the accident, the regulators have and regulation to blame culture at Tram shown themselves to Operations has not. be so poor at Drivers still fear their identifying risks.’ for Croydon tragedy job is at risk if they Finn added: ‘There report being tired is no evidence that HE 174 temporary loss of “lessons will be DO8 Finn Brennan and they will be the Guardian device, page Rail awareness of the learned” or the used in the disciplined for the interim system t Accident driving task during a familiar sound of the construction of reporting sick. used to monitor Investigation Branch period of low scapegoating of trams, then the ‘There is a serious drivers’ alertness, report into the workload, which individuals. Because deaths and most lack of co-ordination would have done derailment of a tram possibly caused the the RAIB report serious injuries could between TfL, who are anything to prevent at Sandilands in driver to micro-sleep’. makes clear that have been avoided. responsible for this terrible tragedy. south London on 9 ‘There needs to neither regulators ‘The management infrastructure, and Tram Operations November 2016, be a fundamental nor management culture at Tram Tram Operations, should be dealing which resulted in change in the way understood the Operations Ltd who operate the with the underlying seven deaths and that tram operating potential for such a meant drivers were system. The causes of fatigue dozens of injuries, companies are serious incident. afraid to report recommendation to among staff, by slams Tramlink managed and ‘From its mistakes or errors for install a tram recruiting enough management, backs regulated,’ said Finn inception, the fear of being protection system drivers to eliminate ASLEF’s call for Brennan, ASLEF’s Croydon Tramlink disciplined. The result that can the need for overtime investment in an organiser on system was treated was that the automatically apply working, and automatic braking Tramlink. ‘The loved as a “bus on rails”. If opportunity to learn brakes to a speeding developing a fair system, and ones of those killed the same standards lessons from vehicle is long culture that supports, concludes that the and injured deserve used for toughened previous incidents – overdue. TfL should rather than blames, most likely cause of to hear more than glass on main line or and avoid repeating commit to firm staff who are ill or the crash was ‘a the usual cliché that light rail vehicles was them – was missed. timescales for struggling to cope installation now – with shift working with no more delays. and the work/life Mick slams grayling’s ‘new’ strategy This should cover the balance.’ Mick Whelan has of jobs in this country, and nothing to help condemned the Transport build the homes young people so desperately tWEEtS oF thE MoNth Secretary’s new plans for need. It’s a typically vacuous set of proposals the rail network in Britain. from a man who doesn’t seem to know what Tonight I put country and ‘Chris Grayling has the he’s doing. All he is doing is reheating a few constituency before party and voted temerity to describe them old proposals. Where is the bold strategic with my principles to give parliament a as “bold plans to expand vision for rail – and integrated transport links – meaningful vote. the rail network” which in this country? And what has happened to Stephen hammond will “boost jobs and the Tory promises on electrification on which housing”. They will do he promptly reneged? We would be pleased David Davis your red line, your hill to GS Mick Whelan nothing of the sort. There to see the lines cut by Beeching restored. But die on, is really something. What is nothing bold about them, and they will do we need something more – and someone made you want to become an MP? ‘Great nothing to improve our transport better – to deliver the railway that people in question, I really wanted to fight hard so infrastructure, nothing to increase the number this country deserve.’ people can wank at work.’ Jess Phillips congratulations, Richard! QUotE… David Davis fighting for the God- given right to look at porn on ‘By almost any measure, the Richard Leonard (left), who was endorsed by company time and not get sacked. Truly, he past decade has been a disaster ASLEF, was elected Scottish Labour leader at is a giant among pygmies. for living standards.’ – Larry the end of November. Richard, 55, who Stephen Bush decisively beat the centre-right candidate, Elliott in The Guardian Anas Sarwar, in a two-horse race, set out his …UNQUotE agenda – including a radical programme of public ownership – in the Journal last year. Rock oN, ‘Richard shares our values and we were proud to tRAVELLiNg Light support his campaign,’ said GS Mick Whelan. ‘He’s a Roger galloway AttiLA committed trade unionist who recognises that the Smith, traveller, EC president Tosh people of Scotland are hungry for change.’ train driver, McDonald shared Kevin Lindsay, ASLEF’s organiser in Scotland, added: and BEME rep the stage with punk ‘I’ve known Richard for many years. He’s a dedicated and for District 3, poet Attila the hardworking socialist, who recognises the value of marked human Stockbroker at a public ownership, and wants to ensure Scotland’s Rights Day by benefit concert on 10 railways are run for the people of Scotland, not to wearing his December in support subsidise the fares of our European neighbours or given traveller of the Women’s Aid Selfie time for Tosh, away as dividends to line the pockets of the ethnicity pin – and ASLEF lanyard centre in Doncaster. Nikki and Attila shareholders in private companies.’ – in the cab of his class 158.

4 The ASLEF Journal l January 2018 News

Bishop of Lincoln from 1186-1200, Swan’s way when it was the Off the rails largest diocese in SWAN waits, into space as if it England, was famous A patiently does this all the time. for his compassion ANtoNio cARLUccio , whose passion for and politely, It had earlier been for the poor and fresh and simple Mediterranean food, as for a train to pass at a spotted strolling oppressed, and for well as mushrooms, transformed British level crossing in down the High Street being followed tastes in the 1980s and ’90s, was born in Lincoln city centre. here.’ around by a white 1937, the fifth of sixth children, of a railway station master at David Burton, who Swans are often swan, which guarded Vietri sul Mare on the Amalfi coast. When he was seven took pictures of the seen on the Brayford him as he slept. months old the family moved to Castelnuovo Belbo in bird on his mobile waterfront in Lincoln, Health and safety Piedmont where, during the Second World War, the railway phone, said: ‘The Britain’s oldest inland experts wryly station was a crossing point for soldiers from both sides. As swan was waiting harbour, and the observed that the the youngest son of the station master, Antonio was petted quietly for a couple birds have historic swan behaved rather by both the partisans and the Wehrmacht. He recalled that of minutes until the associations with the better than some the Germans – ‘good Germans, not the SS’ – would turn up at barriers opened. It city. cyclists and lunchtime to sample mama’s cooking while the partisans was calmly staring Hugh of Avalon, motorists. made the family hand over one of their two pigs. ‘The waiting room of the station was turned into a slaughterhouse, they killed the pig there and then. I heard the screams, went to bed, and in the morning there were only sausages left.’

MEL thoRLEY , Longsight legend, muses ‘Off the Rails? Well, nearly! Entry and exit to Maplins was from the up side of the West Coast main line via the infamous north and south ends at 15mph. One morning Bardicman had checked his three-car 323 EMU and was exiting the carriage sidings, having received the tip from the south end. What Bardicman didn’t know was that he The swan waits patiently at the level crossing. Photo: David Burton had two more three-car 323s attached to his back end! To the amazement of staff in the south cabin, car after car went over coNFERENcES & RALLiES the boarded crossing, gathering speed with every bogie. The Scottish Labour Party QUotE… Once Bardicman had his unit on the main line, he whacked conference is at the Caird Hall in ‘London is leading the way open the controller and enjoyed the g-force. Meanwhile, Dundee from Friday 9 to Sunday showing how we can keep back at the south end, they witnessed the last bogie (number 11 March. The Welsh Labour fares down.’ – Sadiq khan , 18) fly over the points at 60mph. At Stockport, the shunter Party conference is at the Venue Mayor of London uncoupled the back two, and the Ferryman took them back Cymru in Llandudno from Friday …UNQUotE to Longsight. Bardicman continued south with his single 23 to Sunday 25 March. The unit, no harm done, lesson learnt…’ Scottish Trades Union Congress is at the Macdonald Highlands Not iN kEEPiNg – AND thE BMA conference debated a motion hotel, Aviemore, from Monday Not oN SALE from the Bedfordshire local medical 16 to Wednesday 18 April. Virgin Trains has dropped the committee calling on the British Medical Workers’ Memorial Day is Daily Mail from its services. Drew Association to urgently consider how GPs Saturday 28 April. ASLEF’s annual McMillan, head of colleague ‘can be supported to operate within a assembly of delegates is at the communication and private, alternative model.’ Note that splendidly weasel word Marriott Hotel, Liverpool, from engagement, said: ‘Different ‘supported’. It means ‘paid by the state, by you, the taxpayer’ Monday 21 to Friday 25 May. The viewpoints are often valuable, but not in a state-run model National Health Service. In other Durham Miners’ Gala is on and it’s certainly true that we words, encouraged by Jeremy Hunt, another way of Saturday 14 July. The Tolpuddle choose to take our news from privatising the NHS and making private profits at public Martyrs’ festival , near different sources depending on expense. The motion was voted down. Dorchester, is from Friday 20 to our view of the world. Thousands Sunday 22 July. The 150th Trades of people choose to read the WiNStoN chURchiLL exemplified the Union Congress is at the Daily Mail every day. But they will attitude of most Liberals and Conservatives in Manchester Central convention no longer be reading it courtesy Britain – he had, after all, been a member of complex from Sunday 9 to of VT. There’s been considerable both political parties – towards the Russian Wednesday 12 September. The concern raised by colleagues revolution in October 1917. As Sean Labour Party conference is at about the Mail ’s editorial position McMeekin reminds us in The Russian Revolution: A New the Arena & Convention Centre in on issues such as immigration, History (Profile Books, £25), the old war horse growled: ‘One Liverpool from Sunday 23 to LGBT rights, and unemployment. might as well legalise sodomy as recognise the Bolsheviks.’ Wednesday 26 September. The We’ve decided that this paper is STUC women’s conference is at not compatible with the VT brand ALEXANDRE DUMAS , in The Count of Monte the Caird Hall in Dundee from and our beliefs. We won’t be Cristo , observes, ‘The difference between treason Monday 29 to Tuesday 30 stocking the Daily Mail for sale or and patriotism is only a matter of dates.’ A fine October. as a giveaway.’ line that some of those Catalonian separatists detained in Spanish prisons might be pondering... 500 cLUB: K Christie, with number 83, won the December draw, scooping the RMS prize money jackpot of £400.

January 2018 l The ASLEF Journal 5 News

Boogaloo dudes Seeking justice on carry the news All Hallows’ Eve A year to the day that the current SLEF, until recently, had not organised Conservative government continued to around young members but, last cover up the crimes of its predecessor A January, we convened our Young TUC Young Workers’ Month promotes trade under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s by Members’ Forum with one member, aged 35 or unions and the issues facing young workers refusing to hold a public inquiry into the under, from each of our eight districts to in Britain in the 21st century brutal attack by South Yorkshire police on examine the barriers young people face in striking miners at Orgreave, hundreds of becoming activists in the union, to provide form the basis of work for the forum activists attended the Death of Justice rally support and encouragement to young throughout 2018. on Devonshire Green in Sheffield to remind members stepping forward, to develop At the first ASLEF Young Members’ people that the fight for truth goes on. strategies to promote the recruitment of conference on Tuesday 28 November, at the younger men and women into the driving ITF in London, 38 young men and women grade, and to engage in young member heard speakers including GS Mick Whelan; structures in the wider trade union movement. Danielle Rowley, MP for Midlothian, the To start this work the forum sent out a youngest Labour Member of Parliament; Tom survey to all young ASLEF members. Holliday, who organised the McStrike in Campaigning priorities, the survey revealed, Cambridge; and Craig Dawson, chair of the include the protection of drivers’ terms & TUC’s Young Workers’ Forum, who, in turn, conditions, getting a good work/life balance, learned about ASLEF and what our young and securing decent pensions. The results members think.

regular at our annual Beer and get together, presented long ASLEF activists don fluorescent masks for service badges to Nick badges the Death of Justice march on Halloween Warner, Trevor Hale Battersea branch and Dave Lane (5 would like to thank GS years); Rob Crouchley QUotE … Mick Whelan, EC1 and Paul Shovlin (10); ‘One more term of Tory government Marz Colombini, DO1 Micky Harbour, Jay should be enough to see off the NHS. It Graham Morris and Brook, Gary will not collapse overnight and Southern company Warburton and Dave GS Mick Whelan at the power station ministers will not announce its council for taking time Gibbs (15); Steve Biggs abolition. Rather, it will go the way of out from their busy (25); and Alex Holness presentation evening 35 year badge but, dental services, where more and more schedules dealing (45). Thanks to all who recognising the unfortunately, missed practitioners went private until, in some with the various parts attended for assisting loyalty and support of the presentation due areas, it has become almost impossible of the Southern with demolishing the our members. Special to illness. to find an NHS dentist.’ – Peter Wilby in dispute to attend our buffet and for mention to Southern Pas Luongo , the New Statesman beer and badges contributing to yet driver Ray Coates who Battersea branch event. Mick, now a another successful was due to receive a secretary …UNQUotE

JAiLED – MAN Who cLiMBED RAiL Poorest suffer most iN SoLiDARitY gANtRY At SEVEN SiStERS So proud to be able to stand and applaud the A man who climbed a railway gantry and the poorest and most vulnerable in our brave PCS strikers (on strike to try and save caused chaos for commuters has been jailed society will be hardest hit by government Sheffield Eastern Avenue Job Centre from for a year. Adam Kozlowski, 37, from Enfield, changes to tax, social security and public closing) as they marched back into the office north London, scaled a gantry at Seven Sisters spending reforms, a report by the Equality before it closes its doors. PCS members have station that supports overhead power lines of and human Rights commission has been striking not for money, not for jobs, but 25,000 volts. He stayed on the structure for revealed. Disabled people, the elderly, to try and keep an important Job Centre open nine hours forcing the cancellation of 144 and lone parents will suffer financial in one of the most needy areas. Solidarity! services costing Network Rail £437,000. losses far greater under reforms tosh McDonald , Ec president introduced in recent years. Women will also suffer an annual loss double that of Carry all your stuff – papers, keys, men, and black households will face a loss sandwiches – in style with our smart of income more than double that of white black documents bag. families. the EhRc warns of a ‘bleak Price £10 (inc p&p); future’ for those most in need and has email [email protected] urged the tory government to ‘come clean’ or visit our online shop and provide a full impact analysis of all at www.aslef.org.uk current and future tax and social security policies. iN LikE FiNN: Finn Brennan has been re-elected unopposed as District 8 Organiser. ‘I’d like to thank all the ASLEF members on London Underground and Tramlink for their support,’ said Finn, 53, who spent 23 years as a Northern line driver before being elected DO in 2013.

6 The ASLEF Journal l January 2018 News

Paddington hates marmalade

HOCK! London during the Horror! Second World War. S Paddington ‘They all had a label Bear hates round their neck with marmalade. Well, not their name and the polite, good- address and a little natured, disaster- case or package prone, duffel containing all their coat-wearing small treasured possessions. brown bear from Paddington was a ‘darkest Peru’, but the refugee, and I think actor who voices Not so fast with there’s no sadder sight Iron and coal Michael Bond’s the marmalade, than refugees.’ Ian Thompson, ATW company creation in two big A bronze statue of Paddington council, spotted this on the wall On the wall in English and Welsh budget British films. the bear, placed on of the Old Town Hall in Merthyr ‘I really don’t like it bought from platform 1 at Tydfil where the Wales Labour employed Charles Dickens as a at all,’ admits Ben Selfridges as a last- Paddington station in Party policy forum was held. parliamentary correspondent, Whishaw, who minute stocking filler 2000, is one of the The Morning Chronicle , first and published pieces by Henry stepped in when for his wife on most popular published in 1769, ran essays Mayhew later collected Colin Firth stepped Christmas Eve, and memorials in London, by radicals such as William between hard covers as London down, saying partly by childhood attracting dozens of Hazlitt and Charles Lamb, Labour and the London Poor . Paddington ‘simply memories of child fans to pose for a selfie doesn’t have my voice.’ evacuees passing with the little refugee Fortunately Ben, who through Reading from every day. also plays Q opposite Packed Daniel Craig in the James Bond movies in like Skyfall and Spectre , QUotE… didn’t have to eat any ‘George Orwell is in the wrong place. marmalade during Ever since I challenged the last director sardines the making of general with the idea that the BBC Paddington 2 . should celebrate Orwell and his Passengers on The other Bond – journalistic values – and was told he Northern Rail fed up Michael – was was ‘too left-wing’ – I have known the with being ‘packed in inspired to write his BBC is fearful of its political masters, like sardines’ say first book, A Bear who hold the purse strings.’ – Joan overcrowding is the Called Paddington , Bakewell in the New Statesman most important Passengers are fed up of strap hanging published in 1958, …UNQUotE health and safety partly by a toy bear he issue in their lives. on social media. whilst the person Kate Anstee, of ‘Overcrowding is a behind you is having AiRDRiE BRANch Hebden Bridge, West massive problem. All a panic attack in your Tea and coffee tastes A new branch has Yorkshire, has set up too often we are ear. An experience better in a red and white been set up in a Facebook faced with delays, that is frequently ASLEF mug! Price £3.50 District 2 – Airdrie campaign group cancellations, dangerous and (inc p&p); email branch No 276. called ‘Northern: overflowing out of wouldn’t pass health [email protected] or visit Airdrie depot Ruining People’s use toilets, windows and safety standards, our online shop at drivers will be Lives On A Daily that don’t open with that ruins our day www.aslef.org.uk moved from Yoker Basis’ to push our faces pressed before we’ve even branch into Airdrie. passengers’ concerns against the glass got to work.’ What can you get for your new, shiny £1 coin? TBF membership... just £1 a week covers you, your partner and dependent children. 0300 333 2000 www.tbf.org.uk

Transport Benevolent Fund CIO, known as TBF, is a registered charity in England and Wales, 1160901, and Scotland, SC047016.

January 2018 l The ASLEF Journal 7 News

you’ve been through. They don’t even know what it’s Andy live on Five like to drive a train, never mind to be in that NDY Botham was Rachel Burden told uncontrolled situation interviewed by listeners that her brother where you can see A Nicky Campbell was killed by a train 30 something going to and Rachel Burden on BBC years ago. ‘His was an happen that is really, really Radio 5 Live’s breakfast accident, but I’ve often bad, and you can’t stop it. programme on thought about the impact ‘The doctor will sign Wednesday 15 November it had on the driver.’ you off work for a period about the effect on train ‘You say you can of time but, eventually, drivers of someone taking remember, Rachel, and I you’ve got to go back to his or her own life on the can guarantee that the work, because that’s your railway line. driver involved in that case living, and drive the same More than 270 people will remember it as plain Andy Botham (right) was trains over the same committed suicide on as day, too,’ said Andy. ‘It’s on 5 Live with Nicky section of track, day in, Britain’s railway last year the most devastating Campbell and Rachel day out, and the impact and the Samaritans, incident you will ever be Burden (above) wears away over the years Network Rail, and the involved in and something but it’s always still there. British Transport Police you didn’t expect when you possibly can to And there are days when have launched a new you became a train driver. encourage them to move it’s the same sort of light, campaign to encourage It never leaves you. out of the way, by blowing the same sort of day, and passengers to talk to ‘You remember every the horn, you put the the incident, and how it comes flying back to anyone on a station second of it. The speed emergency brake in, but ASLEF has worked with you… platform they see acting you’re driving a train then you just sit looking at managements over the ‘Anything we can do to strangely or who appears means that by the time the impact site and years to improve support stop somebody taking to be vulnerable. ‘A little you see something it’s everything goes into slow for drivers. their own life and small talk can be all it virtually impossible to motion. That image is ‘Drivers deal with the anything we can do to takes to help start stop before you actually replayed in your head time immediate moment stop another train driver someone on the journey make impact, because of and time again over the perfectly because that’s today – and the chances to recovery,’ says Sarah the braking system. By the years. It’s the worst thing what we’re trained to do. are there will be a train Wilson, who was talked time you see somebody you can imagine.’ It’s afterwards. You’ve got driver today who will have out of taking her life by standing in front of your Andy explained the nobody to talk to because to go through this process just such a conversation. train, you do everything process immediately after nobody knows what – is worth trying.’

PASSENgERS igNoRE thE BEEP Passengers are putting themselves in danger QUotE… by rushing on to carriages as train doors shut, Eight men in ‘If you tremble with according to a new study by the Rail Safety indignation at every and Standards Board. Three in four commuters injustice, then you are a admit ignoring the door closing alarm and comrade of mine.’ – che trying to board at the last moment, wrongly guevara believing the doors will automatically reopen …UNQUotE if they detect an obstruction. This has led to an increasing number of ‘trap and drag’ incidents in which passengers have been caught in the doors and pulled along the platform, causing ShELtER FRoM serious injuries. thE StoRM EXPRESS DELiVERY What do you do with a big The Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company ‘It’s been a few years but, finally, we have a full empty railway station on in Japan has apologised after its Tsukuba complement for our Black and Ethnic Minority the one day of the year Express service left Minami Nagareyama Representatives’ Committee,’ says ASLEF’s equalities that no trains run? turn it station, Tokyo, for Tsukuba 20 seconds early. adviser, Lee James. From left to right they are Roger into a shelter for the The company said ‘we sincerely apologise for Galloway-Smith (D3), Surjet Puee (D4), Trevor Robinson homeless. the inconvenience caused’ after the train (D8); Ed D’Bell (D1); Aaron Clapp (D6); Floyd Doyle (D5); Euston station, scheduled to leave at 9:44:40 departed at Paul Patmore (D2) and Peter Acheampong (D7) complete with yuletide 9:44:20. ‘The crew did not sufficiently check decorations, and tables the departure time and performed the laid for a festive dinner, departure operation.’ No passengers DRiVERLESS cARS cAN cAUSE PiLE-UPS provided food and shelter complained. Driverless cars are at risk from hackers intent on causing for 200 homeless people accidents, MPs have been warned. Matthew Channon of on christmas Day with 30 Exeter University, giving evidence to Parliament on the volunteers from Network Our woolly hat will keep you Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill, said hackers who Rail working alongside warm this winter. Price £5 remotely access the controls of driverless vehicles will be helpers from St Mungo’s (including p&p); email able to cause fatal pile-ups on motorways. Because and Streets kitchen to [email protected] or visit our autonomous vehicles are wirelessly connected to each bring a little warmth to online shop at www. aslef.org.uk other criminals who successfully hack the systems of one those most in need. car will be able to access the controls of others.

8 The ASLEF Journal l January 2018

Report

Would you know we’re riding on the Marrakech express

kERRY cASSiDY , Women’s Representatives committee member for District 7, ASLEF in action reports from the itF women in Morocco transport workers’ conference in Marrakech

CAN hear the backlash now. ‘Women drivers? On a jolly! We don’t need i equal rights, we already have them. A driver is a driver is a driver…’ et cetara et cetara! Yes, train driving may be one of the best high paid jobs for women – and one of the most equally paid jobs in the UK, according to the first time workers here were represented in Office for National Statistics – but worldwide parliament and government. He helped there are still gender discrepancies in pay, establish a 50:50 split of men to women in the men, due to the type of jobs being replaced. conditions and the roles women can do. parliamentary transport group, and the union There were discussions about recruiting ensures there is a woman represented at every younger members through ITF campaigns, iMPoRtANt WoRk level in the organisation. For a country with a focus on increasing membership in sub- That’s why it’s important we work with other perceived as not being very Westernised, and sectors, and being able to equip and train unions around the world to highlight the not at the cutting edge of either workers’ women to empower and encourage them to problem and bring other countries up to our rights or equal rights for women, that was a take leading positions in the workplace and in standards, and to learn from countries that surprise to many delegates. the union movement. have overtaken us on issues such as paid leave Kalthoum Barkallah, vice-chair of the ITF We don’t have it as bad in the UK, gender for sufferers of domestic violence and women’s committee, is from this region. She rights wise. We may have one of the most challenging job losses due to automation. talked about how women in work have grown equally paid jobs but we still have bullying and And that’s why Alison Miller (ScotRail and in numbers here and how representation has harassment issues we need to deal with. By D2 rep) and Kerry Cassidy (GWR and D7 rep) become stronger; there are now female other countries taking the lead preventing went as delegates from the UK to the general secretaries in trade unions in Arab gender-based violence to workers we can use International Transport Workers’ Federation countries. Given the economic, political and some of the tools and ideas shared at the women transport workers’ conference on 7 social issues, and the way some women have conference to add to our own Mind the Gag and 8 November in Marrakech, Morocco, been threatened with violence, and been campaign, to help challenge offensive joining 250 delegates representing 730,492 called back to their homes and told to stop behaviour from staff and passengers, too. women in 624 affiliated unions that have working, unions are organising women to In the evening we went to a dinner female transport workers as members. We challenge discrimination and putting pressure organised by the UMT and were picked up were there to share our ideas and bring back on governments to end gender-based from the conference venue by horse drawn initiatives from countries with similar issues violence and discrimination. carriages. The unions are so strong that even and which are working elsewhere in the these drivers are organised and union world. BASic RightS members. Luckily, though, the fare was picked The two priority themes were building Amal El Amri, deputy national secretary of the up by the UMT as there is no real price women transport workers’ economic power – UMT, talked of the progress in Morocco – they structure to journeys by horse, tuk tuk, or taxi, ending gender-based occupational have had female train drivers here for 17 years nor any queuing system either, so getting segregation in the global transport industry – – and of significant progress elsewhere in the anywhere is a case of finding a taxi queue and and building the power of trade union action Arab region with the lifting of the ban on haggling with each driver until you get an to end violence against women transport women driving in Saudi Arabia and their acceptable price (so although they are workers globally, regionally, nationally and strategic vision that, by 2030, women will be organised, in the union sense, the whole sectorally. able to play an equal role in society. pricing structure and job allocation seems Across the two days there were many Women have struggled to ensure even open to abuse by the person willing to work speakers of different genders talking about basic rights here, and without the struggle of the cheapest). the different issues that affected them. All women in other countries, talking and coming transport sectors were represented and there together, this progress would not have been iDEA FoR AAD were translators for the larger represented possible. Some Islamist governments do not The conference closed with a group photo languages, meaning that the whole pay any attention to labour rights, human and, impressively, the majority were prepared conference was conducted in nine different rights, the right to organise or bargain to wear the provided red shirts. I would love to languages. collectively. This has opened up these see the same commitment from delegates at Miloudi Moukharik, general secretary of countries to trade because labour costs are AAD to all stay until the very end, wear the Union Marocaine du Travail, gave the lower, but workers’ conditions are being something provided that is not their normal opening speech. He is an important person in dictated, not challenged. colour, and be in a fit enough state to be the trade union movement in Morocco A big challenge we face in the future is organised and appear in a photo. Perhaps first because he was an elected member of the automation and how it may challenge decent day photos, rather than the last, are a safer bet Moroccan government from 1997-2015, the working conditions for women, more so than for the majority of our members at our events!

10 The ASLEF Journal l January 2018 Platform The road to hell

companies such as Uber, Amazon and Deliveroo have been condemned for using artificial self-employment to deprive their workers of their rights, evade their corporate responsibilities, and cheat the Revenue. gREgoR gALL , Professor of industrial Relations at the University of Bradford, lifts the lid on the bogus self- employment scam in pursuit of bigger profits

F there is one clear way to get your head around what ‘neo-liberalism’ i means, it’s the current plague of bogus self-employment. Neo-liberalism is the hard-right ideology – propounded, in the face of all the evidence, by conservative politicians, free market economists, greedy bankers, and ‘devil take the hindmost’ businessmen since the high water mark of Milton Friedman, Ronald Reagan, and Margaret Thatcher – that believes ‘the market knows best’ and, consequently, should be left to The Peasants’ Revolt: Uber determine, well, pretty much drivers and Deliveroo riders This shows that while some limited everything. It means rolling back are fed up with being treated advances can be made in the courts, under state rules and regulations, be it badly by companies which existing laws, it isn’t easy to protect workers over prices or profits, and letting refuse to face up to their from bogus self-employment. There is a role firms do pretty much whatever they responsibilities for campaigning directly against the likes of like. A capitalist Wild West which, Uber and Deliveroo in terms of their trade and when applied to employment, means ending companies using so-called ‘umbrella firms’. to have a negative impact on their brand and longstanding, and hard-fought for, This artificial form of self-employment is so reputation through social media and boycott employment protections and terms and critical to their profit generating ‘business campaigns. conditions. model’ that an endless stream of employers Governments since 1979 have either, at have contested any challenges, going from A RAFt oF RightS worst, advanced the neo-liberal agenda or, at employment tribunal to employment appeal But if we want to make long-term, and deep- best, done nothing to stop it in its tracks. And, tribunal and from the High Court to the seated, change that protects workers and in the last five years especially, many Supreme Court, paying millions of pounds in institutes basic rights for all, then a change in employers hit on a great wheeze that not fees to lawyers. They can afford it, of course. basic legislation is needed. This can only come even the most ardent Thatcherite could Because of all the money they have already from one party. While Theresa May – the imagine – don’t downgrade your staff and roll saved – and hope still to save – by placing Maybot – has a robotic instinct to repeat her back their t&cs, go one better and make them bogus self-employment at the heart of their claims about an ‘economy that works for all’ artificially self-employed. brazen business model. she has neither the political will nor Unions such as the GMB and the intelligence (artificial or otherwise) to do REALLY, REALLY gREEDY Independent Workers’ Union have shown, in anything about it. The review she You get to keep control over your workers – court, that these workers are not genuinely commissioned from Matthew Taylor, a former what they do and when and how they do it – self-employed as they have no meaningful adviser to Tony Blair, on insecure and by having a commercial contract with them. freedom over what they do and when they do unrewarding work was hardly worth the paper But you don’t have to pay them the minimum it. But the rub is that these victories apply only it was printed on when it was published last wage, pay them sick pay, offer paid holidays, to those taking the case to court. Employers summer. make contributions to their pensions or pay are not compelled to understand that the The only party willing and capable of your share towards their tax and national court judgment applies to the complainant’s delivering a progressive agenda to end bogus insurance. In other words, all the things that, co-workers. self-employment is a Labour Party led by in a civilised world, good employers should Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell. Looking do. And, if you’re really, really greedy, you get BogUS SELF-EMPLoYMENt back at Labour’s ‘for the many, not the few’ them to provide their own clothing, transport And as necessity is the mother of invention, manifesto for the general election last year, and tools to do your job for you. some companies have devised new ways of they not only pledged to deal with this issue In other words, you transfer a lot of your getting around these legal victories in order to but also institute a raft of other rights to costs, and your risks, to your workers, while protect their profits. Deliveroo has altered its prevent companies finding it worthwhile to you watch the number at the bottom of your de facto employment contracts; by allowing its walk down the neo-liberal road. balance sheet rise. Workers are dependent on workers the right to substitute someone else Hopefully, in 2018, Corbyn and McDonnell you as their only customer – it’s a to do their work, in law these workers are now will get their chance to implement these ‘monopsony’ because you are the only buyer deemed to be self-employed. CitySprint has policies with the keys to 10 and 11 Downing of their labour – so you still call the shots. This issued new contracts claiming they are merely Street. Because only then will we begin to is what Uber, Deliveroo, Amazon and all the commercial contracts. Other companies are have a society that starts putting people others worked out – as have construction expected to follow their lead. before profit.

January 2018 l The ASLEF Journal 11 Agenda RAIL IS THE MAIN ARTERY OF THE

Rachael Maskell, the Shadow transport Minister, tells kEith RichMoND how she sees the future of the rail network in Britain, what she thinks about tory plans to privatise the National health Service, why she joined the Labour Party, and what prompted her to run for Parliament

ACHAEL Maskell is steeped in the Labour Party, in the labour movement, R and in the people’s flag of socialism. She was born on 5 July – ‘the day the National Health Service was created’ – and, when asked (socialism) and treated the trade unions and when she first became interested in politics, working-class party members – those ‘horny- admits ‘When I was very young’ and indicates, handed sons of toil’ – as an embarrassing uncle with her hand, that she means while still at at a family bash. Rachael speaking in t primary school. She remembers James Now the party has a leader, in Jeremy Corbyn, on the footplate of th Callaghan, Labour Prime Minister from 1976 to and a Shadow Chancellor, in John McDonnell, 1979, and has lived and breathed politics – with who are proud to be socialists, proud to work fleeced by the big drugs companies and private a burning sense of the social injustices of this with the labour movement, and proud to put a health care providers, the model for how a country – ever since. policy – the public ownership of Britain’s railways modern country should run its health care Perhaps it’s not surprising. Her mother was – in the party manifesto at the general election system. dedicated to the National Health Service – she, in June. ‘As a health care professional, I know how too, was a physiotherapist – and her father was a The tired mantras rejected by the electorate important the NHS is to keep you alive and well trade union rep. It was, though, her uncle, in 2010 but still pushed by the Blairites in and not to have to worry about how you afford Terence Morris, who really inspired her. He was Progress today that ‘the market knows best’, that it. The NHS has tackled some of the fundamental an ‘outstanding’ Professor of Criminology and ‘private-public partnerships’ are the best way for economic and health inequalities in Britain – as Criminal Justice at the London School of the state to do business, and that ‘the best offer Nye said, it shouldn’t matter whether you’re a Economics, according to Louis Blom-Cooper in a to the electorate’ is that ‘we can manage the duke or a dustman, and I’ve worked on wards tribute in The Guardian , who famously worked in market better than the Tories’ have been where patients, bed by bed, come from the laundry at Pentonville to write a seminal dumped in the recycling bin. Now we have completely opposite spheres of life – and that’s study of English prisons, and who campaigned politicians on the Labour front bench who are why Tories like Jeremy Hunt don’t like it. tirelessly against capital punishment and life happy to tell the emperor he isn’t wearing any ‘It’s at the heart of my politics and my imprisonment. clothes. socialism. I see the NHS as a mechanism to ‘I kind of grew up with politics, and a burning ‘The neo-liberal economic agenda has failed, address the huge inequalities in our society and I sense of injustice, all around me,’ says Rachael in completely, creating greater inequality across see, in the NHS, people giving of themselves, her office close to the Commons chamber, and the country, second only to the United States, acts of extraordinary kindness and love, every the whips’ office, at the Palace of Westminster. when, as a nation, we should be creating greater day, and that stands out to me about what we Those injustices multiplied after the election of equality. Why should one person be valued want our society to be.’ Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government more than another? Everyone is born with She is scathing about those on the right, here in 1979. ‘So many things about Thatcher – I saw talents and gifts. We want greater equality, not and in the US, who think people should pay – the unemployment figures going up, and all the greater inequality, in our country.’ through health insurance – for their own health homeless people without a roof above their She fears that – despite Tory claims that the care. heads. My own father, with the shipping NHS is safe in their hands – Jeremy Hunt is ‘Health insurance doesn’t work – as the social industry collapsing, spent some time travelling determined to privatise our National Health policy researcher Richard Titmuss said, “A service away from home. Thatcher politicised – and Service. ‘He said, in 1987, that he wanted to see for the poor is a poor service” – while a National radicalised – a lot of young people in this the privatisation of the NHS and every policy Health Service brings the wealth of the nation country.’ decision he has taken has been in that direction.’ into one place. There are real challenges facing When New Labour, under Tony Blair, Gordon The NHS, created by Aneurin Bevan in 1948, the health service but for the sick to be used to Brown, and Peter Mandelson, was in opposition, was one of the landmark achievements of make a profit for the private sector is, I think, from 1994 to 1997, and then in government, Clement Attlee’s transformational post-war disgusting.’ from 1997 to 2010, the party refused to use the Labour government and is still, today, despite Rachael is refreshing, down to earth, one of a ‘n’ word (nationalisation) or the ‘s’ word being starved of money by the Tories, and being new generation of young and gifted politicians

Rachael lays out her plans for Britain’s railways at Portcullis House (and enjoys her copy of the Christmas Journal )

12 The ASLEF Journal l January 2018 Rachael Maskell

movement of goods and services and at the heart is our rail infrastructure and how it TRANSPORT SYSTEM connects in the right way with the economy. We want a railway that works for everyone because rail is the main artery of the transport system. ‘We need to reconnect our broken, economy, less money for public sector workers, fragmented passenger services, where masses of poorer benefits, and everything else declines. money is going out of the system into ‘It’s the people at the margins who will suffer shareholders’ pockets, which is not what the most. Do I like the neo-liberal EU? passengers want. We have got to address the Absolutely not, I want to see so many things inequality of service, got to make it more equal changed. But I believe we have to be in the for people. And we need smart logistics, for system to change the system. Those who talk of freight, because the roads are getting more an outside interface with multiple markets, congested but this government isn’t interested don’t understand we will be the servant not the in moving more goods around the country by master. Whilst I respect, and understand, how rail. millions of people, particularly from the most ‘We also need to prioritise safety on the deprived areas of this country, felt, and people railway, and not cut corners in the pursuit of had the right to be angry, leaving Europe will profit. I was on duty at Barnet hospital the not provide the answer.’ weekend after the Potters Bar crash on the That chimes with the voters of York Central Friday, working in intensive care, and that never who clearly appreciate their hard-working MP. leaves you.’ the Commons; cycling to work; in her office; and She increased her majority from 6,716 in 2015 Politics, she admits, ‘takes up 99% of your life’ he Flying Scotsman . Photos: Andrew Wiard to 18,575 at the general election last year. ‘It was but, in what little free time she has, she enjoys an incredible result which took me by surprise hill walking, wild camping and cycling. She has who are in touch, rather than out of touch, with but we had a great manifesto – it shows the two bikes – a Coventry Eagle she got at 10 in the electorate. Many Tories you meet in the hope that Labour can bring to this country.’ York, and a Roberts touring bike in London – and corridors of power – and not a few New Labour York, of course, is a railway city. A perfect has ridden from Land’s End to John O’Groats Blairites, too – stand on their sense of seat for someone who fondly remembers the with her sister Sarah – ‘more than 1,000 miles, entitlement, surrounded by sycophants in their Great Western Hornby model train set she got because we went on up to the Orkney Islands’. own little echo chamber, never travelling at the age of eight and who, told that the Flying Although she has had ‘one or two traffic without a phalanx of special advisers and a Scotsman was back on the railway, went to incidents’ a bike, she says, ‘gives you freedom’. sense of their own self-importance. Highcliffe station, ‘only to be disappointed She was Shadow Environment Secretary and she ‘I’m here to advance the views of my when it came by on the back of a lorry.’ She did, loves the great outdoors. constituents. Sometimes to challenge the many years later, get to stand on the footplate Her last word, though, is a plea to you, as a system. Standing for Parliament – and I used to when the loco was back in steam. member of ASLEF. ‘I really want to hear what you talk, at length, to my mum and dad and uncle ‘There’s a huge legacy – and a huge future – have to say. Labour is opening up an about how to effect change in this country – was for the railway in York so I wasn’t coming cold to opportunity to get a stake in our society. The a chance to continue to do what I was doing as a the brief. I want to work closely with the rail door is opening and you just need to step trade union official, to be an advocate and a unions because you’ve got a really important through it! We want to listen to what ASLEF voice for my members.’ voice in shaping the sector and driving forward members are saying to help Labour transform She admits she is not someone who always our flagship policy of rail nationalisation. our country and we want you to be a part of conforms to what is expected, and she found the ‘Our transport system is about the that...’ institutional culture of the Palace of Westminster curious. ‘It’s very easy to become complicit – I constantly check that I don’t!’ FAct FiLE She was one of 48 Labour MPs – who included Jeremy Corbyn, then a leadership I RACHAEL MASKELL was born at Winchester in 1972 and brought up in candidate, John McDonnell, now the Shadow Highcliffe on the Dorset/Hampshire border. Her mum was a physiotherapist in Chancellor, Andy McDonald, now Shadow the NHS and her dad was in the merchant navy, then worked at Southampton Transport Secretary, and Sadiq Khan, now Mayor docks. I of London – who defied the party whip to vote She went to local state schools before studying for a degree in physiotherapy at the University of East Anglia. She spent one-third of her time against the Welfare Bill in July 2015 (when the in clinical practice and graduated in 1994. party line was to abstain after a Labour I Rachael worked in the NHS for 20 years – she is the first physiotherapist to become a Member amendment fell). ‘It was a case of political of Parliament – at hospitals in Norwich and Barnet, ‘mainly in neuro rehab, treating stroke nuance – there was a more important job to do patients, and respiratory patients, people who were very sick, very acute, often in intensive care.’ – for people being suppressed by the welfare I She became a local rep, then a regional organiser, and then a national officer, first for the MSF, system.’ which merged with the AEU to form Amicus, which in turn merged with the T&G to become And she resigned from the front bench rather Unite. She was national equalities and diversity officer at Amicus and Unite’s national officer for than vote for Article 50 to trigger Britain’s exit the community and not-for-profit sector. from the European Union. I Rachael was elected to Parliament as Labour and Co-operative Party MP for York Central in ‘When I took my oath my first act of rebellion May 2015 with 20,212 votes, a majority of 6,716 over the Conservatives with UKIP in third place, was to promise to put my constituents first. The the Greens in fourth and the Liberal Democrats in fifth. ordinary people in this country deserve a voice I Jeremy Corbyn appointed her as Shadow Defence Minister for Armed Forces Personnel and in Parliament and my constituents voted, Veterans in September 2015. Nine months later he promoted her to the shadow cabinet as strongly, to remain in the EU and their voice, and Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a position from which she their hopes for the future, need to be resigned ahead of the vote (which carried a three-line whip) to trigger Article 50. represented. I would never vote for something I Rachael was re-elected to Parliament in June 2017 with 34,594 votes, a majority of 18,575 to make people poorer and it is clear that over the Conservatives with the Lib Dems in third. She returned to the front bench as Shadow leaving the EU will mean less money in the Rail Minister in July 2017.

January 2018 l The ASLEF Journal 13 Report

RMS goes Posh

BiLL DALE , Retired Members’ Section, chingford branch, reports from the RMS annual general meeting in Peterborough

HIS year our AGM was held in Peterborough (we agree a different t area each year to give an equal chance for members to attend). Ray Jackson, the chair, welcomed members and called for a minute’s silence in memory of former colleagues, including ex-GS Neil Milligan and Rodney Bickerstaffe, ex-GS of NUPE and Unison, and a good friend and supporter of ASLEF. GS Mick Whelan said ASLEF’s membership has increased and our finances are sound. He reflected on the Beeching cuts, when many routes were lost, which could have played a vital role today, with developments needing transport links. Mick mentioned that the TUC has stopped funding courses for training reps Clockwise from above: Mick Whelan, Neil and health & safety reps, but said the union Duncan-Jordan, Neil Baines, and Tony has options to overcome this. Holdsworth address the RMS AGM On industrial matters, Mick talked to us about the long-running dispute on Southern government – more than they get back. Rail, and DOO, the Night Tube in London and Pensioners are not a drain but an asset.’ And continuing problems at the troubled FOC DB he called for a state pension of £200 per week. Cargo. He also talked about the government Tony Holdsworth from District 6 spoke going back on its promises about about ASLEF’s new Young Workers’ Forum. He electrification, and concern about the increase more difficult, those from drivers who have informed us of his aspirations for young of sexual assaults, knife crime, and violent worked on locomotives are winnable. To members to become more active by attending offences on the railway. achieve a successful claim you must report any branch meetings to help with shaping the illness identified as asbestos-related future and to continue all the hard work and gooD NEWS oN PENSioNS immediately. Do not wait! And it’s important battles won by ASLEF members who are active On pensions, it’s good news. We are in a you are well represented. now, and like the RMS in the past. Tony said favourable position with no increase in rates Neil Duncan-Jordan, national officer of the ‘ASLEF is a unique union, which has allowed and payments remain as planned. Mick then National Pensioners’ Convention, said the NPC those, like me, to enjoy good wages and made reference to the political scene and the has gone from strength to strength with more conditions.’ RMS members responded very 1.5 million jobs lost in public services. than 1.5 million members. One in six warmly to Tony’s report and wished him well Congratulations are in order for our officers pensioners are living in poverty while the in his endeavours for such an imaginative elected to positions on the Labour Party NEC government claims Britain’s senior citizens setting up as the Young Members’ Forum. and the TUC. Finally, he said ASLEF policy is to have never been better off! And it looks as if move the retirement age, currently 65, to 55 to the Cridland report – calling for the state ANY iDEAS? SEND thEM to LES make way for the recruitment of a younger retirement age to be pushed back to 68 – Ray Jackson reflected on the work of the RMS generation. should be brought forward. committee and national secretary Les Muir Neil Baines, a specialist in asbestos claims at gave his report, detailing the various Thompsons solicitors in Nottingham, said the SoMEthiNg FoR NothiNg meetings, marches, district councils and social World Health Organisation recognises the UK As for social care, those needing home visits events attended. He said that if any member has one of the highest death rates related to only get 15 minutes and there is a postcode had any ideas, or any concerns, you should asbestos – 25,000 every year, predicted to rise lottery on how that service is delivered. More write to him. Finally, he made a plea to to 90,000. Apart from the railway, asbestos is than 80% of care homes are now in the private members for the RMS to attend branches to found in many buildings, including schools sector and there is a real need for local give a report. Treasurer Alan Taylor said the and hospitals, and will affect another authorities to build more care homes. RMS is now in a more stable financial position generation. BR staff affected include those Universal benefits, the winter fuel allowance, thanks to the establishment of the 500 Club who worked on steam, diesel, including and concessions such as bus passes and the TV set up in 2011, adding that we still need more Deltics, also carriage and wagon. Neil spoke licence, are not being attacked because members, both retired and active, to join. The about client care and warned people not to go pensions are so low – we are second from revenue helps us fund activities – like the to a high street solicitor as they take 25% of bottom in the European league table of weekend forums and our AGM – which benefit your claim and that’s a rip off. pension provision. members. The RMS is holding a second forum Cases taken to the Royal Courts of Justice in Neil called for solidarity between the in April in Staffordshire. There being no new London have been dealt with quickly; the generations. ‘It’s wrong to say that pensioners nominations, it was moved and seconded that more detailed the evidence, the higher the are getting something for nothing. Pensioners the current members of the RMS committee compensation, and although cases are getting currently contribute £40 billion plus to the be re-elected en bloc .

14 The ASLEF Journal l January 2018 Reports

employment. ‘Conference notes that the ASLEF in Conservative government has ended TfL’s operating grant. The withdrawal of the annual £750m action DfT grant has led to TfL needing to make savings of £5.8 billion over SLEF is affiliated to the five years, resulting in delays or Labour Party and, as a cancellations to upgrades on the A modern trade union with Northern and Jubilee lines, and a 21st century agenda, adopts a important station capacity projects; transport projects play an twin track approach – on the cutting hundreds of jobs as part of important role in London reaching political and industrial fronts – to a TfL transformation exercise; its targets to reduce air pollution, advance the interests of all our thousands of other jobs being which are currently at illegal levels. members. placed under review, causing Strain on transport on the north– DO8 Finn Brennan, Lucio We engage industrially with the uncertainty for staff; significant south spine, with inadequate Buffone, Ray Garland, Collette train and freight operating sums of money being lost in station and line capacity, might Gibson, EC1 Marz Colombini, companies to secure the best terms severance payments; and staff cuts have to be endured for more than Debbie Reay and Karen Tilley fly and conditions for train drivers in compromising TfL’s ability to 20 years. London needs an the flag with Shadow Foreign England, Scotland and Wales, just as provide a quality service. integrated transport system – Secretary Emily Thornberry (top we have been doing since we were ‘Conference resolves that the which is currently undermined by right) and Finn speaks during formed in 1880. And we engage London Labour Party should, the franchising system. We call on the transport debate (top left) politically at Westminster, Holyrood before the council elections, all London reps to press for the and Cardiff Bay because politicians launch a public campaign to implementation of Crossrail 2 on call on TfL to take a lead by make the laws and set the rules and reinstate TfL’s funding from the DfT; schedule. eliminating agency and contract regulations – and the financial to bring TfL in line with other ‘Conference believes that in roles for front line staff in all TfL parameters – within which the authorities and pay it from vehicle order to deliver and maintain a safe, branded operations and in those TOCs and FOCs work. excise duty collected in the capital reliable and robust public transport over which it has any degree of That’s why ASLEF was in action for the maintenance of the road system for London it is key to direct control and replacing these at the London Labour Party network. ensure that there are sufficient roles with permanent directly- regional conference at Congress ‘Currently fewer than 1 in 10 properly trained and qualified staff employed staff. This would enhance House in central London on 25 and London Underground stations are across all sectors of that system. We the safety of the network and 26 November. wheelchair accessible, and welcome the well-deserved praise contribute to the effective Marz Colombini, EC member for alternative transport options do given to front line staff by the application of agreed security District 1, was our delegate at the not exist. We call for a radical and London Mayor and others for their procedures by ensuring all staff are composite meeting which got this rapid project of creating step-free heroic efforts during the terrorist properly qualified, as well as motion on the agenda, proposed access to rail and Tube trains to attacks on our city, and in keeping ensuring that low paid workers are by the TSSA and seconded by improve services, increase London moving on a daily basis. We offered permanent roles rather than Kingston & Surbiton CLP. District 8 employment, and recognise the note that if suitably trained staff are being forced to work under Organiser Finn Brennan spoke for needs of disabled passengers. not available to deal with exploitative and precarious agency the motion, which was adopted ‘Conference notes with concern evacuations or emergencies then conditions. and is now London Labour Party reports that the implementation of the consequences for public safety ‘We welcome the recent policy. Crossrail 2, scheduled for 2033, may will be severe. revocation of the licence for Uber. ‘Conference calls on Transport be delayed by seven years or more. ‘Conference notes with concern We support this action as we for London to continue to invest TfL has stated that 17 Underground the large number of agency and support fair employment for heavily in transport in London, with stations face chronic overcrowding contract staff employed in front line workers and safe and accessible particular regard for increased by the 2030s if Crossrail 2 is not positions within London’s rail service for customers. We support affordability and accessibility for completed on time. We note that network, and across the capital’s the unionisation of workers and the passengers, capacity, and secure Crossrail 2 and other public transport industry as a whole. We legal cases taken on their behalf.’

was attacked in the courts where the DfT who addressed issues around the pay cap, the Swing low, sweet chariot attempted to bankrupt our union. ASLEF Trade Union Act, Brexit and DOO. Helen Tomlin PEtER gRANt of Manchester Piccadilly activists and officers were subjected to from Thompson solicitors talked about the No1 reports from the RMS forum unprecedented injunctions and restrictions. continuing deadly legacy of asbestos and Costs reached the thick end of £1 million. The explained the importance of completing the S THE junior hand it falls to me to EC had to make some very tough decisions, special register forms from Thompsons. report on the Retired Members’ along with the membership on Southern, and Our final speaker was our president, Tosh A Section forum at Low Hall, Scalby, Mick paid tribute to how hard they fought for McDonald, who gave another wide-ranging North Yorkshire from 3 to 5 November. 18 difficult months. The importance of electing speech in his usual forceful style. He covered GS Mick Whelan kicked off proceedings a Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour government is Brexit – it was correct, he said, to leave – the with a wide-ranging speech. He explained the vital if these legal attacks are to end. 100th anniversary of the Russian revolution, situation over DOO and Southern Rail. Mick On Saturday we heard from Steve Howley, Trump – ‘a noise your arse makes’ – the Spanish stated that ASLEF policy hasn’t changed but brigade secretary, North Yorkshire FBU, who Civil War, and the problems in Catalonia. the attacks on ASLEF by the Tory government painted a frightening picture of how Tory cuts I would like to thank the RMS committee for and the Department for Transport were –10,000 jobs axed – are having a direct impact putting on such a fantastic and educational unprecedented. The Southern franchise is a on their ability to respond to incidents, putting weekend. I would also like to thank all those management contract so all costs arising from lives at risk. We also heard from Bill Adams, who attended for their comradeship in showing the dispute were picked up by the DfT. ASLEF regional secretary, Yorkshire & Humber TUC, a new junior hand – and Lost Boy – the ropes.

January 2018 l The ASLEF Journal 15 Branch News

King’s Lynn stars Upcoming e vents SLEF branch 111 King’s A Lynn held its AShFoRD – thURSDAY 11 JANUARY 111 years old  Southeastern retired and working members’ reunion from 11.0 anniversary and long at Ashford railway club, Beaver Lane, Ashford, Kent. Had to be service awards dinner this date – only one available – and don’t forget to dig deep at the Riverside when the raffle comes round as that’s what pays the bill! restaurant. Branch Remember this is your reunion; use it or lose it… chair Andrew Sweeney welcomed a large number of  cRickLEWooD – FRiDAY 2 MARch members, wives and Cricklewood reunion from 12.0 at the RAF Association Club, partners and King’s Lynn – 111 Ashburnham Road, Bedford, MK40 1EA, opposite the station. extended special not out thanks to GS Mick  EAStLEigh – SAtURDAY 10 MARch Whelan, DO Nigel Annual reunion 12.0 to 16.00 at the Eastleigh Railway Institute, Gibson and EC 2 Romsey Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9FE. All welcome. member Howard Kaye Buffet provided. for attending. Mick said it was a  Please send all your branch news, reports, features and pleasure to attend, photographs to [email protected] particularly to pay tribute to members who have given long service to the railway consecrated by the railway industry and to our special welcome to thanks to the support Eaton rifles chaplain and unveiled by the trade union. Paul Barnes, who is of ASLEF, in particular then GS Derek Fullick. John was They included Paul suffering with the GS, retained a role DB Schenker’s decision to an extremely popular and hard- Pearson (45 years); pancreatic cancer, but on the railway, was demolish the train crew working ASLEF officer. We felt it Bryn Griffiths, Nick was able to join us to presented with his 15 accommodation at Toton resulted important to rescue the plaque, Brown, depot h&s rep pick up his 30 year year badge. We should in our retired members removing and to find a permanent place to for 25 years, and Mark badge. A special thank be very proud of the a plaque dedicated to the display it. That’s why we were Steele, local level rep you here to branches way ASLEF looks after memory of John Eaton, who was a thrilled when the GS, Mick for 37 years and who responded so its members. Thanks senior trustee of our Society, and Whelan, accepted it at head branch secretary since magnificently to our to everyone who secretary of District 6 council for office. Thanks, Mick. 1983, (all 40 years); branch appeal on attended a great many years. The plaque was Sean Madden and Jim canning branch vice-chair behalf of Paul and his occasion and to the Derek Stock (35); family. Peter staff at the Riverside Christian Lanchester Chapman, whose for their superb and branch chair driving career was cut hospitality. Andrew Sweeney (10). short very early due to Mark Steele , The GS extended a health issues but, branch secretary Wishing Wells Derby branch held a retirement presentation for East Midlands Trains drivers Chris Wells and Chris Nutty. ASLEF certificates, tankards and coal trains were presented to both members by Mick receives the plaque commemorating John Eaton from Jim our EC member Dave Calfe and Canning, Bob Peach, Peter Mee, Sean Madden and Reg Sargeant DO6 Dicky Fisher. A special Dave Calfe and Dicky Fisher appreciation certificate and present certificates to Chris Nutty badge were also presented to (above) and Chris Wells (below) Richard Sullivan, Bro Nutty in recognition of his King’s Cross branch many years as EMT union secretary, presented learning rep. Chris has also been 50 year medallions a regular contributor to the and badges to John Journal and was instrumental in Mewitt, Ian Harvey promoting union learning in the and Les Muir, now workplace, regionally and national secretary of nationally, for ASLEF members. our Retired We wish them both well in well- Members’ Section. deserved retirement. Peter Smith , Eamonn tague , branch branch reporter secretary

16 The ASLEF Journal l January 2018 100 Years of Union

Mick holder turns back time to January 1918

JRR reflects on the new, and old, year in the Journal 100 years ago

Beer and badges VERY BELLS ARE SiLENcED The highlight of Ashford’s beer and New Year 1918 will not be heralded in the badges evening, at the BRSA club on time-honoured way, for the very bells are 7 December, was the presentation of silenced. Most of us will be glad to see the a 50 year ASLEF badge to probably old year gone. For many homes it has been one of the most notable drivers in a time of bereavement and bitter sacrifice. the south-east, Neville Marchant. The entry into Jerusalem does not District Organiser Graham Morris, DO1 Graham compensate for the pitiable state of Russia, who chaired a Q&A session prior to Morris joins nor does the raising of new armies the Ashford AGM, made the Neville and the compensate for the submarine menace. presentation. Other awards on the Ashford crew These underwater sharks are trying to night were made to Steve Macmillan cut off our lifeline. Great Britain has got to (10 years) and Lee Kearney and Ian depend on its own resources for its Scrace (both 15). civilisation, and if it allows those resources Rob kilkie , branch reporter to be controlled by a few monopolists then the people deserve to be lined up in margarine queues for the rest of their deserving organisations, natural lives. gave an inspiring speech. MP at branch AgM The dying year reveals potatoes as the Her dad was on the only plentiful thing. Butter is almost railway, she likes to use unseen outside the big hotels, and tea and public transport, and is well margarine are hard to come by. So far I aware of the problems have avoided queues by falling back on passengers face. Nigel dripping, but they tell me even that is wished John and Alice getting short. For a new laid egg I paid 6d Drabble, who both retired on in a cafe today, and lemons are 7d each. 21 November, a successful Life is altogether meaner and more retirement and thanked them restricted than it was two years ago, for for all their efforts for ASLEF war is draining the life out of the nation. and the branch over the We are bereft of many of the joys of life: years. Pete talked about the bright lights of evening, the cheap Sundays as part of the excursions, the unlimited meals, and the working week. Lincoln, real value of money. Karen Lee, Labour MP for Lincoln, joins the imps Boston and Norwich started Yet all of them are small in comparison working Sundays as part of It was a pleasure to welcome Lincoln’s AGM at the Golden to the fearful discomfort of the soldier in the working week from 10 Lincoln MP Karen Lee, DO Eagle on 3 December. Karen, the trenches. Tonight I have been talking December for drivers who Nigel Gibson, lead officer still a registered nurse, who with a soldier who had endured Christmas opted in. Dicky Fisher, EC member works shifts on a regular at the front four times, been wounded and Richy Doran , branch Howard Kaye and company basis, donating the money been sick; but still he must fight on. He secretary council rep Pete Coles to she earns to charities and told me of unspeakable horrors, and of the quiet resignation of men, and as he talked all our losses and discomforts seemed Barry to small. Yet we live in a time of strange and unnatural prosperity where money is cardiff tossed around without much regard. There branch is a very big population which is newly rich. More diamonds are sold and more fur Barry branch coats worn than ever before in England. is now closed. All remaining members thornaby branch had a get together to present recently retired have been drivers Martin Joyce, graham Lumsden, keith heseltine, Rodger moved into Don’t let it cost Sonley, toni Joly, Mick Dowling and Ewan carmichael with their Cardiff ASLEF certificates. branch. you your job! geoff Burton , branch secretary

January 2018 l The ASLEF Journal 17 Obituaries chRiS JoRDAN iAN LockE DRiVER FoR It is with great sadness that I report the passing of our ENgLAND StARS friend and colleague Bro Ian A celebration of Chris Jordan’s life Locke who joined the railway was held at North Devon in 1985 as a traction trainee crematorium, Barnstaple, on and soon became a well- Thursday 2 November. Chris was respected part of the train diagnosed with terminal cancer crew family at Laira depot. As early last year, and passed away in a staunch member of ASLEF October after a very courageous and the Labour Party he was fight. His courage throughout was not afraid to put his views Plymouth branch chair an inspiration to all of us who across when he felt an Tony Hewett, Chris knew him. injustice had befallen a Jordan and LLC Chris led life to the full. He workmate. Ian gave his time CrossCountry Phil served in the Army, was coach generously, supporting many Caddy (right) and the driver for the England football good causes, turning up with Plymouth crew at a team, and worked for Virgin his five huskies for the Santa footie fundraising Atlantic in the early days and used special and driving his event (above) his priv tickets to travel the world steamroller to rallies and fetes, never happier than with his wife Caron. the way he had. Chris was a jovial, and a collection by all grades and when restoring a traction He started his railway career honest, hardworking family guy, a football match raised a engine with his son James. As with Gatwick Express where he commonly found with coffee and substantial sum of money. ASLEF a proud Cornishman he often and Caron both became drivers. fag, always with time for a chat members nationally raised a large went to Twickenham to He moved to Virgin West Coast at with colleagues. It was testament amount, too. Chris and his family support Cornwall and Euston, then First Great Western to his character that family, were very appreciative of the England, trips involving many at Exeter, and then CrossCountry friends, and colleagues came support received during his illness ales, another love of his. At 52 in Plymouth which allowed him to from far and wide to pay their which made a real difference to he was taken too soon. See return to his home town Bude, respects. him and his family at a critical you in the tent, old pal. where he wanted his children Erin During his illness Plymouth time. Phil Buxton , Plymouth and Kian to enjoy their childhood and Exeter depots rallied round Miles Bidgood , Plymouth

STANDING ORDER MANDATE the 500 club To ______Bank Address ______The 500 Club is a fundraising venture for ASLEF’s Retired Members’ ______Section. Numbers in the draw cost £4 each and, to begin making payments into club funds, all you have to do is complete the ______standing order form and return it to your bank. Alternatively, you BANK BRANCH TITLE (NOT ADDRESS) SORTING CODE NO. can pay by cheque a year in advance; the cheque should be made Please pay Unity Trust Bank Birmingham 08-60-01

payable to ASLEF RMS 500 Club. Payments need to reach the club account by 1st of every month BENEFICIARY͛S NAME ACCOUNT NUMBER For the credit of ASLEF RMS 500 CLUB ACCOUNT 2 0 2 0 1 1 9 3 and the draw takes place on 12th of every month – with the winning number, name, and prize printed on page 5 of the ASLEF Journal . AMOUNT IN FIGURES AMOUNT IN WORDS

Once you have arranged your method of payment just complete The sum of £ the form and return it to the Admin Department at head office.

The Retired Members’ Section committee would like to thank you DATE AND AMOUNT OF FIRST PAYMENT DUE DATE AND FREQUENCY for your support and wish you luck in the draw! Commencing £ and thereafter every 1ST OF EVERY MONTH Yours fraternally, Mick Whelan, general secretary

DATE AND AMOUNT OF LAST PAYMENT *Until £ ASLEF RMS 500 Club application form *Until you receive further notice from me/us in writing Quoting the and debit my/our account accordingly reference Name...... Please cancel any previous standing order or direct debit in favour of the beneficiary named above Address...... SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS ...... Telephone No...... email...... ACCOUNT TO BE DEBITED ACCOUNT NUMBER Each number costs £4. You can purchase as many numbers as you like.

I confirm that I wish to purchase ____ numbers as part of the 500 Club. Signature(s) ______Date ______A) I have set up my standing order (£48 per annum or £4 per month) ______B) I enclose a cheque for advance payment (£48 per annum)

Note: The Bank will not undertake to: (i) make any reference to Value Added Tax or other indeterminate element (ii) advise payer͛s address to beneficiary Signed...... Date...... (iii) advise beneficiary of inability to pay (iv) request beneficiary͛s banker to advise beneficiary of receipt

Please return to: Andrea Weston in the Administration Department, ASLEF, * Delete if not applicable 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN If the amounts of the periodic payments vary, they should be incorporated in a schedule overleaf

18 The ASLEF Journal l January 2018 Obituaries

BiLL gARDNER StEVE gREENWooD tRUE gENtLEMAN Bill Gardner was born Egypt. He married Steve Greenwood sadly passed away on 17 in Lanchester, County Margaret in 1953 and November after battling serious illness. A true Durham, but his they lived in Wood gent loved by family, friends and colleagues. family moved down Green with her two Steve started his railway career on 9 January to Woking to find sons from a previous 1973, moving onto the footplate on 18 March work. marriage. 1974. He was a one depot man, staying at He left school at Bill got a job on Hither Green until taking retirement in July Bill: 1 November 16 and took up an the railway, 2017 due to ill health. Steve was BR old school 1931 to 29 apprenticeship as an eventually becoming and a railwayman through and through. September 2017 upholsterer until he a driver on steam Always up for a laugh, fun to be with, and a was called up for engines and, later, chair of the town’s true professional, he left a lasting impression national service in diesel. The family Railway Club until his on everyone he met and will be sorely missed. 1950, with the Royal moved to Hatfield in retirement in 1994. RIP mate. I am proud to have been your friend. Corps of Signals in 1956 and Bill became Frances Vaughan Andy Eggleden , hither green Steve: BR old school RoN kEttLE iAN hoDgSoN Ron Kettle, a retired Southend Victoria driver, died Ian Hodgson, a good friend, mentor, and all round on 9 October aged 83. Ron started his career at nice guy, has died aged 86. Ian has not been very Stratford, eventually moving to Southend in the active over the last few years, suffering with his knees early ’80s and retiring, a couple of years early, in and legs. He went through the steam, diesel and 1996. He was a real Cockney wheeler dealer electrification eras at Stratford, always willing to pass (some of it legal) and, for a period, treasurer of the on his knowledge to his second man and help in any social club, using his East End negotiating skills to way he could. A very lovely guy, I never heard a bad look after members’ interests. Most people he word said about him. He had three sons on the dealt with came out smiling, but wondering what footplate, and two are still there. Darren and Kevin had just happened. Ron sat on the GE pensions are both drivers, while Adrian decided his future lay committee and management sometimes elsewhere. RIP Ian, one of the very best. struggled to handle his way of putting things. He Dave Pizzie RMS was a medically restricted driver, and spent his later years on the shed passing on his extensive knowledge to new entrants to the grade. His toM RookE popularity was evident by the number of drivers, Tom Rooke began his railway career at Three Bridges other staff, and even managers at his funeral. MPD in 1949 and remained there for most of his life, Mick Bradbury, Southend Collage on Ron’s funeral service sheet retiring in the 1990s due to ill health. A likeable character, it was not unusual to hear him relating his ERNESt WhitE latest experience in the mess room, his tales resulting in peals of laughter. He never had any formal training It is my sad duty to report the passing of my father, as an engineer but had a remarkable gift for building retired Three Bridges and Redhill driver Ernest White model steam locos from scratch. He loved at the grand age of 97. Known to all as Ernie, he motorcycles, bringing numerous old crocks back to started cleaning at his home shed of Dorchester in working order, and he once rebuilt an Austin 7 sports 1937, and after being stood off the first winter was car. His later life passion was clocks, again built from called back. After a spell cleaning at Bournemouth scratch in his tiny workshop. Tom came from a large dad transferred to Three Bridges as a fireman in 1941 family and had a son and five daughters of his own, where he progressed rapidly, for the time, to driver. an immense source of pride to him and his wife June. Staying there until 1958 he moved to Redhill where He will be missed, but the love he gave will remain we lived. Ernie retired in 1985. for all time. Steven White , retired three Bridges and Ernie: 8 July 1920 to 28 July 2017 Redhill driver Paul Eden , three Bridges

DoN coBB FiNAL JoURNEYS Don Cobb died on 25 I am sorry to report the passing of three Tonbridge men. FRED October at the age of BOURNER came to Tonbridge during the last war and spent the 79. He joined the rest of his career here. When Tonbridge was electrified he was in railway in 1954 as a the 211 link which meant he only drove electric trains. Fred, 93, cleaner at was a quiet man and easy to get along with. BASIL SUMBLIN Buntingford station, was another 211 man who spent all his time at Tonbridge and went to Hertford as a drove only electric trains after 1962. He did much for Tonbridge young fireman, and Working Men’s Club and, when that closed, for the British from there to King’s Legion. He, too, was 93. I first met ALAN THOMSON as a young Cross where he was Don Cobb 1938-2017 fireman, just returned from national service with the RAF, and involved in a record still recovering from TB. He was thought to be the smartest breaking journey to Scotsman and his garden, especially driver at Tonbridge. With privatisation, in 1994, 20 drivers were Leeds in 1961 on a Mallard . He came to his fish pond, and is allowed to retire as we lost our freight work. Alan was one who Deltic diesel electric Bishop’s Stortford to survived by his wife chose to go. In retirement he suffered from leukaemia but (see photo). Whilst at become a driver and and daughter. recovered with the help of his lovely wife Carol. He was 89. KX he was involved stayed until he retired Dave clark , Dave Weddle , tonbridge RMS with the Flying in 2002. Don loved Bishop’s Stortford

January 2018 l The ASLEF Journal 19 Letters

We welcome letters, either by email to [email protected] or by Royal Mail to ASLEF Journal at DOC NOT SURPRISED 77 St John Street, London, Ec1M 4NN . the writer of our star letter wins a rich range of ASLEF regalia. I’M A DRIVER WITH DVT

Re the letter ‘Keeping people in the months later the symptoms the real impact of EJRA driving grade’ by Steven Nimmo in the reappeared, this time on the left side I am one of the greedy, grasping, over 65s who November Journal , I was diagnosed of my groin, and the consultant asked has continued working past the old default with type 2 diabetes in 2008. It was me what my occupation was. When I retirement age. The GS’s encouragement to controlled by tablets and I was still said ‘train driver’ he said ‘that figures’. vote in favour of an employer justified allowed to drive. More worrying, when Five years later, and no longer on the retirement age appears to me to be simplistic. I was a driver for Northern Rail, I was railway, I’m on warfarin for the long There is a debate to be had on this topic walking down a platform at Leeds term. Train driving is fairly sedentary which, to date, has not been fully rehearsed, as station when I felt I had a lump of lead nowadays and, with the introduction far as I am aware. strapped to my right calf. A nurse of GSMR, even more so. Drivers should Unless you have been a member of the practitioner at my GP surgery noticed check their legs and ankles and, if they Railways Pension Scheme since you were 25 a slight swelling and sent me to A&E see any swelling, seek medical advice. and are now approaching the previous default where a blood test and ultrasound You can still drive trains if you are on retirement age of 65, it is virtually impossible scan confirmed I had deep vein warfarin. But remember if the blood to achieve 40 years’ contributions if you retire thrombosis (a blood clot) at the back of clot moves to your lungs, heart or at 65. The situation is progressively worse for my knee. I was put on warfarin for brain it could be fatal. those who entered the RPS at, say, 35 or even three months and it cleared up. Four John Donlon , RMS 45, so who could blame drivers who may want to play catch up to a limited extent with their pension contributions? I imagine there will be and mainly applied for part-time working at 65 depot I’ve never had a day off sick, or had many drivers in this situation and many so I could maintain my employment into the any diabetic incident, as I have my diabetes different reasons surrounding why they might new West Midlands franchise and stand a well under control. I also know of at least wish to continue working, eg unable to better chance of retaining free WM franchise one ex-colleague who is an insulin transfer in previous (but less advantageous) travel in retirement as I am not safeguarded. dependent diabetic like me working for a employment pension contributions, no Travel concessions have to be negotiated with different TOC who is still allowed to drive on pension savings at all, etc. Brass takes off the new franchisees by ASLEF as there is no the main line. I read on the Diabetes UK rough edges but is no substitute for a full agreement to automatically retain them. Free website that airline pilots who become pension. And there may be many other travel in retirement is as good as money in the insulin dependent can continue to fly as reasons. bank and I find it incredible that, 20 years after long as they can prove they have their My current employer, London Midland, has privatisation, ASLEF has not done more to diabetes under control. As Steven says, a policy of immediate replacement for those negotiate this as a right. I understand the group 2 bus and lorry drivers are also aged 65 who wish to continue working so I do ATOC dimension is a barrier but feel the will allowed by the DVLA, and those vehicles not feel I am doing anyone out of a job. The may be lacking. don’t have the safety equipment that most company still cancels trains due to insufficient The way forward, for both EJRA and travel units and locos I’ve driven have. I believe staff numbers despite high levels of rest day concessions, is, as hinted in the GS’s response new guidelines are needed throughout UK working, so I fail to see a detriment to other to Brother Tyrrell’s letter (November Journal ), railways to benefit diabetic drivers. drivers. I was fortunate enough to apply for, to propose suitable, balanced and fair motions Mike Somerville , corkerhill and be granted, a two day working week but at AAD. Anyone up for it? what puzzles me is why several drivers over 65 FP chase , crewe and from several depots in LM have since hardingstone Junction applied for part-time working and been GS Mick Whelan says: ‘It’s the policy of this In September the university is moving to a refused, some of whom have therefore trade union – made each year at AAD – to brand new campus at Waterside in the centre continued working full-time! I know of others encourage young people to come into our of Northampton. Although the area has been who have not even bothered to apply for part- industry and that’s one of the reasons we derelict for many years, it was previously a time, fully expecting to be knocked back, and support EJRA. While I understand the point busy industrial site with Avon Cosmetics, a some who have just given up and left. you make about having only 16 years’ greyhound stadium, and the Nunn Mills power Point 14 of the ASLEF charter states that service on the railway, I assume you have a station occupying different parts of the site. ASLEF ‘will actively seek to negotiate with pension, or pensions, from your previous More importantly, it included Hardingstone TOCs/FOCs part-time contracts but not to the employment?’ Junction, where the Midland Railway and detriment of establishment numbers’. I do not London & North Western Railway met. The understand why ASLEF representation in the Students’ Union is lucky to be inheriting the case of LM drivers has failed so spectacularly, New guidelines needed only visible remnants of the area’s railway unless ageism is a factor, in which case there is I totally agree with the star letter in the heritage, a Grade II-listed engine shed and its legal redress, now at no cost. Regarding Virgin November Journal by Steven Nimmo. associated office building constructed by the West Coast and their EJRA, the drivers I have Several years ago I had to go on insulin due Midland Railway in 1873. We were awarded a spoken with about this have all said they to my diabetes. I was taken off the main line Heritage Lottery Fund grant to help restore the doubt it would be passed if balloted again as and given a depot driver’s job working in a derelict buildings which are being converted they feel management has not kept to their yard; as a result I now earn £8,000 less than into a vibrant new hub for the Students’ Union. side of the bargain. my main line colleagues. In the seven years We also want it to operate as a heritage centre, I have only 16 years’ service on the railway I’ve been on insulin and working in the where people can come to learn more about

20 The ASLEF Journal l January 2018 Classified Advertisements

the history of the shed, Northampton’s group to remember their era doesn’t mean CLASS 15 locomotive (D8233) railways, and other aspects of local history. In they are all there for the purpose of belittling enamel badge on sale to raise funds addition, we want to create heritage events, a anyone who has started in the driving grade for restoration of the sole surviving heritage trial, and education packs for local after them. This group has been set up with Class 15 loco by the Class 15 schools. To make the project as effective as the intention of remembering how things Preservation Society. £5 + £1 p&p possible, we need to know as much about the used to be, how the job was back then, and to from Ipswich driver Clive Whiting. Payment can site as we can. We know it functioned as an fondly recall the memories of what is now a be sent via PayPal to [email protected] engine shed until 1924, when the Midland non-existent grade. It is no different than a (friends & family to avoid fees). Railway became part of the amalgamated group for, let’s say, classic cars or a preserved London Midland & Scottish Railway. The railway, to remember how it used to be, not to ASLEF BRANCH 111 existence of a much larger goods shed at create a them and us mentality. I assume Mr ASLEF branch 111 is 111 years old and has a limited Cotton End, previously owned by the LNWR, Pearce came into our grade post-privatisation, edition numbered badge to made our shed redundant. Although it whereas I started as a second man, that is how celebrate the introduction of remained in the possession of British Rail we things were done all those years back. Times the Class 387 on KL services. Proceeds to the are unsure of its main function between then have changed dramatically since then, it’s King’s Lynn branch welfare fund. £7.50 inc p&p and 1965 when it became a welding school for called progress, and we know we are a dying from Mark Steele,1 Rosecroft, South Wootton, British Rail civil engineers. It was closed in breed, hence the Lost Boys, to look back on King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 3WX. 1998 and abandoned after an arson attack in our careers with pride and humour. 2000. While I am conducting archival research Andy czerniakiewicz , crewe SOUTH WESTERN myself, I am also interested in seeing if there is Suburban 707 limited edition more material out there. It would be 35x30mm enamel badge £5 + wonderful if anyone has photographs of the Proud to be union £1 p&p from Martin shed in operation, experiences of working in I wanted to write to our Journal to thank Thompson (Wimbledon Park) or around the site, or any historical material our executive committee and let members email [email protected] they would be willing to share with us. know the importance of a branch and the CLASS 40 Preservation Society tom carter , heritage & volunteer co- right to submit motions. Through my network of trade union comrades I support high quality enamel badges ordinator, Northampton University £5.50 each or £10 for both (50p the outstanding work undertaken by the p&p for one badge or £1 for Lost Boys, Boil in Bag… Bakers Food & Allied Workers’ Union in their both) email [email protected] or McStrike campaign. McDonald’s workers text 07788 240088. All funds I read through my Journal last month until I have been striking over the company’s raised will go towards the maintenance of our came to the letters pages and thought, my failure to offer acceptable working three Class 40 locos. word, the editor now includes a comedy conditions, job security, and even a living section! I’m referring to the Lost Boys and wage. Most of those employed are young CLASS 31/ Brush type two 60 year second men letter from Brother Pearce. people and it’s vitally important we engage badge at £6 inc p&p with £1 going Unfortunately, he has been well and taken our young comrades and support them in to the repaint of the last Phase One 4 in by these Lost Boys in the fact that he has their fight for justice. These young people CIG 1753. Send cheques payable to responded in a somewhat awkward way via are the future for movement and social Dave East, 41 Highfield Road, Suffolk, IP1 6DD. the Journal . This type of banter has always justice. At my branch I moved a motion for a WOKING branch 50 year gone on. I had to suffer all the ribbing when donation to the McStrike campaign which commemorative badge. I first started, and now I enjoy giving it, was passed unanimously; furthermore, we Slam door & Class 455. £6 judging carefully the character of the asked the EC for support, and not only did + £1 p&p each. Contact victims first as I wouldn’t want to offend my they support it they extended an invitation Chris Smith, branch secretary, on friends. Boil in the bag, chicken shit, had to young BFAWU activists to attend the [email protected] sandwiches in the locker longer than you’ve inaugural ASLEF Young Members’ Forum. been on the railway, is that a wagon Now that is trade unionism in full effect. PROFESSIONAL ENGRAVING at number? Just a few of the names and Proud to be union and proud to support all sensible prices. I can engrave anything phrases used for newer drivers I’ve heard workers fighting for fairness and justice. you wish, such as the ASLEF logo on and endured. I hadn’t heard of the phrase Alan Moss , Longsight the pint tankard. Contact Paul Potts by Lost Boys before reading it in the Journal , email at [email protected] but if it is a childish group as Brother Pearce BESPOKE CUSHIONS Hand suggests, he has fuelled their Best way to run a railway made 40cm square cushions of determination to ridicule newer members I support rail nationalisation as it is the most railway engines and carriages. £50. to the grade. It’s best to develop a thick skin efficient way to run a railway but, let’s not kid Call Abi on 07954 659849 or email me at and, as long as it doesn’t resort to bullying, ourselves, under nationalised British Rail our [email protected] I can’t see any harm at all in belonging to a wages were poor and few were interested in Long Lost Boys group. Me, I’m looking being a train driver. It is the availability of inter- THREE BRIDGES branch strike forward to becoming a Fossil or Dinosaur company movement that has kept wages badge 2016/17. £5 inc p&p (proceeds Driver. high. The only part of rail privatisation that to charity) from Paul Eden (branch karl Maguire , Birmingham New Street delivered competition was, ironically, on pay secretary) email [email protected]). and conditions which is why it has been a big disappointment for Tory voters. KIRKDALE 121 limited edition …remembering times past kevin Peat , Exeter centenary badge 1917-2017 price I fully agree with Edward Pearce ( Journal , £7.50 inc p&p from branch December) with regard to the abusive secretary Keith Devling. Call comments he or his friends have been Revised duties 07933 144768 or email subjected to by other members in our grade. My wife says our new train ‘safety check’ [email protected] This should not be tolerated under any could be described as a porn prep – a quick To advertise please phone 020 7324 2400 circumstances. However, just because a group lick over. or send an email to [email protected] of old school ex-second men have started a Rob McMillan , Wolverhampton

January 2018 l The ASLEF Journal 21 Last Word Red dawn A new exhibition celebrates the striking modern art created in the wake of the october revolution, examines the achievements of socialist realism, and reflects on the erasure of images of those who offended Uncle Joe. kEith RichMoND visits a remarkable display of rare posters, photographs and prints Pictures at an exhibition – Join the from before and after the Bolshevik Red Cavalry by Boris Silkin (1920); A revolution Thunderous Blow by the Kukryniksy collective (1942; Fascism: The Most Evil Enemy of Women by Nina HE revolution in Russia in October Vatolina (1941); the forward march t 1917, and the extraordinary political, of the proletariat on a poster for a economic and social changes that Soviet art exhibition in Zurich by followed in its wake, was matched by a Valentina Kulagina (1931); and concomitant revolution in the visual arts. What Comrades in Arms (1941) the flamboyant jazz singer George Melly, albeit in a different context, called in his book about emerges here is how the photographer was ’60s pop culture, Revolt into Style . Jewish, his father and sisters had been Paintings, sculptures, banners, books, murdered by the Nazis, the flag had been magazines and posters – many of them made by his uncle, and the photograph propaganda for the new people’s government reflects the dynamic geometries of Soviet – embraced radical new ideas and radical new abstract art. forms. The visual arts, in the years immediately Here, writ large, is the iconography of after the Russian revolution, were exciting and each erased as they fall out of favour. communism – workers and peasants, different as artists turned their collective backs There is also a table of black and white hammers and sickles, proclamations and on the bankrupt traditions of the ancien photographs – police mug shots, including propaganda posters in bold colours, régime . one of the poet Osip Mandelstam – of 30 geometric shapes and authentic Cyrillic script political prisoners taken before their show – and the adoration, if not of the magi, then of ‘The future is our only goal’ – Aleksandr trials. Most haunting is the face of Grigory Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov. Rodchenko Zinoviev, long-time head of the Communist International, who is clearly not afraid as he ‘Everyone to the struggle against fascism’ – A new exhibition at Tate Modern examines looks into the camera lens; he has decided to Nina Vatolina ‘fifty years of revolutionary art – from pictures look fate straight in the eye, disillusioned at of the massacre of unarmed protesters by how the revolution in which he played a The mood changes, from the dramatic Tsarist troops in St Petersburg in 1905, which crucial role has been betrayed. ‘revolutionary images of satirists such as Viktor open the exhibition, and act as a timely Deni through the great constructivist artists, reminder of the brutally repressive and ‘The task of the press is the education of the such as Aleksandr Rodchenko and El Lissitzky, autocratic regime of Tsar Nicholas II against masses’ – El Lissitzky whose Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge which the peasants, as well as the industrial (1920) inspired so many 20th century graphic workers, were revolting, until the death of The exhibits are drawn almost entirely from artists (and not a few indie rock album covers) Joseph Stalin. ‘the collection of the British designer David to the symbolic images of Mother Russia There’s a lot of facial hair – beards as well as King who, between his birth in 1943 and his during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45. Village People moustaches – especially on a death in 2016, acquired a quarter of a million There’s the cover of a journal from 1941, banner of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin Soviet artefacts as he worked to forge a ‘visual proclaiming Comrades in Arms: Britain and the designed by Gustav Klutsis in 1933 to style for the left’ in the UK. USSR . A copy, too, of Russia Today from underline the position of Joseph They include pictures – some familiar, many November 1937 – price 2d – featuring pictures Vissarionovich in the socialist pantheon of his unfamiliar – including the famous image, by of Vera Mukhina’s staggering stainless steel more eminent Marxist-Leninist predecessors. Grigorii Goldshtein, of Lenin in Teatrainaya sculpture of an idealised male industrial Hard to look at Uncle Joe – still revered today Square, Moscow, passionately addressing Red worker and female agricultural worker created in Georgia – without thinking of Big Brother in Army forces leaving for the Polish front in for the Soviet pavilion at the World’s Fair in George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 . 1920, with Trotsky, the People’s Commissar for Paris in 1937. In that book Winston Smith, who works at Military and Naval Affairs, waiting for his turn This exhilarating exhibition – an absolute the Ministry of Truth, spends his time literally to speak. joy – proves that revolutionary art and rewriting historical documents so they match There’s also the photo, taken by Yevgeny revolutionary politics can march, hand in the current party line. Orwell parodies, in Khaldei, of Soviet soldiers raising the red flag hand, into the future. splendidly dark fashion, the way that Stalin over the Reichstag in 1945. It was staged, like insisted on history being rewritten. Joe Rosenthal’s picture of the stars and stripes There’s a famous image here – part of a being raised on Iwo Jima, but is still an  Red Star Over Russia: A Revolution in telling sequence – of Nikolai Antipov, Stalin, enormously powerful and enduring image. It Visual Culture 1905-1955 is at Tate Sergei Kirov and Nikolai Shvernik, taken at a caused some controversy – the soldier Modern in London until 18 February. regional party conference in Leningrad in 1924 hoisting the flag has two wrist watches, one on Admission £13.30; senior £12.30; or 1925 from which, over the years, first each hand, and the Red Army was not meant concessions £11; children under 12 free. Antipov, then Shvernik, and finally Kirov, are to stoop to pillage – but the story that

22 The ASLEF Journal l January 2018 On Track Prize Crossword

Prize Crossword 141 by Tom Williams Across Down 1 Desired 1 Beat soundly So ANNoYiNg 4 Plaster between 2 Walked on tiles 3 Climb down T USED to be ‘Well…’ then 7 In an upside 4 Hinged barriers ‘Like…’ and sometimes just down position 5 Rowing blade i ‘Um…’ But now it’s ‘So…’ The 8 Noisy 6 Stuffing herb way people – many of them on Today 9 Find an answer to 7 Underground on Radio 4 but on most radio and 11 Dangling earring passage television programmes and podcasts 13 Period without 10 Shallow lake these days – answer a question – rain 12 Agricultural sometimes every question – by starting 15 Painful wind engine with that irritating little two-letter word. suffered by babies 14 He-man reared Even if grammatically it makes no sense. 17 Having a sharp by apes To some extent, it’s become a verbal bitter taste 15 Fragrant conifer tic. To some extent, it’s a way of buying 18 Ornament 16 Deep orange-pink time while the interviewee thinks up a 20 Force back substance used for cogent answer. And, to some extent, it’s 21 A certain area of necklaces a technique, taught by media trainers, Solution to Crossword 140 a country 17 Ballad to make it seem – to listeners if not the Across: 3 Treat 6 Profile 7 Afters 8 Motel 19 Explosive used in interviewer – that what you are about to 9 Elevator 12 Knead 14 Scuff 15 Narcotic a toy gun say is a seamless, sensible and, indeed, 18 Ashes 19 Hollow 20 Eternal 21 Greed transparently obvious answer to the Down: 1 Footwear 2 Filled 3 Teases 4 Extra question. Even when it’s not. 5 Torso 6 Pumpkin 10 Toughens 11 Refusal Name...... The trouble is it sounds artificial. It 13 Stewed 14 Scales 16 Among 17 Calve grates. And it brings back bad memories Address...... of teacher spelling out something to the Congratulations to Stuart slowest child in class. ‘Pay attention, Rowe , of Cambridge , who now, children…’ was last month’s winner...... The winner of this month’s Prize Crossword will receive ...... Marks & Spencer vouchers to the value of £25 ...... You can see more of Tom Williams’s  Postcode...... crosswords, word games and puzzles at wordgames.co.uk

John Humphrys: So tired of ‘So…’ Thanks for all your responses to the 140th prize crossword in the December edition of the ASLEF Journal . If you successfully complete this month’s crossword please send the solution to It’s a common enough word, of the Editor, ASLEF Journal , 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN by 14 January course, part of the conversational furniture of many a room. But the use of the word ‘So’ at the start of an answer in so many media interviews has reached the proportions of a linguistic epidemic. ASLEF’s legal services And the backlash has begun. If you are being harassed at work, bullied or discriminated against, and Jacka Garth @SocialBeastie – ‘Lefty, if your local, branch or district rep is unavailable, call the industrial music addict, a Midlander with many relations department at union headquarters (020 7324 2400) or email interests’ – tweeted ‘Don’t start sentences with “So” unless you want to [email protected]. If you are arrested or interviewed by police and need sound like a Muppet’ and, on a recent legal assistance – day or night – call the members’ emergency hotline on Feedback , Fergus from Glasgow 0800 587 7530. ASLEF also provides first class legal advice free for growled: ‘Every time I hear it, the hair on members and dependents. my neck rises and my teeth bare in a grimace.’ Today presenter John Humphrys says the word has ‘invaded everyday speech like some noxious weed in an untended garden’. Changed your address? Please let us know! Just fill in this form Cressida Dick, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, set a new record Name...... when she managed to start no less than seven of her responses to questions on Address...... Today with ‘So’. It made her sound ...... unnatural, robotic, and over-rehearsed – which she probably was – and Postcode ...... Telephone...... distracted listeners from her answers. So remember Galatians 6:7. As ye Branch...... Membership No...... sow, so shall ye reap… keith Richmond Please return coupon to: ASLEF, 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN

January 2018 l The ASLEF Journal 23

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