ASLEFJOURNAL AUGUST 2019 The magazine of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers & Firemen The state of play for freight today

Inside: Simon Weller and Nigel Gibson introduce a special edition - with reports by Paul Barber , Kevin Bell , Philippa Edmunds , Barry Hare , Peter Mason , and Maggie Simpson - about freight on rail in Britain plus Gregor Gall on Greybull and British Steel; Bill Dale on the RMS forum; and the launch of The train drivers ’ On Track With Diversity 2019 at the Houses of Parliament union since 1880

GS Mick Whelan

ASLEFJOURNAL AUGUST 2019 Williams off track The magazine of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers & Firemen EITH Williams K has been drip feeding the contents of his rail review before the report is actually released but there has been less than Mick with Dawn Butler at enthusiastic the launch of our On Track support from With Diversity report stakeholders, the travelling public, and politicians across the divide. 6 9 The first thing he says we must focus on is punctuality. Now I am old enough to remember News when the first priority was safety; does Williams want more penalties that turn trains back from their l Williams review wants go back to the future 4 destinations to protect PPM? Second, he wants a Strategic Rail Authority-type ‘Line is very bendy north of Newcastle’ 5 l body divorced from government. That didn’t work l Launch of our new On Track with Diversity 6-7 in the early days of privatised chaos and it won’t report at the Palace of Westminster work now. Putting the foxes in charge of the hen 11 house through the creation of the Rail Delivery l Ban tax-dodging companies from stations 8 Group – to give two degrees of separation from a Chris Grayling-led DfT – was patently unsuccessful. Features Recreating a useless quango from the past is not the l Gregor Gall on how Britain’s steel industry 9 way forward. But this quango was supported by the suffers from fifty shades of Greybull Capital TOCs, in their submissions, so is it any surprise that the third major recommendation is for longer l Simon Weller reveals the background to the 10 franchises to ‘encourage investment’? That was the problems of the DB Cargo pension fund lie peddled at privatisation; investment hasn’t happened and there is no reason to believe it will. l DO5 Nigel Gibson and Philippa Edmunds 11 And where are the suggestions for dealing with on the state of freight on Britain’s railways freight, future capacity, and Network Rail debt? There’s talk of devolution, which we are not l Maggie Simpson of the Rail Freight Group 12-13 fundamentally against, but devolution without plus company council reports by Paul Barber, 14 funding equals cuts and if there is a further drift Kevin Bell, Barry Hare, and Peter Mason towards concessions then the case for wholesale l Fascism: How Mussolini and Hitler rose out 14 nationalisation is clear. Let’s have one publicly- of the ashes of Europe after the Great War owned, vertically-integrated, safe concession! I am aghast at the government’s decision not to l Bill Dale reports on the RMS spring forum 15 support the steel plant in Scunthorpe. Social impact should be a determining factor, particularly in Regulars government procurement. What happens to supply chains, apprenticeships, local and national l Branch News, and Upcoming Events, and 16-17 economies? Other countries look after key 100 Years of Union industries, so why can’t we? l Obituaries 19 The recent deaths of two track workers near Port Talbot has exercised our minds on rail safety. Our l Letters and Classified Advertisements 20-21 thoughts and condolences are with their friends and families, and extend to all staff involved in this l Last Word: Books to enjoy as you relax in 22 tragic event and its aftermath. As always, we await your hammock in the garden this summer 22 the outcome of the investigation before l On Track: Railway Dream by WH Auden; 23 commenting further. Prize Crossword; Legal Services We remain one of the safest railways in the world, but staff and passengers have a right, each Cover: Winter at Parkend (GWR 0-6-0 Pannier day, to go home safely. This year’s comprehensive 71 tank loco with coal train) by Rob Rowland page ORR report records that incidents at level www.robrowland.co.uk crossings have reduced, but SPADs and near misses have increased, as have fatalities, with platform The ASLEF Journal is published every month by: interface issues and trespass a key cause. The rail ASLEF, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN industry needs to concentrate on signalling Tel: 020 7324 2400 l email: [email protected] 23 irregularities, objects on the line, and fatigue in the website: www.aslef.org.uk l twitter: @ASLEFUnion freight sector. It is our intention to work closely with the industry on safety, but to be a critical friend when required. Please be safe. EDitoR Mick Whelan l DESiGNER Michael Cronin l PRiNtER College Hill Press, London, SW19 4HE ADvERtiSiNG ASLEF Journal, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN. Contact Keith Richmond on 020 7324 2407 or [email protected] l ClASSiFiED ADS [email protected] or call 020 7324 2400. The acceptance of a Yours fraternally display or classified advertisement does not necessarily imply endorsement of that product or service by ASLEF Mick Whelan, general secretary ChANGE oF ADDRESS Please post your details to ASLEF, 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN

August 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 3 News

Williams wrong to look Cliff Holloway’s last turn back instead of forward ICK Whelan, general secretary, has condemned Keith Williams, who is M running a review for Chris Grayling into Britain’s railways, for taking a step backwards instead of moving forward. Mr Williams, a former boss of British Airways, suggested, in an interview with Tom Mick: ‘Put wheels and steel back together’ Burridge of the BBC, that a Fat Controller figure running another quango is the best way to with a further two degrees of separation and solve the problems afflicting Britain’s railway it’s just a step back to the early days of network since privatisation. privatisation when the Strategic Rail Authority ‘The problem with Britain’s railways is the did not work. It didn’t work then and it won’t franchising system,’ said Mick, ‘Which hasn’t work now. worked, doesn’t work, and will not work. The ‘We need to put the wheels and the steel model is broken. That is what Mr Williams back together in a proper publicly-owned the GS tweeted after Cliff holloway, Euston, needs to address, not this two-bit half-baked railway which works for everyone – for stepped out of his cab for the last time: ‘My idea to paper over the cracks on the rails. passengers, for businesses, and for those of us mate Cliff on his last day of driving. Great ‘He is trying to package up a broken model who work on the railway.’ comrade, trade unionist, and true friend.’ ‘Train fares dictate uni’ say 6th form students A report by Sean Coughlan, family and education correspondent, on the BBC News website has slammed the privatised TOCs for pricing students out of certain universities. ‘It’s important to talk about the cost of going to open days,’ it quotes Rachel, a 6th former from Plymouth, Devon. ‘Not everyone can afford to go out of their area. Train tickets are expensive and there’s accommodation as well.’ The BBC notes: ‘A return trip by train from north to south can cost £200 or even £300. And, even with railcard discounts, when there might be four or five universities to visit, the open day season can soon become an unaffordable closed door.’ Anne-Marie Canning, director of social mobility at King’s College, London, says the ‘eye-wateringly expensive cost of train travel’ is a much bigger barrier than has been recognised. ‘We invited parents to talk about reasons for people not going to university. Dave Anderson, a miner at Eppleton colliery We expected responses to be about tuition fees and student finance and whether their from 1969 to 1989, and labour MP for children would get the exam grades. But the number one problem was, “I know I can’t Blaydon from 2005 to 2017, with GS Mick take them to an open day. I can’t afford those train tickets”.’ Whelan, Ross Forbes of the Durham Miners’ Association, and EC president Dave Calfe. Safety reps’ training day TWEETS OF THE MONTH at head office I left school with the word buffoon District 8 health & ringing in my ears and no safety reps, with qualifications. My union @ASLEFunion Mick Whelan, after a educated me to serve my members. training day in the Alan Moss @AMOSASLEFREP basement at head office in Smithfield. ‘You’re not a female driver or a male driver – you’re just a driver and you’ve GOING UNDERGROUND got the respect.’ Only 6.5% of train drivers in QUOTE… Jamie Murray, asked by ES magazine during England, Scotland and Wales are women. ‘I say Nigel Farage’s secret funder Wimbledon fortnight, ‘Bus, taxi or Tube?’ had Here’s what life on the tracks is like for one Arron Banks lied about his contact no hesitation. ‘Oh, Tube every time. Do I get of them. @BBCNewsbeat with the Russian government. Because spotted? From time to time, but people are he did.’ – Carole Cadwalladr always really polite.’ Delighted to have co-authored …UNQUOTE #OnTrackwithDiversity with Ijeoma RETIRED MEMBERS’ SECTION AGM Omambala from @OldSqChambers for ASLEF’s Retired Members’ Section annual @ASLEFunion about the low levels of general meeting will be held at 11am on diversity in the train driver profession, our hip, hot and very much Wednesday 9 October at the BR Sports & Social launching at Houses of Parliament today. A happening red baseball Club, Beaver Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 7RR. call to action for the rail industry. #equality cap will keep the sun out of #diversity @NadiaMotraghi your eyes this summer. TOGETHER IN ELECTRONIC DREAMS £5 (inc p&p); email Members can receive the ASLEF Journal – and Brexit means blaming the neighbours [email protected] or visit reps can receive circulars – electronically if when you’re having a row in your own our online shop at www.aslef.org.uk they choose. Contact admin at head office on house. @labisiffre 020 7324 2400.

4 The ASLEF Journal l August 2019 News

Line is very bendy off the Rails

HILARY MANTEL , who concludes her north of Newcastle Thomas Cromwell trilogy – after Wolf Hall (2009) and Bring Up the Bodies (2012) – with EMINIST , was an electrifying The Mirror and the Light , to be published by socialist, and evening, made so by 4th Estate on 5 March next year, still holds a F bestselling Ali’s alchemical gift of candle for Anne Boleyn, who lost her head author of hard-boiled transmuting life into at the end of the last book. ‘As a small child contemporary crime art. No wonder I remember being told by a solemn nun that Anne Boleyn fiction Val McDermid Nicola Sturgeon calls had six fingers on one hand,’ she writes in The Guardian . ‘In has a very dry sense her “Scotland’s the nun’s eyes, it was the kind of deformity that Protestants of humour. As shown greatest living were prone to; it was for Anne’s sake, as everyone knew, that by this piece in The writer”. Henry VIII had broken away from Rome and plunged his entire nation into the darkness of apostasy. If it weren’t for Telegraph Magazine : this is what a ‘The event was this depraved woman, England would be as holy as Ireland, ‘I went to feminist, a Raith followed by a private and we’d all eat fish on Friday and come from families of 12. Cambridge to hear Rovers fan, and a top dinner in Newnham, Anne wasn’t exactly a Protestant, but she was a reformer, an Ali Smith talking at tartan Noir writer the kind of glittering, evangelical; and the sixth finger, which no one saw in her her alma mater, looks like glamorous, Newnham College, intellectually lifetime, was a fragment of black propaganda directed at which involved four was worth every stimulating evening her daughter, Elizabeth I.’ hours each way on bone-shaking swerve people believe is some of the and jolt to hear Ali typical of a writer’s BORIS JOHNSON – educated at Eton and shoogliest trains in talking about her life, although the Oxford – and Jeremy Hunt – Charterhouse the UK. London own journey from reality is more like and Oxford – the last two men left standing North Eastern working-class the last evening I in the battle for the Conservative Party Railway has been Inverness to spent in the leadership, were both keenly aware that promising us lovely Cambridge and her company of the vice- the winner could lose a vote of no confidence in Parliament new trains for years brilliant literary principal of in September, lose a subsequent general election before now. They’ve just career beyond. I’ve Newnham, when Brexit is delivered in October, and be turfed out of Downing come into service but heard her speak dinner consisted of Street after the shortest tenure in Prime Ministerial history. only as far as Leeds. many times and she’s fish and chips and Which would be small, but some, comfort to the loser... In a comment that always incisive, scurrilous gossip in a doesn’t bode well for generous, vivid, parked car after a GEORGE CANNING – another Tory educated those of us in erudite and funny. It book event...’ at Eton and Oxford – holds the record at the Scotland, one of the moment. He served as Leader of the House, train crew told me, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the “The trouble is, the QUOTE… Exchequer before succeeding Lord Liverpool line north of ‘Bristol Temple Meads is the Poundland as Prime Minister on 12 April 1827. Canning Newcastle is very of national rail stations.’ – David was primus inter pares – first among equals, bendy.” Redgewel l, South West Transport as a PM is said to be – for just 17 weeks. It wasn’t Brexit that ‘LNER should not Network did for him, nor a political opponent (although he did once take this as …UNQUOTE fight a duel on Putney Heath with Lord Castlereagh). permission, but it Canning died of pneumonia on 8 August. JONATHAN AITKEN , cabinet minister turned Anglican clergyman, tells of how, as a CONFERENCES & RALLIES prospective Conservative MP, he was talked The Burston strike school rally at Burston, near Diss, in Norfolk is on out of cutting his teeth in a Welsh mining seat Sunday 1 September. The trades Union Congress is at the Brighton by his godfather, Tory grandee Selwyn Lloyd, Centre from Sunday 8 to Wednesday 11 September. The labour Party who told him this tale: ‘During a divinity lesson conference is at the Brighton Centre from Saturday 21 to Wednesday at a school in Ebbw Vale the teacher asks who created the 25 September. The StUC disabled workers’ conference is at the world. A chorus of voices calls out, “Nye Bevan”. She laughs Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel, Glasgow, from Saturday 16 to Sunday and asks them to be serious but, again, the children say 17 November. The Scottish trades Union Congress is at the Concert “Nye”. Angry, she demands a proper answer and, after a Hall, Perth, from Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 April 2020. long pause, one child suggests, “Er, Miss, God?” and from the back of the class comes the furious cry, “Tory traitor”!’ 500 CLUB: Michael Clatworthy, with number 62, won the July draw, scooping the RMS prize money jackpot of £428. LORD GNOME – well, Private Eye – has spoofed Virgin’s decision to insist passengers book a seat to travel on their trains: ‘We obviously could have ended the practice of our new ASlEF lGBt+ purple polo people having to stand on long journeys by shirt – ‘driving for equality’ – is putting on more trains. But that would have available in S, M, l and Xl. £15 inc been needlessly complicated, as it would p&p; email [email protected] or visit have involved Beardy making less money.’ our online shop at www.aslef.org.uk

August 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 5 News

(Jarrow); Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North); Rupa Huq (Ealing Central The railway should reflect & Acton); Ruth Jones (Newport West); Sarah Jones (Croydon Central); Clive Lewis (Norwich South); Ian Mearns (Gateshead); the communities we serve and Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central); Kevin Maguire, associate Our new report, commissioned from the Institute for editor of the Daily Mirror ; Raj Syal Employment Rights, and written by Nadia Motraghi and of The Guardian ; Marcus Barnett, industrial reporter of the Morning Ijeoma Omambala of Old Square Chambers, shines a light Star ; Sienna Rodgers, editor of on the gap between those of us in the driver’s cab and the LabourList ; and Christian Wolmar, passengers we carry. KEITH RICHMOND (left) reports the transport commentator who from the launch of On Track with Diversity at the Houses of Parliament. writes a regular column in Rail magazine; Carolyn Jones, director Photos of our reception at Westminster by ANDREW WIARD (above) of the Institute of Employment Rights; Tim Roache, general SLEF launched its new the same as your male colleagues, While the authors of the secretary of the GMB; Steve On Track with Diversity join a union.’ report, Nadia Motraghi and Cavalier, chief executive of A report – which reveals a Rachael Maskell, Shadow Ijeoma Omambala, barristers at Thompsons solicitors; Steve glaring gap between the drivers Transport Minister, repeated Old Square Chambers, explained Murphy, managing director of in the cab at the pointy end of the Jeremy Corbyn’s pledge that the the parameters of their work, and MTR Crossrail; and Alexi Ozioro of train and the communities the next Labour government will outlined their recommendations the RSSB. railways serve – at the Palace of create a publicly-owned, publicly- for action. They heard GS Mick Whelan Westminster. operated, railway ‘with diversity Our guests in the Terrace say: ‘As a trade union, we can only Jo Stevens, Labour MP for and effective industrial relations Pavilion on Monday 17 June recruit, as members, those who Cardiff Central, and chair of our at its heart’. included Shadow Transport have been employed as drivers by parliamentary group, praised Dawn Butler, Shadow Women Secretary Andy McDonald; Tonia the privatised train and freight ASLEF’s history of solidarity, and & Equalities Secretary, asked the Antoniazzi (Labour MP for Gower); operating companies. We work effective industrial relations, and white men in the room – and in Peter Dowd (Bootle); Lisa Forbes with these companies, every day, pointed to one of the positives to the rail industry – ‘to use your (Peterborough); Louise Haigh to ensure they encourage women, emerge from the report: ‘If you’re privilege effectively to help us all (Sheffield Heeley); Carolyn Harris as well as men, and black and a woman and you want to be paid improve equality and diversity.’ (Swansea East); Stephen Hepburn minority ethnic, as well as well as

Mick Whelan, tim Roache and Rosie Winterton Jo Stevens welcomes guests to our Parliamentary reception

Rachael Maskell

Dawn Butler (Brent Central) at the podium

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Raj Syal of The Guardian and Mick Whelan tosh McDonald and Peter Dowd (Bootle) Guests at the launch of our new Diversity report

Monday for the Morning Star ; was Hammond in the Daily Telegraph ; interviewed on the breakfast Modern Railways ; Rail News and programmes of BBC Radio Solent The Voice . and BBC Berkshire; and by Mike ‘We are absolutely committed Powell for Global Radio which to equality and diversity in the provides the news for ILR stations railway industry,’ said Mick. ‘I hope such as Capital, Heart, LBC, Classic the TOCs and FOCs will use the FM, Smooth, Radio X and Gold. information, analysis, and Mick was also interviewed, recommendations in this report to along with Kerry Cassidy, improve their recruitment policies Plymouth, and Peter so that staff in the rail industry Acheampong, Paddington, by more accurately reflect the Paul Clifton for a running package communities we serve.’ broadcast on BBC South, BBC South-West and BBC London. Bianca Rennie, Darran Brown, Ed d’Bell, Nik Fetherston, James Kerry was interviewed on BBC Sutherland, hollie Yates, Alan Martin, Angela o’Sullivan, lesley Oxford. And AGS Simon Weller Atkins-Smith, Kerry Cassidy, Debbie Reay, Mick Whelan, liz Cocks, and Khalid Rana, Gidea Park, were lukas Sutcliffe and Floyd Doyle in the terrace Pavilion by the thames interviewed by Claudia-Liza Armah on Channel 5 News. white, people to become drivers. represent the communities we Stories also appeared by Alan ‘But the harsh facts are that, in serve because 51% of the people Jones in The Independent ; Caroline 2019, only 6.5% of train drivers in in this country are female; 20% in Davies in The Guardian ; Daniel England, Scotland and Wales are the last census identified as ethnic women; just 8% are from an minority; and 23% of the ethnic minority; and only 15% are population are aged 18 to 35. under 35. These figures do not ‘We believe that a train driver is a train driver is a train driver – regardless of gender, sexuality, religion, or race – and we’ve been Peter pushing companies to allow more Acheampong part-time and flexible working interviewed because the lack of such by Paul Clifton agreements has been a barrier, in at Paddington the past, to women coming into station our industry as many still take on the primary responsibility for child care.’ lee James, ASlEF’s equalities adviser, with ijeoma AGS Simon Weller Mick wrote an article on omambala, Carolyn Jones and Nadia Motraghi

tea and coffee tastes better in a red and white ASlEF mug! Price £3.50 (inc p&p); email [email protected] or visit our online shop at www.aslef.org.uk

August 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 7 News Ban Starbucks from stations

SLEF has urged corporations such as Starbucks. Network Rail and the ‘This is a company – and there A government to ban are many others – that makes an Mick says Starbucks – like this outlet at Paddington Starbucks from Britain’s railway enormous amount of money in – should be banned from railway stations until the stations until the company pays this country, but chooses to coffee giant coughs up the tax it should pay the tax it should on the profits it declare its profits in other places. makes in this country. We need proper transparency for that they pay their fair share part of what it boasts is a plan to GS Mick Whelan said: ‘No tax purposes because, at the of tax.’ ‘focus on maximising total railway premises should be let as moment, the company’s Mick was speaking after it was shareholder return’ by retail space to companies that accounts are as murky as the revealed that Starbucks’ UK- minimising tax in the countries don’t pay their tax on the money coffee it serves. based European business paid a in which it operates. Starbucks they make. Passengers already ‘Starbucks – and all the other paltry £18.3 million in tax last has 1,000 stores in the UK, but pay fares – and taxes – and it’s companies that have shops on year while funnelling £348 paid just £4 million in tax here wrong to ask them to subsidise stations – benefit from our million in dividends back to its despite raking in sales of £387 immensely profitable global infrastructure so it is only right parent company in Seattle as million through its tills.

WOLF OUT THE DOOR QUOTE… FirstGroup chair Wolfhart Hauser has fallen on Time team ‘A pact with the Brexit Party would be his sword after one-third of the company’s an admission the Tories are dead.’ – shareholders backed a call by Coast Capital, a The District line went back in time on Saturday Ruth Davidson , Scottish US activist investor, for him to go. The New 22 and Sunday 23 June as a steam train – the Conservative Party leader York-based hedge fund wants First to sell off its first to be driven on London Underground for …UNQUOTE most valuable assets – such as its American 58 years – took passengers on the line for the yellow school bus contracts – and get out of last time before signalling gets an upgrade. the UK rail industry. First runs GWR, TPE and One of seven original Metropolitan Railway E Hull Trains as well as one in five of Britain’s bus Class locomotives, built between 1896 and Young at heart services. The company put its UK bus arm and 1901, returned to service to take passengers – US Greyhound coach business up for sale in a and a few actors, between jobs, dressed for the bid to placate shareholders. occasion – from High Street Kensington to Ealing Broadway and back. GO WEST WHERE SKIES ARE BLUE The Sunday Telegraph has reported that FirstGroup is set to be awarded the profitable West Coast main line franchise run by Virgin and Stagecoach since 1997. The DfT is said to favour the bid by First, in conjunction with Trenitalia, over a joint bid by MTR of Hong EC2 Jim Baxter, who tweets @JimBaxter5, Kong and Guangshen, the Chinese state where he describes himself as an ‘ASLEF railway company. activist, NLTUC founder member, and chair and supporter of his local football team (well, ARRIVA AT CANARY WHARF why wouldn’t you?’ dryly tweets this picture Brookfield, which owns a substantial slice of with the words: ‘At the STUC Youth Conference, Canary Wharf, is said to be involved in a clearly not as a delegate, with @ASLEFunion £3 billion battle with Goldman Sachs, I delegates Ashleigh Smart and Hollie Yates.’ Squared Capital, Carlyle & Apollo, DWS and Keolis to take control of the Deutsche Bahn subsidiary Arriva which runs Northern, our new topical tee-shirt, CrossCountry, Chiltern, Grand Central and designed by those hoxton London Overground trains, as well as 5,000 hipsters at Philosophy buses in Britain. DB hopes to complete the sale Fire up the Quattro! It’s Ashes to Ashes as the Football, features Rik Mayall by the end of the year. District Pioneer sees action again as the obnoxious anarchist Rick in The Young Ones , and this classic exchange: ‘he threw us off the train because you said ASlEF was Staring down the Brexit barrel an anagram for “total and complete Jo Coburn, presenter of Politics Live on BBC2, has opened up about the infamous locked bastard”.’ ‘And apart from everything eyes stand-off between Mark Francois, the hard right Tory MP for Rayleigh & Wickford, else… it isn’t, even.’ £10 (inc p&p); and deputy chair of the ‘No deal is the best deal’ European Research Group, and Will Self email [email protected] or visit our after the left-wing writer said, ‘Every racist and anti-Semite in the country, pretty much, online shop at www.aslef.org.uk probably voted for Brexit.’ The presenter admits: ‘My editor asked me through my earpiece, Jo, have you got a strategy if it does end up in fisticuffs?’

8 The ASLEF Journal l August 2019 Platform Steel fades to fifty shades of Greybull GREGOR GALL , an affiliate research associate at the University of Glasgow, and editor of the Scottish Left Review , lifts the lid on a greedy – and secretive – private equity firm which has left a trail of company corpses in its wake

NLESS you regularly read the Financial Times or the business pages U of a broadsheet, you’re unlikely to have heard of a private equity firm called Marc Meyohas in front of Greybull Capital. It’s not a household name an ironic British Steel sign but it should be – if only because of the havoc declaring ‘Building it has wrought on workers in Britain. The latest stronger futures’; Arturo Di instalment of this depressing company saga is Modica’s three and a half the collapse of British Steel. ton Charging Bull bronze; The firm, founded by Marc and Nathaniel the Greybull company Meyohas and Richard Perlhagen in 2010, takes logo; Steve Strange, Midge its name from the ‘bull market’ – a stock Ure and Rusty Egan Fade to market term for when shares are rising, and Grey ; and the film of Erika the opposite of a ‘bear market’, when prices leonard James’s BDSM are falling – and from the famous statue of a schlock horror novel charging bull in the financial district of Wall Street in New York. and charging exorbitant fees and interest without regard to the human consequences. GREYBULL – LIKE GEKKO – BELIEVES The lending is done by entities often located in THE CREED THAT GREED IS GOOD offshore tax havens, which do not levy There is nothing very grey about this in 2011 for £2, which went into administration corporation tax on profits made outside that ‘entrepreneurial investment group’, though in 2012, became insolvent in 2014, with 7,000 jurisdiction, while the interest payments there is a lot of bull. In fact, it’s easy to be black jobs lost, costing the government £49 million qualify for tax relief in Britain. Currently, £331 and white about Greybull, a firm that reminds in redundancy payments and £26.4 million in million is owed by British Steel to supply chain me of Gordon Gekko, the flashy corporate tax owed while Greybull banked £60 million creditors and there is a deficit of £46.5 million raider and arrogant asset stripper in Oliver from the deal. on its pension schemes. Stone’s 1987 film Wall Street who proudly Monarch, the airline, was acquired in 2014, claims: ‘Greed is good.’ went into administration in 2017, with 1,900 STEEL – STRATEGICALLY ESSENTIAL Greybull is a leading ‘turnaround specialist’, jobs lost; the government spent £60 million Steel is strategically essential to any modern investing in ‘failing’ companies, stripping out bringing stranded passengers back to Britain economy, providing for infrastructure projects costs, producing bigger bangs for its when the company collapsed while Greybull such as rail tracks. The Tories privatised steel in corporate bucks, the result, of course, of made £50 million from insolvency. 1988 because they said it did not matter where redundancies and attacks on workers’ wages the steel used in Britain came from. Wind the and terms and conditions. THE ICING ON THE GREYBULL CAKE clock forward to 2019 and, after the closure of One strategy Greybull deploys is to buy a But buying British Steel from Corus for £1 in the Redcar facility on Teesside in 2015, Port company for as little as £1, charge massive 2016 has been the icing on the Greybull cup Talbot in South Wales and Scunthorpe are the fees and interest for money lent, then cake. In the following two years, Greybull only two integrated steel plants left here. engineer its bankruptcy to avoid its pension charged British Steel £6 million in If Scunthorpe closes as a result of Greybull’s and redundancy liabilities. Ironic when management fees and £34 million in interest greed, there will be only one blast furnace left Greybull claims it is ‘passionate about making as well as demanding a pay cut from workers in Britain that can take raw iron ore and make companies successful’. in the first year and a 10% headcount the basic steel from which all other grades of Casualties of Greybull’s ‘special treatment’ reduction. Now 5,000 workers in Scunthorpe steel are made, and which underpins a include Comet, the electrical retailer, acquired are at risk of redundancy with 20,000 others in modern 21st century economy. Without the the supply chain. capacity for basic steel production, no Before British Steel went into government will have an industrial or administration, Greybull got £120 million from manufacturing strategy worth its name Without the capacity the government and is still after another £75 because it will be dependent on China or for basic steel production, million. Taking £40 million out of a struggling India. company only makes sense if you have limited Steel is strategic, unlike Jamie’s Italian, no government will have all your liabilities and know you’re first in line Jamie Oliver’s chain of restaurants which went an industrial or to be paid, as a creditor, when the joint goes down at the same time. No one called for the bust. nationalisation of Jamie’s but they did call for manufacturing strategy British Steel, like Comet and Monarch and the renationalisation of British Steel. Indeed, worth its name many others, shows that Greybull’s business the GMB union rep at Scunthorpe said: ‘If they model is based not on investing capital in can nationalise the banks, why can’t they companies but on lending to riskier ventures nationalise us?’ “ August 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 9 ” Freight DBC pensions SIMON WELLER , ASLEF’s assistant general secretary, and lead officer for DB Cargo, explains the background to the present plight of the DBC pension fund

B CARGO members will understand that the incompetence of the D previous management is coming home to roost – again. I apologise for the length of this piece but it is a difficult subject, and I can only scratch the surface. You will have had a pension pack from DBC that sets out some stark choices. The council and I have been touring branches explaining what the problem is and how we are Simon: ‘the incompetence of DB Cargo proposing to deal with it. We have two main management has brought us to this place’ problems – the first is a £257 million deficit in the section’s funding and, second, the future strength and its likelihood of collapsing and from July 2020 was not taken lightly. We sustainability of the section itself. making a claim on the government’s pension opposed it until we had secured a significant The council and I have been addressing this protection fund. DBC has had its covenant concession from DBC. issue since autumn last year, facing some very reduced from 2 to 3 (the TOCs are 1). A When a scheme is closed it has no new difficult choices. As the lead union in the DBC reduction in covenant forces the trustees to money coming in from new starters and the group we have had expert advice from a change their investment strategy from return numbers of active staff start to dwindle qualified, independent pension specialist, as seeking to a more defensive and safe one – through retirements, resignations, etc. This well as our own industrial experience gained this has the effect of significantly reducing the leads to the pension deficit load being spread over many years dealing with the Railways investment returns. over fewer members and contributions Pension Scheme. There had been a threat to reduce the increasing. Which, in turn, leads to members covenant in 2010 and the German DB group leaving as they can’t afford it and the load THE RESULT OF A PERFECT STORM put a bond of €1 billion against DB Schenker in being carried by even fewer members until no- This isn’t down to one factor but a the UK to prevent this. Whilst not underwriting one can afford it. combination to create a perfect storm. It’s also the pension (which German law does not The concession from DBC we achieved was worth bearing in mind that the freight sector allow) it underwrites the company so it would that they would put in place a deficit recovery has completely different dynamics to the be unlikely to claim on the PPF. But that bond cap. A portion of your pension contributions is government-backed TOCs – although the TOC was not enough to prevent this latest dedicated to filling the deficit hole over several sections are under pressure from the Tories, reduction in covenant. years – split 60:40 across employer and too, but that’s another story. members in line with the scheme’s rules. The Pension sections are valued by actuaries STRUCTURAL WEAKNESS AT HEART cap breaks the 60:40 link and forces DBC to pay every three years; in 2010 it showed a £34 It is very difficult to argue that DBC is a healthy any deficit that exceeds the current level. This million deficit and in 2013 a £41 million deficit. company when, not that long ago, it was stops costs spiralling for members as they are In the scheme of things these were relatively threatening to make all its drivers redundant now borne by the company. small, and easily dealt with, by adjusting to force cheaper t&cs on us. The covenant However, this does not get around the 32% actuarial assumptions with slight change has created a funding hole and contribution rate. We have had to provide modifications to pensionable pay caps and the exposed the structural weakness at the heart alternatives to ensure that some level of like. The deficits were no surprise given the of DBC. pension can be provided at a level that is global financial crash and changes to I have given this example of the problem at affordable and worthwhile. These are the longevity putting pressure on all pension branches and it’s worth repeating here: alternatives which we have been talking about schemes. When Carillion collapsed it had a business at branches and will be discussed as part of the However, the 2016 valuation, showing a value of around £5 billion and pension 60-day consultation that is just concluding. £257 million deficit, was not minor and not liabilities of £2.5 billion. A relationship of small. It exposed a structural failing and has business to pension of 50% when the general THERE ARE NO SIMPLE SOLUTIONS led to unsustainable member contributions of view is that this should not be more than 18% We have a cast iron commitment from DBC 32% for most members (non-protected face (20% at the outside). DBC’s business to that members who feel they need contributions of 29%). pension liability relationship is 400%. independent financial advice on this matter The current scheme is a defined benefit This is down to the rapid contraction of will get it but it does not detract from the scheme which means you know the benefits DBC’s business over the last decade – going enormity of that decision. I have been through (retirement age, death in service, accrual rate, from nearly 3,000 drivers at privatisation to a lot of difficulties with DBC and this is one of pension size, etc) but not how much you have roughly 750 now – with the pension liability the very worst. It is serious and has far- to pay for those benefits. The reason for the remaining relatively constant. The reaching consequences and requires difficult massive increase in contributions is primarily incompetence in managing contracts as EWS decisions to be made. down to a covenant change, which leads to and DBS has led us to this point. The council and I have never shirked from lower investment returns, coupled with actual The unsustainable 32% contribution levels these decisions – we are dedicated to ensuring lower returns, anyway. It has made a huge (they are currently 12%) which take effect from there is a decent pension for current members hole. October 2019 meant we had to act. The and for future generations but that will not be The covenant is a rating of the employer’s decision to close the scheme to new entrants easy because there are no simple solutions.

10 The ASLEF Journal l August 2019 Freight Beware of freight company promises of jam tomorrow

NIGEL GIBSON , District 5 Organiser, and lead officer for Freightliner Heavy Haul, Freightliner Intermodal, and GB Railfreight, reflects on a rail sector red in tooth and claw, and the fallout for train drivers who work for FOCs, TUPE transfers, lease cars, and the problems at British Steel

ORE and more, as a trade union, we are dealing M with the effects of freight contracts being awarded by the customer away from one employer to another. This has very real consequences for our members. Under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 if members are part of an organised employer. Allowing employers to prior to transfer. We would urge including ASLEF members, who group of workers assigned to a pick and choose, dependent on you to read the small print and are part of the supply chain. The contract there is the potential that how the business model or put it into context with your UK steel industry employed members will have to move with recruitment strategy is employment before signing up. 323,000 people in 1971; the latest that work and choosing not to developing, will only lead to more Several freight operators have figure is 32,000 people, employed move can leave you, potentially, problems further down the line. recently suggested that there by 600 businesses, just 10% of without a job. Taking your terms & Unfortunately, pensions are should be a choice for the what is was 48 years ago. We will conditions is a key part of TUPE not covered by TUPE legislation employee when TUPE applies; let do all we can to support and legislation which can create and the freight companies are us be clear, this is not because of a mitigate drivers against potential difficulties for employers and, in becoming renowned for being desire to support our members redundancies while AGS Simon turn, put pressure on employees poor providers with sections but because of their shortfall in Weller continues to work with to accept the new employer’s either closed or contributions resources. Would they really be colleagues on the TUC general terms. escalating disproportionately. willing for members to remain council to address the wider As a trade union, we are There is little we can do in this with promises of jam tomorrow if issues faced by this industry. dealing with this difficult situation context. they had a surplus of driver on a day by day basis. We are now Another area which members resources? We know the answer MEMBERSHIP DENSITY working together as lead have found difficult is when the to that from experience… On a positive note, we are gaining negotiators with the ASLEF current employer offers schemes levels of membership density in executive committee, which which allow employees to BRITISH STEEL the freight sector that we have creates a far more cohesive purchase or lease cars. These You will be aware of the issues not seen for a number of years, a approach. When we are dealing arrangements cease when a TUPE faced by workers in the steel reflection of not only the good with these transfers, we have a transfer takes place and, in some industry with British Steel going work our reps are doing duty to protect members circumstances, members have into liquidation at the end of May throughout the rail freight transferring to a new employer been told to return a car to the (see Gregor Gall’s article on page industry, but a recognition of the but also to protect those who leasing company and make 9). This has created so much need for trade unions to defend remain with the existing substantial penalty payments uncertainty for so many workers, workers’ rights and conditions.

to London and Manchester. The project Shot in the arm should give a shot in the arm to the UK construction industry. PHILIPPA EDMUNDS , The scheme means freight firms such as DB Cargo and Freightliner can increase the Freight on Rail manager at number of wagons on each train from 18 the Campaign for Better to 26. This allows up to 2,500 tonnes of Transport, reports on a stone to be moved on each journey, scheme to turn an old providing a boost to building projects in council rubbish tip into new freight Britain and helping the environment. A longer Freightliner train out of Buxton railway sidings in the Peak District Each freight train takes 76 lorries off and a big boost to, the rail freight sector in local roads and every tonne of freight UTH George, Labour MP for High Britain. carried by rail cuts carbon emissions by Peak, opened a new £14 million Network Rail has transformed a disused 76%. And the area has been R railway extension serving five council tip into 430 metres of new railway sympathetically landscaped to blend in quarries at Buxton in Derbyshire on sidings so longer freight trains can serve with the surrounding countryside, an area Monday 29 April – a vote of confidence in, local quarries and haul loads of aggregates of outstanding natural beauty.

August 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 11 Agenda We must electrify to meet carbon targets MAGGIE SIMPSON , executive director of the Rail Freight Group, calls on the government to invest in the electrification our railway network so desperately needs

AIL freight is known for its However, with renewed global in collaboration with the replacing diesel entirely for HGVs environmental benefits, focus on climate change, and the Birmingham Centre for Railway and rail freight even by 2050. R and it is a key reason for UK government setting a Research and Education. Yet there are many actions that customers who are increasingly requirement for no net carbon by Innovation such as this is good can be taken to reduce diesel use in looking to use more rail as part of 2050, the pressure is on all sectors news for the industry, but for rail rail freight and key amongst them their supply chains. The ability to of the economy to reduce their use freight the ability of hydrogen or is overhead electrification. Today move many lorry loads with a single of fossil fuels, and the railways are battery power to replace diesel is less than 10% of freight is engine means that, on average, rail no exception. much more challenging, because electrically hauled, and many of the produces 76% less carbon dioxide Recently there has been much the power output these alternative routes we operate over are not than the equivalent road excitement over the first trial of a fuels can deliver is not sufficient for wired. This, in turn, means that movement, and produces hydrogen-fuelled passenger train – hauling heavy loads. Indeed, the freight operators have tended to significantly fewer air quality the Hydroflex unit developed by Committee for Climate Change has buy diesel locomotives which can emissions, too. Porterbrook, a member of the RFG, acknowledged the difficulties of ‘go anywhere’ on the network. Recent decisions by the government have not helped, either, with the cancellation of What have we here? electrification on the Midland main line leaving heavy construction (secretary) Scotland. KEVIN BELL , company council trains consigned to diesel haulage We hit the ground running as secretary, Direct Rail Services, for years ahead. However, recent there was a considerable backlog of admits that when they first met work by the Railway Industry business to deal with. We are in the Andy Hourigan, they wondered. Association has shown that a process of writing a new rest day Well, let him explain… rolling programme of electrification working agreement which will go the all-new DRS company council could be made affordable on many in front of the EC. The current routes, through sensible UR long standing lead agreement is outdated and it was them. DRS sees this as a starting application of standards and new officer, Colin Smith, retired felt that, rather than change this, it point to putting many more technology. O last year and when his would be more beneficial to start potential drivers through the This offers a chink of light for successor, DO3 Andy Hourigan, again. With Andy’s help, company training school. restarting work and we are making arrived to take over the role we council also successfully negotiated Company council, with our lead a strong case to government for thought, ‘What have we here?’ Not a three year pay deal which was officer, have worked with DRS on a ensuring that freight is factored like Colin at all. But, as the weeks accepted over the table and has new competency development into this work. Analysis by the and then the months passed, we brought DRS more in line with policy. The final proposal was got to know the real Andy. His fresh other FOCs. presented to the EC and accepted approach has been welcomed by We also, with Andy, successfully and adopted in June. all, his stories too, but we won’t go negotiated a new structure for When the new council was Level of incom into that… trainee drivers. Following this the formed there were a few depots DRS has a full new company company has recruited from within where there was no local level rep. PAUL BARBER , council as, alas, for various reasons, the organisation a number of We have turned this around and business council both members resigned from their trainees, mostly from the train now have a rep at all locations. The secretary, Freightliner posts. Our lead officer stepped in as person grade, but there are a LLRs have been working hard Heavy Haul, reports company council while couple who came from other alongside production planning that it took the company nine nominations were sought. ASLEF departments. The trainees have looking at link structures. There and DRS had numerous discussions successfully completed their first have been numerous workshops months to notice an around the number of company rules and regulations course and throughout the country and overpayment of £1.5 million council reps, and the vast areas of are doing traction. The basic recently we saw the results of the the constituencies, especially in the traction remains the Class 37, and work by the reps; approximately E HAVE a number of north. Talks centred around training will cover Class 57, 66, 68 92% of all the links in the company issues with FLHH. bringing in a third member; this and the latest addition to the fleet, are now in line with ASLEF’s W Frequent management was agreed and signed off by the the dual-powered Class 88. At the aspirations for a four day week. changes in the HR department EC and head office. beginning of July trainees We have seen an increase in means an inconsistent approach The three new CC reps are completed their handling turns and ASLEF membership, too, with new and a lack of understanding of the Warren Brannon (chair) northern; will soon be out on their own. drivers joining the company and issues affecting our members. Matt Cox, southern; and Kevin Bell Congratulations to every one of lapsed members asking to rejoin. In February 2019 we were told

12 The ASLEF Journal l August 2019 Freight

by referendum in early April but, again, full Driver numbers rising implementation of rates of pay and consolidation of booking on allowance to all applicable grades has not But that’s about the only bit of good taken place and a full explanation of what appeared on news. PETER MASON , business drivers’ pay slips has still not been supplied. council secretary, Freightliner Management now seem to have their own ideas on a Intermodal, says it’s disappointing few issues regarding the deal, that were not discussed, how management so frequently forgets to do and we will be meeting with management to address the right thing by its drivers these issues. In with pay will be the ongoing situation regarding AS much changed since our last report in the HPA, which is due in May’s pay each year. Two days Journal ? The short answer is no. Work flows before it was due we were informed that it would be H remain consistent, and boxes moved we are paid in June; we again spoke with management told is pretty much the same, with just some changes regarding agreement and, as such, the lead officer had of final destination of our trains. Driver numbers are to report to our executive committee, with the decision rising, due to driver graduates finishing their core made to withdraw rest day working, which resulted in training and the flow of drivers leaving for other HPA being paid on the final day of May. Again, no Chartered Institute of Logistics and companies becoming less. communications from Freightliner, with it being left to Transport’s rail freight forum But there are still problems within the company. our reps to try to sort out their mess. A letter regarding suggests that only around 300 First, MFA. This has been on the agenda since I moved interim payment was sent out but was very vague in miles of work would enable around onto business council over nine years ago. It’s content. Unfortunately, Nigel Gibson, Andy Hourigan two-thirds of rail freight to be something which we believed, through numerous and I had to intervene on behalf of a driver who the electrically hauled for most of its meetings, that we were close to an agreement on an company were looking to discipline outside of what we journey. updated policy, and have been promised a draft policy had agreed after a CDP dispute 18 months ago. Of course, it is not likely to be on a number of occasions, and even for it to be Ultimately we arrived at a position that was correct but possible to electrify everywhere discussed at business council meetings, but neither it is disappointing that we still have to explain the and, on some parts of the network, draft policy nor HR have shown up, and we shall be correct systems. We will carry on challenging freight will still have to use diesel seeking urgent action on this matter, to be resolved to management on all issues and, maybe, next time, I can traction, possibly using bi-mode our satisfaction. report a big change and bring much happier news. But locomotives such as the Class 88. The pay deal due for 1 January 2019 was accepted don’t hold your breath. The challenge here is to use as little fuel as possible, and so measures such as auto start stop can, if And then there was no deal on the table properly managed, have an important role to play. We would BARRY HARE , company council, GB there is definitely no more money on the table. like to see more widespread uptake Railfreight, reflects on strange days This puts us in a pickle because the referendum was of such measures, particularly in in the freight sector – when on pay, and pay alone, and after talking to members it’s terminals, and when freight is managers withdraw a pay offer that clear the majority would like to see better terms and recessed for network management, conditions giving a better work/life balance. The had been all but agreed recognising the need to ensure company has agreed to sit down with the company that train crew can access the E ARE seeing challenging times within the council to revamp t&cs but these would not be in place systems they need for comfort at all freight sector, TUPE is starting to become sort until April 2020! times. W of the normal, and delivers many problems The revised offer was placed in front of the EC in Rail freight is a key part of for our members. We are undergoing pay talks at this July; the company council believes we cannot reducing transport emissions and present time. We believed we had reached a formal recommend acceptance unless the company offer can do more. Government must offer, and a way forward, but when the company improvements that can be put in place this year. now step up to the mark and invest council met management again on the 11 June the And we would like to find a way of protecting in the electrification our network so agreement we thought we had reached was formally annual leave so members are not booked to work into desperately needs. rescinded by management. And we have been told their leave or come back on early turn after leave! mpetence at Heavy Haul we haven’t seen before there had been a miscalculation of incompetence we have not seen after ASLEF wrote to both the company itself. the May 2018 week 53 payment. before; taking nine months before Freightliner companies informing Nigel Gibson has written (page Five weeks were paid for a four Freightliner noticed an them that rest day working would 11) regarding the difficulties week period shown as arrears on overpayment of £1.5 million had be withdrawn the following drivers face in the freight industry the payslip. We still have yet to occurred begs the question as to Saturday if payment was not regarding British Steel and TUPE. receive a formal communication how much they really are made. The date for HPA to be paid It now appears, regardless of (as of the end of June) from the struggling to make a profit. has been agreed for three years legislation, that each freight company on how they expect our We have also had delays yet and yet Freightliner seems to be company is applying its own members to repay this amount again in the Holiday Pay caught by surprise. Every year. interpretation of TUPE for its own and the options available to them. Arrangements with the only The lack of communication benefit and not for our members. Members have been faced, when explanation coming after ASLEF regarding both week 53 and HPA There are currently vacancies leaving the company, with a was informed, at the last moment, has meant that relations between for LLC reps in the north-west and deduction of nearly £1,000 from and when we asked for a written ASLEF and the Freightliner HR Scotland plus elections for h&s their final pay packet. Anybody in explanation to be sent to staff dept have become difficult. It reps in Scotland and the north- this situation needs to contact HR with no one from HR wanting to should not be for the business west. If you want to get involved, and agree a repayment plan. But it communicate the problem to council to communicate items to but are not sure what is involved, demonstrates a level of staff. The payment was only made drivers that have been caused by please give any of the BC a ring.

August 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 13 Station to Station

The sun on the meadow is summery warm, the stag in the forest runs free, but gather together to greet the storm Tomorrow belongs to me In the first of three articles KEITH RICHMOND examines the rise of fascism in Europe – particularly in Italy and Germany – in the wake of the Great War of 1914-18

ASCIST is a word that has become, for many, a term of abuse to damn F anyone deemed to be a ‘swivel-eyed loon’ to the right of us. But going over the top to condemn someone who holds opinions with which we disagree undermines the real historical horrors wrought by an ideology – and movement – which swept first Benito Mussolini to power in Italy and then his il Duce Benito Mussolini and Der Führer Adolf hitler; a German WW2 battle ideological stablemates the Nazis to power in flag; ‘Fatherland, Fatherland, show us the sign’; insignia of the Partito Nazionale Germany and the Falange to power in Spain. Fascista; Nazi stormtroopers, members of the Sturmabteilung (SA), urge people not to shop at a Jewish store in Berlin in 1933; the end of the line at Auschwitz ‘Fascism is a religion. The 20th century will be known as the century of Fascism’ ‘social deviants’ sent by train to die in the Britain, France and Italy with a ‘mutilated – Benito Mussolini konzentrationslager or extermination camps at victory’ which fell short of the expectations of Auschwitz, Birkenau, Sobibor and Treblinka in soldiers who had fought for four years in the ‘Fascism never had the ideological coherence – occupied Poland. trenches on the bloody fields of Flanders, and or, more cynically, the dialectical rigidity – of resentment in Germany at reparations forced communism, against which it set itself as a ‘Fascism is capitalism plus murder’ on a country which had not surrendered, but polar opposite. Fascists scorned parliamentary – Upton Sinclair signed an armistice ending hostilities. democracy as decadent, outdated and Nationalist politicians – glorifying the Teutonic ineffective, loathed trade union activists, Fascism rose out of the ashes of the Great War myths and Aryan legends of the past – got socialists and communists, and wrapped ‘of 1914-18. The failure of the democracies in traction with disenchanted voters by blaming themselves in all the trappings and the tropes Western Europe to provide bread and roses for foreigners, especially Jews, for their plight. of a primitive patriotism and misty-eyed their citizens, let alone a land fit for heroes, nationalism. together with the spectre of the Bolshevik ‘The victor will not be asked afterwards if he ‘Deutschland, Deutschland, über alles’ revolution and the prospect of a communist told the truth or not’ – Adolf Hitler (Germany, Germany, over all) are the opening utopia – or, at least, workers’ soviets – in Russia, lines of the national anthem Das Lied der meant that a disgruntled former lance- The Fascist Manifesto , by Alceste De Ambris and Deutschen (The Song of the Germans) with corporal in the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry ‘the Futurist poet Filippo Marinetti, was words by von Fallersleben to music by Haydn Regiment could call for order and obedience published in 1919; Mussolini set up the Partito and adopted in 1922 as the brownshirts began and develop a cult of the strong leader – Il Nazionale Fascista (National Fascist Party) in to march on the streets of Berlin. Duce and Der Führer – to replace the left-wing 1921; and seized power after the March on It was a pernicious ideology that, in principles – liberté , fraternité , egalité – of the Rome by 30,000 blackshirts in 1922. Hitler Germany, and then on the rest of continental French Revolution. joined the German Workers’ Party in 1919 Europe, meant the round-up of communists, The peace treaty signed in the Hall of (renamed the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche socialists and trade union activists; Jews, Roma Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in 1919 Arbeiterpartei in 1920); became its leader in and Jehovah’s Witnesses; homosexuals and between the Allied and Central Powers left 1921; and Chancellor of Germany in 1933. But there were fascist movements – inspired by philosophers such as Hegel and Nietzsche, preaching ideas of racial purity, and Radio luxemburg white superiority – in every European country including the Heimwehr (Homeland Guard) At our annual assembly of delegates in Leeds in May, an agenda item put forward by Victoria Line 182, amended by Northern Line North 067, was and Vaterländische (Fatherland Front) in approved by AAD and adopted by the EC. ‘AAD pays tribute to two giants of Austria, the Ustaše in Croatia, the Iron Guard in the socialist and international working-class, Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Romania, the Falange in Spain, and Oswald Leibknecht, in this 100th year of their murder at the hands of the proto-Nazi Mosley’s British Union of Fascists in the UK. Freikorps. In the midst of the horrors of the First World War, Luxemburg The rise of fascism in Europe led directly to wrote: “Society stands at the crossroads of a transition to socialism or the Italian invasion of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) regression into barbarism.” We have witnessed the horrors of that in 1935; the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39; the regression into barbarism in the form of the Second World War and the Second World War of 1939-45; and the Holocaust. Those words echo as a stark reminder about the struggles we Holocaust or Shoah. face as far-right and fascist forces gain momentum in Europe today. This Karl and Rosa AAD instructs the executive committee to commission a series of articles were murdered in ‘Are you a communist?’ a woman asks about fascism for the ASLEF Journal , with a focus on what fascism is, with Berlin by proto- Robert Jordan in For Whom the Bell Tolls by historical and contemporary examples, and how organised workers and fascist militiamen Ernest Hemingway. ‘No, I am an anti-fascist,’ he their trade unions are always among those that fascism sets out to destroy.’ in January 1919 says. ‘For a long time? she asks. ‘Since I have understood fascism.’

14 The ASLEF Journal l August 2019 Report The wind that shakes the barley

BILL DALE , Retired Members’ Section committee member, and Chingford branch, reports on the RMS spring forum at Yarnfield Park in Staffordshire, a training and conference centre originally known as Beatty Hall

understands the transport system in Britain and its requirements and, more importantly, to return transport to public ownership with a Labour government. Ashley Morley, regional officer for Unison in the West Midlands, talked about social care – in the light of future heavy demands for services – in this country. The number of over team pic at 85s has gone up in the last 20 years and is Yarnfield Park; likely to go up even further in the next 20 Allison Gardner; years. NHS contracts have been awarded to the paperback private companies that offer poor service to edition of Kes ; disabled and elderly people, and are only the poster for interested in profit. I, Daniel Blake ; Then we settled down to watch a film – I, and Bill on his Daniel Blake – that the chair had brought with way to Skegness him. This movie, directed by Ken Loach, who made Up the Junction , Cathy Come Home , and UR chair, Ray Jackson, opened the On freight, Dave said there are many The Price of Coal for television, and Kes , Land RMS spring forum by welcoming problems, with a downward trend, loss of and Freedom , and The Wind That Shakes the O everyone, particularly members who traffic, and companies operating zero hours Barley for the cinema, tells the (fictional) story had never attended such a meeting before, contracts. Dave talked about DOO on Mersey of a middle-aged widower in the north-east of and said he hoped everyone would participate and Northern Rail, Greater Anglia, and an England who can’t work or get benefits after a in the debates. agreement reached by the RMT without near-fatal heart attack. The story is told with ASLEF’s new president, Dave Calfe, took the consulting ASLEF. stark and fierce plainness – unadorned, opportunity to outline his background since Following two disputes on CrossCountry, a unapologetic – and won the 2017 BAFTA for joining the railway in 1985, and his years of strike was pending, and he mentioned fatigue outstanding British film. union involvement. Dave said lay members as a problem following a crash. lead trade unions, and not many operate like In-cab signalling is proving difficult, with SPEAKING UP FOR MY GENERATION ASLEF, which has 20,370 members. Our different systems and too many operators. He Bob Deacon, vice-chair of the TUC Midlands finances are sound and healthy, and we use said ASLEF still supports HS2, for investment in Pensioners’ Network, and a member of Unison, RPI when increasing members’ subscriptions. Britain’s railway network, and finally, on Brexit, said the government wants to transfer the EC did not support the call for a People’s responsibility for the free TV licence for the SHORTAGE OF TRAIN DRIVERS IN UK Vote. over 75s to the BBC in June 2020. This has to Dave said there was a shortage of train drivers be reversed, he said, as it is the government’s countrywide and companies are looking to SOCIAL CARE PROVIDERS OFFER POOR responsibility, not the BBC’s. He said the young lower the age to 18 to make a career in the SERVICE, ONLY INTERESTED IN PROFIT should not be pitted against the old, and the driving grade; we need younger people, not Allison Gardner, a lecturer in Bioinformatics at TUC needs to be seen to be speaking up for older people. He believes in the Employer Keele University, councillor for Crackley & Red the older generation. Justified Retirement Age policy and not Street on Newcastle-under-Lyme borough Leroy Hawkins of the RMS spoke about the extending working beyond retirement age. He council, chair of Newcastle-under-Lyme CLP, fallout from the Windrush scandal, which was said there is a need to create better pensions, and co-founder of Women Leading in Artificial very interesting as it included his personal and there are currently problems with Arriva, Intelligence, came to talk to us about transport involvement, and Mike Baker spoke about his Stagecoach, and Virgin, as the DfT wants problems in her constituency, including the activity as a Samaritan and the fulfilment it companies to pay deficits on their pension effects of Tory cuts on transport, phase two of gives him in helping others. schemes at the end of the franchise. There is HS2, and subsidies for bus services in rural Members said they felt it was a very good uncertainty over Abellio dealing with their areas. Allison concluded by saying it’s time to forum and looked forward to future meetings. deficit, and there should be a 40/60 get rid of Failing Chris Grayling, and replace The chair thanked members for their government pay out. him as Transport Secretary with someone who attendance and closed the forum.

August 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 15 Branch News

Upcoming events

n RIPPLE LANE – FRIDAY 6 SEPTEMBER The annual jolly boys’ outing to Clacton – everybody welcome – meets at 12.00 in the Spoons opposite the pier and finishes in the old BRSA club after the bingo has ceased at 3pm.

n RAINHAM – THURSDAY 3 OCTOBER From 11.00 at Rainham Social Club, 86 Station Road, Rainham. Full team pic; Nigel, Paul, Julian, Steve and Bryan; n LONGSIGHT – THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER Nigel, Pete and Duncan; All grades welcome at our annual reunion from 13.00 at the Nigel, ian and Duncan; Navigation Road BRSA Club next to the BR & Metrolink station. Nigel, Phil and Duncan Always a great event with beer and buffet. For further information please contact either Colin Allsobrook (07771 374559) or Ray Bullen (07952 686495).

Basa’s people n FRATTON – FRIDAY 11 OCTOBER Basingstoke 017 branch held its Railway reunion open to all rail and retired workers – drivers, retirement and long service awards guards, shunters, signalmen, platform staff and ticket office – evening on Sunday 16 June at the Red from 12.00 to 18.00 at the BRSA Club next to Fratton station. Lion Hotel. Retirees Paul Harmsworth, Free buffet and raffle. ‘Come along and make it a great event,’ Steve McCarthy, Bryan Rodbard and says Gary White. ‘And bring any photos of railway interest.’ Julian Wagstaff received their certificates from South Western n TOTON – FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER Railway company council Nigel The Toton old boys’ reunion is at the Sportsman, Derby Road, Cummins. Long service awards, Long Eaton, NG10 4HA from 19.30. All former and present Toton presented by branch chair Duncan train crew, partners and friends are most welcome. Bird, went to Peter Vernon (45 years), Ian Stephens and Phil Warren (40). Ian Robinson , branch secretary Pensions dominate AGS question time Jorvik beers & badges Many thanks to AGS Simon Weller, York branch held our beers and badges night on Friday 14 June at York DO3 Andy Hourigan, DO5 Nigel Railway Institute, with a good number of present and past members to Gibson and EC3 John Metcalfe for see 20 long service awards, including three 40 year badges. We also attending our June branch meeting presented a number of retirement certificates to recently retired drivers with members from DB Cargo, FLHH, from York and Scarborough. EC4 Mark Wakenshaw and FTO Andy GBRf and Arriva Rail North in Hourigan were warmly welcomed, and spoke before carrying out the attendance. Pensions dominated the presentation duties. It turned into a great social event, to be hopefully meeting as well as the new deal for held again next year, and many years to come. train crew for Arriva drivers. All Adrian Cook , branch secretary officers answered the many questions that followed. Simon presents a 5 year Paul Costello , Buxton & badge to Phil Walker and a 15 Peak Forest year badge to Sean Gordon Old oaks This year’s Old Oak Common reunion, which has been going for more than 50 years, took place on Tuesday 11 June. DO7 Brian Corbett made presentations to Brian plays Santa for ooC retired drivers Chris retirees (above) and it’s Boyce, Joe Hrycyszyn, Everlasting comradeship Peter List, Val Williams for Bob and Mick and Des Wright while force behind our attend. Thanks, too, to GS Mick Whelan made reunion for many, Paddington branch a special presentation many years, providing and all who provide to Bob Morse who a great day which is donations to help retires in late August. much appreciated by fund this event. Bob and his family the retired and active Mark Urpeth , Old All smiles on awards night and not a viking helmet in sight at York Ri have been the driving staff who regularly Oak Common

16 The ASLEF Journal l August 2019 100 Years of Union

We turn back time – and the pages of the Locomotive Journal – to 180 years’ ASLEF service August 1919 and the old German A very well attended June branch meeting welcomed GS Mick colonial territories, British troops Whelan, DO3 Andy Hourigan and EC3 John Metcalfe who all in Russia, and dropping a coin gave very informative and detailed reports on all aspects involving the driver grade. This was followed by the GERMAN COLONIES NOW PART OF presentation of ASLEF badges to Neil Barker, Tony Beard, Chris All up the north end at Boothby, Ian Ridsdale, Darren Vickers and Paul Harnett who also Preston (above) and Paul THE BRITISH EMPIRE, ADMITS PM received his retirement certificate. picks up his certificate Mr Lloyd George wrapped up very nicely Graham Fazackerley , Preston from Mick the appropriation of 800,000 square miles of German colonial territory as a new perquisite to the British Empire. He told Red leicester Leamington sparkles the House of Commons in a tone of The Leicester reunion, meekness that was almost comical that we held at the Marquis of for Dave and Bob had added 800,000 miles to the Wellington on responsibilities of our empire. The Leamington Spa branch was pleased to Saturday 15 June, was exploiters sitting behind him applauded welcome EC president Dave Calfe and Bob a great success. An this nice way of putting it. They are more Earlam, West Midlands Trains company council, afternoon of convivial concerned about the opportunities than to our latest meeting. Dave spoke on various conversation and told, and memories the responsibilities, and the interests they national issues, including pensions, comradeship. Drink were burnished. represent will soon be off prospecting. Freightliner pay, Medigold problems, Northern was drunk, tales were Reg Sargeant , RMS route learning, the Cross Country dispute, and CHURCHILL CHANGES MIND ON the European train driver licence. Bob went RUSSIA AFTER STRIKE THREAT next with local issues on WM Trains including The Southport decision in favour of direct the new pay and productivity deal, an RDW industrial action as a means of enforcing a extension until May 2020, recruitment of new withdrawal from Russia had immediate drivers, the new Nuneaton work for effect. Mr Churchill, the precocious Leamington, and the problems and issues Minister of War, hastily summoned associated with the May timetable representatives of every daily newspaper introduction. We would all like to thank Dave in London to a private conference with and Bob for their latest visit, and for their him at the War Office and next morning continued support of our little branch. this sort of thing appeared in practically all Nick Walker , branch chair of them: ‘I had a chat with Mr Churchill yesterday, and he tells me our troops are being withdrawn from Russia as rapidly as My perfect cousin possible.’ ‘I have the best authority for Ramsgate branch chair stating that before the ice closes in the Paul Fennell (left) and his White Sea all British forces will probably be cousin, local rep Steve withdrawn.’ Bailey, both received their 40 year badges at a recent GROPING IN A DARK CORNER branch meeting. FOR A HALF-SOVEREIGN Nik Fetherston , branch The other day the imperturbable calm secretary which characterizes a provincial railway station waiting-room was disturbed by the Please don’t switch us off metallic ring upon the floor of a dropped coin. Nobody betrayed consciousness of 100 pensioners gathered outside the BBC in having dropped it, but everybody began London on Wednesday 12 June to protest at furtively to look for it. All was silence until the withdrawal of the free TV licence for the a lachrymose individual, who had been over 75s. This was introduced by the Labour groping in a dark corner, inquired in government in 1999. The Tory Government, plaintive tones, ‘Has anyone dropped a who did not have the guts to do it half-sovereign?’ Then there was a chorus, themselves, as their election manifesto matchless both for simultaneousness and promised not to interfere with pensioners’ Bill Dale, tony West, terry Murphy and PJ spontaneity, of ‘Yes, I have!’ At least a benefits, off loaded it onto the BBC to do Smith with (far left) a friend and comrade in dozen persons seemed to have lost that their dirty work. After a successful struggle we have not been able to half-sovereign. ‘Well,’ drawled the dolorous demonstration we spontaneously decided to individual, ‘I’ve just found a half-penny of line up and stroll down the road to Oxford and pedestrians supported our action, and it, so we may as well continue the search Circus where we went round and round in will remember this come the next election. for the remainder.’ the road, bringing it to a standstill. Motorists PJ Smith , Retired Members' Section

August 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 17 The 500 Club STANDIN G ORDE R M ANDA TE To ______Ban k The 500 Club is a fundraising venture for ASLEF’s Retired Members’ Section. Numbers in the draw cost £4 each and, to begin making Ad dress ______payments into club funds, all you have to do is complete the ______standing order form and return it to your bank. Alternatively, you ______60-83-01 can pay by cheque a year in advance; the cheque should be made BANK BRANCH TIT LE ( NOT AD DRESS) SORTING C ODE N O.

payable to ASLEF RMS 500 Club. Ple as e p ay Uni ty Trust Ba nk Bi rmingham 08 -60 -01

Payments need to reach the club account by 1st of every month ’ and the draw takes place on 12th of every month – with the winning BENEFI CIA RY S N AME ACCOUN T N UM BER For th e cred it of ASL EF RMS 5 00 CLU B ACCO UNT 2 0 2 0 1 1 9 3 number, name, and prize printed on page 5 of the ASLEF Journal . Once you have arranged your method of payment just complete the form and return it to the Admin Department at head office. AMOU NT IN F IGUR ES AMOU NT IN WO RDS

The su m o f £ The Retired Members’ Section committee would like to thank you for your support and wish you luck in the draw! DATE AN D AM OUNT OF F IRS T PA YM ENT DUE DA TE AND FR EQU ENCY Yours fraternally, Mick Whelan, general secretary ST Com mencing £ and th ere after e very 1 OF EVE RY MONT H

ASlEF RMS 500 Club application form DATE AN D AM OUNT OF L AST PA YM ENT *Until £ *Until you r ece ive fu rth er notice fro m m e/us in writ in g Name...... Qu otin g t he and debit my/our acco unt acc ord in gly re ference Address...... Pleas e can cel any prev ious stan din g o rd er or dir ect d ebit in fav our of t he benefici ary named ab ove ...... Telephone No...... SPE CIA L INSTRU CTIO NS email...... Each number costs £4. You can purchase as many numbers as you like. ACCOUN T TO B E DEBITE D ACCOUN T N UM BER I confirm that I wish to purchase ____ numbers as part of the 500 Club.

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) Si gnatur e( s) ______Date ______

______Signed...... Date...... ’ Note: The Ban k will n ot underta ke t o: (i) mak e an y r eference t o Va lu e Ad ded Tax or oth er in determ inat e ele ment Please return this half of the form to: Andrea Weston in the Admin Dept, (ii) advis e pay er s a ddre’ ss t o b enefici ar y (iii) advis e beneficiary o f in ab ili ty t o p ay ASLEF, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN and hand the other half, the (iv ) request benefici ar y s b an ker t o a dvis e b enefic iary o f r eceip t

standing order mandate, to your bank (or via your internet bank) * De lete if n ot ap plic ab le If th e a mounts o f t he p eriod ic p ay ments v ar y, t hey sho uld b e in corp ora ted in a sc hedule overl eaf

18 The ASLEF Journal l August 2019 obituaries

ROGER BLACKHURST MOTORBIKIN’, MOTORBIKIN’, LOOKING LIKE A STREAK OF LIGHTNIN’ REMEMBER ME CLIFFORD RICHARDS It is with great man and was stranded in the sadness that I report promoted to relief middle of the road! Ex-llanelli, Bristol the passing of ex- driver and then And Roger was Bath Road and St Bath Road, Cardiff driver. driving home after Philip’s Marsh driver and CrossCountry Roger was a keen work when a Jaguar Cliff Richards passed driver Roger motorcyclist and sports car suddenly away on 22 April Blackhurst on 23 May there are several stopped in front of 2018 at the age of 2018. He was 78. legendary tales him. Roger drove up 87. Cliff was a Roger: up over the Roger was born at about his adventures and over the boot, Western man, boot, roof and Cliff as one Plymouth in Devon on the road. One day roof and bonnet and starting his railway bonnet of a Jag of the Young on 27 October 1940. he famously ended up back on career after the ones at Bath The family home was dismantled his the road in front of Second World War in Western man, joining Road depot destroyed during the the railway as a machine, to tune it the Jag with no Neyland. he was Blitz and they moved cleaner at Bristol Bath up, when he was noticeable injury or made redundant as part of the to Bristol shortly Road on leaving fireman on the damage to himself or Beeching cuts in the early 1960s and afterwards. Roger school in the mid- station pilot. his bike. No mention, transferred to Bristol where he worked lost his father, a sailor 1950s. He was Unfortunately, he either, of any damage at both Bath Road and St Philip’s in the Royal Navy, promoted to fireman was unable to put it to the Jag! Marsh depots. he ended up at St when his ship was but, unfortunately, back together again! Roger ended up Philip’s Marsh as a restricted driver torpedoed in the was made redundant On another occasion, working for Virgin due to hearing loss; wearing a hearing Atlantic during World in the early 1960s as he was giving his CrossCountry in aid which he usually had turned up War Two. Roger’s part of the Beeching driver a lift home on Bristol and retired in high! Cliff retired in the early 1990s mother brought him, cuts. In order to stay the back of his the early 2000s after after a lifelong career on the footplate. and his two sisters, on the railway Roger motorbike. His almost 50 years on Cliff was a loyal ASlEF member and up on her own. She reluctantly agreed to passenger put his the railway. He is lifelong communist. he was always had to go out to work be ‘put back’ as a legs down whilst much missed by helpful and full of advice, especially to to provide for the cleaner at Canton they were stood at family, friends, and the younger drivers. he was also a family and the depot in Cardiff. He traffic lights. When former work mates. proud family man, a dad and grandad, children had a tough was able to move the lights turned Bernard Kennedy , who will be much missed by family, start in life. back to Bristol Bath green Roger rode off Bristol branch friends and work mates. Roger was a Road as a second leaving his driver secretary Bernard Kennedy , Bristol

RAY PILLINGER THEN RAISE THE SCARLET STANDARD HIGH Ray Pillinger, a former Bristol 1955. Thanks to Ken Millard for Bath Road and St Philip’s Marsh providing this picture. Ray driver, sadly died on 15 February. organised a number a trade He was 93. Ray was a Western union-sponsored trips to the man, starting his railway career Soviet Union during the 1960s just before the outbreak of the and 1970s. Second World War as an engine He and his partner Joan ran a cleaner at Bristol Bath Road. He successful fish and chip shop was a loyal ASLEF member and and also enjoyed many happy lifelong Communist Party times in their local, the Royal mates. Thanks to Steve Hampton Ray (seated, front left) and the activist. The black and white British Legion, in Keynsham. He for providing the recent Bath Road strike committee in photograph (right) shows the will be much missed by his photograph of Ray. 1955 and (above) Ray joins Bath Road strike committee in family, friends and former work Bernard Kennedy , Bristol old comrades for a drink

CHARLES DRABBLE DAD IS UP AGAINST THE DOOR IN THE SHIRSHASANA POSITION Charles Drabble – Charlie to water to cover his tracks! He returned to Charlie and Doreen were blessed with three his friends on the Sheffield then in 1948 went into the Royal daughters and when he took up yoga she permanent way – has died Navy as a cook on submarines based at HMS would call out to the kids as they rushed in, ‘Be at the age of 89. He was Dolphin in Gosport, Hampshire. careful, your dad’s up against the door in his born at Darnall near Charlie started his railway career as a vest and pants standing on his head in the Sheffield in South Yorkshire, cleaner at Darnall loco, moving to King’s Cross shirshasana position!’ one of five children, and top shed for a firing vacancy, and staying to His other loves were dogs and darts in his Charles Drabble spent his childhood there become a top link driver. He had the pleasure local, the Earl Russell. When he retired they 1930-2019 except for a spell during the of working the top flight expresses of the day, moved to Morden in Surrey. Second World War when he was evacuated to steam, diesel and electric hauled. It was standing room only at Charlie’s a farm at Gotham in Nottinghamshire. When He married Doreen in 1953 and moved into funeral as family, friends, and work colleagues, not at school he worked on the farm, caddying Thane Villas in Holloway where many an many who had worked under his wing when on the golf course, and pumping the church impromptu party was held with work mates they came onto the railway, gathered to organ bellows while helping himself to the and their families, a group known as the celebrate his life. May he RIP. organist’s wine, which he topped it up with Railway Children. PJ Smith , Retired Members’ Section

August 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 19 letters

Brexit cultists, Marxists, & We now have a railway grade called shunter driver the sound of an angry man Responding to Brother Redmond’s letter in the which, for me, is a job lost for a fully trained driver July edition of the Journal , I am not a Brexit cultist. Myself and millions of other traditional over the last few years i working-class Labour voters voted for Brexit in have been very good faith. Having educated myself on the disappointed in the way procedures and mechanics of how our union has handled the European Union functions, it became certain matters in our apparent the EU is an undemocratic, grade. there are many dysfunctional, and dictatorial institution. My employees on the aspiration was, and indeed still is, to return railway, all of different democracy and sovereignty back to the UK. grades, such as guards, shunters, railmen, I wish to return control of political, financial, Mick tells delegates at signalmen, who all judicial and immigration institutions to an AAD ‘A driver is a driver is a driver’ and (right) a British contribute in the running elected UK government. Jeremy Corbyn is a Railways Class 08 0-6-0 Shunter 13079, built at of the railway. As a driver, Eurosceptic and his reluctance to support a Darlington in 1953, now at the National Railway Museum second referendum, and the fact that over the like my colleagues, we last 30 years he has voted against most, if not were fully trained, rules, shunter driver to replace all up and coming new all, EU legislation put before the UK parliament regulations, etc, to drive our title as train driver. drivers. Come on, ASlEF, is testament to that fact. trains, as was a shunter. As a strong union i think let’s get back to all being ASLEF supported the campaign to leave We now have a grade ASlEF overlooked this equal and keep the grade the EU, along with other rail unions. As for the called shunter driver situation of this made up called train driver. figures, if people do not go out and vote we which, for me, is a job grade. i am also Phil Hollis , Kirkdale have no choice in a democracy but to honour loss for a fully trained concerned at the way the depot the result returned after the conclusion of any driver, especially a pay structure is set for ballot. Surely that is a fundamental principle of restricted driver due to ill new drivers. if you are a Mick says: ‘it is the policy democracy and freedom? health, who cannot go on fully qualified driver in of our union to seek to Apparently, I entwined in my original letter the main line but may the link, drive the same eradicate staged (Journal , June) Marxism with liberalism? What I have an opportunity to traction, sign the same differentials which, when did was accuse the Labour Party of being a stay in the driver’s grade roads, book on for the introduced, were Marxist movement which, behind the scenes, I as a permanent shed same shifts, why are we designed to stimulate believe it to be. My reasoning stems from driver. Not no more as we not all paid the same employment in the repeated accusations of anti-Semitism levelled have this new grade rate? this is an insult for grade.’ at many individuals in the party. Labour MPs and councillors have resigned having witnessed alleged anti-Semitism behind Aslef Journal from the past where Chris Proctor (Change UK) and didn’t get a single MEP. Many closed doors. Look at the recent debacle with wrote a piece on my family’s railway history even argue that if you tally up all the votes for the lifting of the suspension of Chris titled ‘The hills are alive with the Sounds of the other parties remain won on points. But Williamson (MP for Derby North). More than 90 Railways’! Maybe this will provide clarity as to we have a first past the post system in the UK. Labour MPs have called for him to be sacked. my true character. If the Brexit Party got 36% of the vote in a Another example is John McDonnell, the I could go on picking apart Brother general election it would be a massive Shadow Chancellor, who in interviews when Redmond’s tirade against me with topics I majority. We could have reached a deal long challenged on whether he or senior figures in have not covered such as his desire to hand ago if it wasn’t for the shenanigans of those Labour are Marxist will only acknowledge over all decision making to the young as it’s who want to see Brexit fail. having sympathies towards aspects of Marxist their future and anybody who has an opinion, Terry Baxter , LU, Neasden depot ideology. Then we have Momentum, deemed not to be young, is irrelevant, or his apparently the true driving force behind the comparison of my letter with the BBC wrong to scrap free current Labour Party. Momentum has been overthrowing of Franco in Spain which, I must exposed as being awash with Marxist activists. confess, had me chuckling for most of the day! TV licence for over 75s Karl Marx, in an essay On the Jewish However, I am aware of constraints of space on Surprise! Surprise! Having been handed the Question , written in 1844, clearly demonstrates the letters page of the Journal . job of deciding what to do about the free TV an anti-Semitic tone. Hardly teachings of Steve Hill , Manchester Piccadilly No 1 licence for the over 75s issued by this cowardly tolerance and respect. Vile racism as far as I’m rabble of a Tory government, despite their concerned. You can draw comparisons of manifesto promise to preserve the Marxism, anti-Semitism and the accusations Undermining democracy entitlement, the BBC has fiddled the buzzing around the Labour Party. sets dangerous precedent consultation figures and done exactly what was expected. The corporation’s excuse for Brother Redmond makes many In response to Pat Redmond ( Journal , July) we scrapping the entitlement for a majority of assumptions regarding points of view I may had a democratic vote on leaving or remaining over 75s is to ‘continue to maintain high hold, and aspects of my character, in the European Union, and leave won. Had quality programming’. What utter garbage! even insulting my level of intelligence. He the result in 2016 been 52% remain the book Apart from the news and Proms concerts refers at one point to ‘he and his ilk’. I can tell would have been closed the same day. Trying on Radio 3 during the July to September Brother Redmond my ilk is the Labour- to undermine democracy sets a dangerous concert season, I rarely watch or listen to BBC supporting working-classes of this country. I’m precedent. Nigel Farage cobbled together a programmes because a large proportion of a Blairite? I supported the war on terror? I’m an new party five weeks before the EU elections them are crap and/or repeats and I resent the angry man? If Brother Redmond would like to and managed to get 29 MEPs. Another remain exorbitant salaries paid from the licence fee to gain an insight into my character and political party was formed around the same time allegiances may I direct him to a copy of the their tax-avoiding presenters and the obscene

20 The ASLEF Journal l Augut 2019 Classified Advertisements

THE KING’S CROSS STORY by Peter Darley (The History the Day of the triffids Press, £20) as featured on the centre pages of the January i am writing to the Journal to ask if ASlEF could Journal . Buy it direct from the highlight the disgusting state of our rail network in Camden Railway Heritage Trust at a discounted recent years. i refer to the appalling buddleia which price of £15 inc p&p; email [email protected] or has taken over the lineside, and Network Rail’s phone 020 7586 6632 for details. ‘All income from apparent and blatant neglect to properly deal with sales goes to the trust,’ says Peter. this matter. Surely this plant, which grows out of INTER-CITY 125 farewell badge, retaining walls and other structures, poses a threat Buddleia – a popular feature of individually numbered, only 125 to a structure collapsing, which could result in a railway gardens everywhere produced. £10 inc p&p. PayPal to serious incident occurring. Greg Burton (Paddington branch) at i have a feeling that NR’s failure to deal with this problem is all down to cost. that [email protected] may be so, but if the plant was growing out of my property, i would take it out and not leave it to get worse. GLOUCESTER HORTON ROAD i would be very interested to hear what other readers think. depot 1854-1994: 25 years RIP. £10 Edward Pearce , Marylebone inc p&p. Contact Andy Gregg at [email protected]

GROVE PARK branch 50th remuneration packages, averaging well over which we weren’t able to do as work always anniversary badge. £6.50 inc p&p. £300,000 each, and totalling tens of millions of got in the way. Contact branch secretary Ray Garland pounds, paid to top heavy BBC management. Mick Boulanger , RMS 07931 612615 or [email protected] Reg Sargeant , RMS Derby Mick Whelan says: ‘Good luck, Mick, and HANDMADE miniature thanks for all you’ve done!’ driver’s keys to wear as a charm Thanks, Kevin, company or round the neck. Solid silver and solid 9ct gold weighing council and Wolves reps Costing the Earth approximately 7 grams. Just over 2cm in length I am writing this letter to thank our full time I am trying to reduce the amount of plastic I and just under 2cm width. Gold £300, silver £100 + officer, Virgin Trains West Coast company use to save the environment for generations to £7 p&p recorded delivery. Contact Brad McCarthy on 07929 350146. council, Wolves LLC reps and Thompson’s come. It annoys and frustrates me that the solicitors who fought on my behalf to ASLEF Journal arrives in unnecessary plastic YORK 243 branch 130th anniversary negotiate a deal that has allowed me to retire packaging when a paper envelope can be badge. Last few remaining £6 inc under ill health. It has taken a long time to used. Do ASLEF have any plans to stop p&p. Contact branch sec Adrian Cook achieve, due to the procedures involved, but sending the Journal in plastic packaging? at [email protected] thanks to the professionalism and diligence Melissa Bell by email shown by ASLEF my future in retirement PROFESSIONAL ENGRAVING at is secure. Now my wife and I can do the things sensible prices. I can engrave anything Mick says: ‘We are looking into the cost of you wish, such as the ASLEF logo on that we have always wanted to undertake switching to a biodegradable alternative. ’ the pint tankard. Contact Paul Potts by email at [email protected]

AIRDRIE has produced a badge to commemorate its reopening as a tell MPs we’re watching separate branch. £6.50 inc p&p. Please the National Pensioners’ give out, and took the contact branch chair Ivan Wilson (07949 862393) for details. Convention was invited opportunity to ask to join the Barking, members of the public to BESPOKE CUSHIONS Hand Dagenham & havering sign an NPC petition made 40cm square cushions of trades union council on condemning the railway engines and carriages. £50. their stall at the Steam & withdrawal of the free tv Call Abi on 07954 659849 or email me at Cider Fair in Dagenham licence for over 75s by [email protected] on 29 June. Barry the BBC on the CLASS 308 NSERS badge to todman and i went instructions of the tory raise funds for the preservation along, Barry as EC government. We At the Steam & Cider Fair of the last complete Phase One member of the NPC managed to get 350 4 CIG train 1753. £6 inc p&p national, secretary of signatures; i am sure if we spread the word and from NSERS, 41 Highfield Road, Ipswich, london region, and Unite had managed to have condemn this attack on Suffolk, IP1 6DD. Cheques payable to Network rep, i as representative of more bodies on the the pensioners of the UK, South East Railway Society. ASlEF’s RMS, Enfield over ground we could have and tell your MP you will PERTH branch badge to 50s forum, NPC national got over a 1,000, so my be watching them come commemorate 110 years (1908- and london region. We request to all who read the next election. 2018). £6 plus £1 p&p. Cheques took along literature to this is write to your MP, PJ Smith , RMS payable to Perth branch ASLEF No 134 General. Please contact branch secretary Grant Murchie for details on 07412 453454 or [email protected] Come and join the conversation! Send letters by email to To place an advertisement please phone [email protected] or by Royal Mail to the ASLEF Journal 020 7324 2400 or send an email to at 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN [email protected]

August 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 21 last Word The best job in the world

KEITH RICHMOND reviews some of the new books that have turned up – just in time for the summer holiday – at ASLEF’s head office on the edge of Smithfield Market in London

TEVE Davies spent 48 years on the railway – from 1969 to 2017 – starting S as a messenger boy at Maesglas, Newport; becoming a clerk at Ebbw Junction; then a traction trainee at Cardiff; and a second man at King’s Cross; before moving back to Ebbw where he joined ASLEF, ‘by far the best trade union to represent footplate staff’, and ‘worked a lot of trains loaded with iron ore imported through Newport docks’. He moved to Westbury in 1980, making copious notes about working on the iron road, Bruce Springsteen: The Stories Behind the and filling 148 notebooks, from his first driving Songs by Brian Hiatt (Carlton Books, £30) is a on the write turn on 15 March 1982 to his last on 28 track by track take on every song on every lines: Bruce, September 2017. He’s plundered them for album from Greetings from Asbury Park , NJ Steve, the Right Away! A Train Driver Recalls His Railway (1973) to High Hopes (2014). Hiatt is good on Brothers Career (The Choir Press, £8.99) which gives a the sources of those songs – on the references Grimm, real flavour of life on the permanent way by a and the meaning of these mini-epics – and his Geoffrey and man who considers train driver – ‘on good interviews with producers, engineers, and Stein days’ – ‘to be the best job in the world’. surviving members of the E Street Band sheds light on how they were pieced together, ‘All train movements require a team effort’ sometimes painfully slowly, in the studio. Snow White and Other Tales by Jacob and – Steve Davies Wilhelm Grimm (Oxford World’s Classics, ‘Rehearse the autopsy. Psyche cut as ever. £14.99) is a veritable treasure trove of 82 tales, Steve explains his ‘enthusiasm for trade Not clever. Cute, my arse’ – Geoffrey Hill fables, legends and morality stories ‘that have ‘unionism in general, and ASLEF in particular’, (1932-2016) given pleasure, terror, and imaginative coping- revealing what he got up to as an ASLEF rep, as space to generations of children’, translated well as the traumas before, during and after ‘From Mercian Hymns (1971) and Tenebrae and with an introduction and notes by Joyce ‘the most acrimonious industrial dispute I have (1978) to The Triumph of Love (1998), The Crick, senior lecturer in German at University ever been involved in’ – the 1982 strike. Orchards of Syon (2002) and A Treatise of Civil College, London, until she retired. Hansel and There are lighter moments – including the Power (2007) Geoffrey Hill showed, with his Gretel , Rapunzel , Rumpelstiltskin , Iron John , The tale of a train driving gorilla – too. Whether you acute observations, dry wit, and muscular Golden Goose , and, er, The Devil and His work in this industry, or are a ‘civilian’, you can verse, that he was, with Ted Hughes and Philip Grandmother . They’re all here. Share them with enjoy this book. Larkin, one of the most important post-war your children, or grandchildren, or enjoy as a English poets. The Book of Baruch by the Gnostic secret treat yourself. ‘Well my daddy come on the Ohio works / Justin (Oxford University Press, £20) – the title When he come home from World War Two / taken from an apocryphal Biblical text ‘The whole day I had been fishing, pulling Now the yard’s just scrap and rubble / He associated with gnostic heresy – is Hill’s last up / living tongues of fire through the icy- said, ‘Them big boys did what Hitler will and testament. cold depths’ – Stein Mehren ‘ couldn’t do’ // From the Monongahela ‘ valley / To the Mesabi iron range / To the ‘Once upon a time in mid-winter, when the Stein Mehren (1935-2017), though little known coal mines of Appalachia / The story’s snowflakes were falling from the sky like in this country, was a popular and award- always the same’ – Bruce Springsteen down, a queen was sitting and sewing at a winning poet, playwright and essayist in window…’ – the Brothers Grimm Norway. To the Outermost Stars (Arc Nine years ago, in an interview with Brian ‘ Publications, £10.99) is a selection of 50 of his Hiatt, a senior writer on Rolling Stone , Bruce There’s a lot of Lear – grumpy old man raging finest poems, most about love, translated by Springsteen admitted that he’d realised, when against the dying of the light – in here. But, Agnes Scott Langeland. Mehren, who he was still playing the Stone Pony, that he with its references to Milton, Bunyan, Dryden, observed that ‘the best love poetry is as much wasn’t as great a guitarist as ‘Hendrix or the Tennyson and Blake; Piers Plowman , Gerard about life as about love’, writes about Tristan Edge’ and he wasn’t, as a singer, in the same Winstanley and Neil Gaiman; William Walton and Isolde, Hero and Leander, Hamlet and league as ‘Frank Sinatra or Elvis [who] can call it and Winston Churchill; John Keats, John Clare, Ophelia, as well as of himself. ‘But with you I up with your voice’. But he was, he knew, a John Donne, Grub Street and the splendidly dare to lose myself and meet / another who gifted songwriter and that became the key to named Shittebowrelane; it is all utterly sees me, as the one I am / and as the one I his career in rock'n'roll . magnificent, too. could become.’

22 The ASLEF Journal l August 2019 Across Down on track Prize Crossword 1 Salad plant 1 Citrus drink 5 Bath, cage or seed 2 Tenth of a pound Crossword 160 by tom Williams 7 Human being 3 Manchester 8 Frozen dessert (3, 5) football club RAIL DREAM 9 Sister’s daughter 4 Get-up-and-go 10 Increase in size 5 Rabbit hole LAST NIGHT 13 Cleanse with soap 6 Wander around and water 11 Battle which was on the bank of a deep 14 Nautical platform defeated Napoleon river. On the further bank 18 Avaricious desire 12 Gossips and I were B and a whole crowd 19 Prepared for natters standing round E who was tied to the action 15 Round Table rails of a railway track. An express was 21 Spiny nocturnal soldier racing towards him. I knew that E was creature 16 Word-linking being executed on a charge of 22 A big fib punctuation mark sabotage and that I had the evidence 23 Thin strip in 17 Risk to save him if I could get there in time. Venetian blinds 20 Prison room Moored to the other bank was a ferry 24 Timid boat in which stood the ferryman, a tall fair young man who I feel I have met before, but not in real life. Solution to Crossword 159 Across: 1 Madrid 4 Digit 7 Privileged 8 Gore Name...... 9 Kitty 11 Tussock 13 English 15 Punch 17 Plan 18 Adjustable 20 Dirty 21 Legacy Address...... Down: 1 Midget 2 Rare 3 Divorce 4 Dalek 5 Gig 6 Toddy 7 Prison 10 Triple 12 Know-all ...... 14 Hungry 15 Plaid 16 Husky 17 Plug 19 Jar

Congratulations to John Preston , ...... of Chelmsford , Essex , who was last month’s winner. The ...... Wystan hugh Auden and a first winner of this month’s Prize edition of The Orators (published by Crossword will receive Marks & Faber & Faber, 21s net) Spencer vouchers to the value of £25 ...... His back was turned to me as he was watching the proceedings. l You can see more of Tom Williams’s Postcode...... Behind me a football match was in crosswords, word games and puzzles at progress and the spectators were wordgames.co.uk crying my name. I screamed to the ferryman, but their row drowned my Thanks for all your responses to the 159th prize crossword in the July edition of the ASLEF voice completely. As the engine Journal . If you successfully complete this month’s crossword please send the solution to the reached E the driver leant out with a Editor, ASLEF Journal , 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN by 14 August disgusting leer, dangling a large old- fashioned fob and I saw the time was 6.0am. Everything disappeared as a newsboy touched my arm holding out ASLEF’s legal services a news-sheet bordered with black. At have you been sacked, or are in trouble at work, and cannot get hold of the top was a photograph of my Uncle Henry, the one which actually your branch secretary, local representative or District organiser in an appeared at the time, but under it the emergency? Call our industrial relations department on 020 7324 2400 words ‘I have crossed it’. (9am to 5pm Monday to thursday or 9am to 4pm on Friday) or leave a I woke hearing voices as if the message on the answer service, or email [email protected] with a subject battle were lost. heading of ‘For the attention of the l Dream Last Night, a section of industrial relations dept’. Journal of an Airman, was published in 1932 in The Orators: An English Study by WH Auden (1907-1973). It was his second book, and established him, at 25, as a leading Changed your address? Please let us know! Just fill in this form figure of the modernist movement. Name...... Auden was close to other young left- wing writers, such as Cecil Day-Lewis, Address...... Christopher Isherwood, Louis MacNeice, and Stephen Spender; ...... won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for Postcode ...... Telephone...... The Age of Anxiety in 1947; and was Professor of Poetry at Oxford from Branch...... Membership No...... 1956 to 1961. Please return coupon to: ASLEF, 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN Keith Richmond

August 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 23 TUC Congress 2019 The 151st annual trades Union Congress is at the Brighton Centre from Sunday 8 to Wednesday 11 September