ASLEFJOURNAL OCTOBER 2018 The magazine of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers & Firemen ASLEF in action in Manchester at the 150th Trades Union Congress Inside this issue : Steve Gillan reveals how the Tories’ obsession with privatisation is wrecking Britain’s prisons; John Metcalfe reports on the peace process in Colombia; Mick Humphrys recalls the end of the second man; and the secret mistress Charles Dickens feared would be exposed The train drivers ’ when they were involved in the fatal Staplehurst train crash in Kent union since 1880 GS Mick Whelan ASLEFJOURNAL OCTOBER 2018 Truth about the Tube The magazine of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers & Firemen T THE time of writing this A column, between the Trades Union Congress and the Labour Party conference, we are still in dispute with the Tube. And once more, even though I know the strength of feeling and 8 unity we always get, the solidarity demonstrated News has been truly awesome. This has led Mick: ‘We will continue l Broken railway system now up for review 4 10 to talks continuing, but to fight against the lies’ l Ben Elton’s Bard plea for public ownership 5 we are a very long way apart. of railways in BBC2 comedy Upstart Crow Let me remind those not involved why we are in this position. The company, which has hidden l Grant Murchie reports on a landmark Perth 6 for years behind the company plan when we wish branch; Jim Walsh’s TUC delegate’s report to improve things, chose to obviate the framework l Grand Central wants slave labour on station 7 agreement – the machinery – and announce a start date for Night Tube. No negotiation, no l Grayling’s new wheeze is dead on arrival 8 consultation, but an act of pure malicious bad Features faith. Strange, as none of the unions involved are 11 fundamentally against a properly resourced and l Mick Humphrys’s valedictory article on the 9 funded Night Tube. Having acted in bad faith the 30th anniversary of the abolition of the role company then declares a one-off payment, with of second man (or woman) on the footplate no guarantees or limits on rostering or staffing levels to protect existing agreements, or the Steve Gillan: Failure of privatisation of our 10 l work/life balance, and health and safety is not railways, prisons and other public services even a factor for a system that saw an increase in l ASLEF in action at the 150th Trades Union 11 sexual assaults last year. Congress at Manchester Central Can 20,000 workers all be wrong? According to the press, it’s all about ‘greedy Tube drivers’ and l TUC: Dave Calfe, Debbie Reay and 12-13 comparisons are made with other workers outside Lesley Atkins-Smith at the podium the Tube, in a race to the bottom, which we will l TUC: Simon Weller on the platform and 14 not get into (let’s have other workers paid Mick Whelan speaking on the fringe 16 properly, not false comparisons by those who do not understand the nature of what we do). We l TUC: Debbie Reay and Mick Whelan 15 move motions from the lectern then get the lies that what they are offering is reasonable! Because Boris Johnson, a man with Regulars four jobs, who has just taken a 10% increase in one of them, and signed a contract for £500k in l Branch News, Upcoming Events and 16-17 another, tells us so? 100 Years of Union The other lie being propagated by the l Alan Moss reports from the Hazards 18 Transport Minister, and others, is that this is conference at Keele near Stoke-on-Trent political and we are only on strike because we did 22 not like a Tory election victory. But we were l Obituaries 19 unaware either of the intended dishonourable and l Letters and Classified Advertisements 20-21 despicable act of bad faith that was going to take place or of who would win the election. If I had l Last Word: John Metcalfe reports on the 22 been I’m sure I would have placed a bet lack of progress to peace in Colombia accordingly rather than running around the l On Track, Prize Crossword, ASLEF’s 23 country pursuing our policy! Talks continued, and Legal Services and Change of Address we jumped through the hoops of Maggie’s laws, and the timetable for action gets impacted by the The ASLEF Journal is published every month by: state’s rather undemocratic system. ASLEF, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN Whether on the Tube, or elsewhere in the rail Tel: 020 7324 2400 l email: [email protected] 23 industry, this trade union will continue to fight website: www.aslef.org.uk l twitter: @ASLEFUnion against bad faith, imposed conditions, and Cover photos: Andrew Wiard political lies. Now and in the future. 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 Yours fraternally or [email protected] l clASSiFiEd AdS [email protected] or call 020 7324 2400. The acceptance of a Mick Whelan, general secretary display or classified advertisement does not necessarily imply endorsement of that product or service by ASLEF chANGE oF AddRESS Please post your details to ASLEF, 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN October 2018 l The ASLEF Journal 3 News Broken rail franchise system up for review REVIEW of the rail industry has been deputy chair of the high street chain John conduct ‘appropriate due diligence’ on the ordered by the government Lewis, follows damning criticism by the VTEC bid to run the East Coast main line. A following trenchant criticism from Transport Select Committee of the ‘The franchise system isn’t just flawed, it rail unions, the Labour Party, transport think Department for Transport under Chris has utterly failed, and is broken beyond tanks, passengers, and commuter groups. Grayling. The committee condemned the DfT repair,’ said GS Mick Whelan. ‘It’s time to bring The review, to be led by Keith Williams, as ‘naïve’ and said it singularly failed to Britain’s railways back into public ownership.’ of the artist LS Lowry, a regular here QUOTE… NWA while painting his ‘When politicians are cut off from real pictures of life, they make mistakes – and bad pass On his way into Sam’s Matchstick Men and bad laws.’ – Jess Phillips , Labour MP Chop House in Matchstick Cats and for Birmingham Yardley Manchester, during Dogs . And, on his …UNQUOTE the Trades Union way out of the Congress, Jim Walsh basement bar, Jim bumped into a man bumped into Terry Rosie well in sitting at the bar. He Christian, the Les Bennett, a driver cheers! laurence Stephen lowry, looking politely said ‘Sorry’ Mancunian with Greater Anglia, bronzed, and thirsty, has been called to the bar before realising it was broadcaster who ASLEF’s rep on the East a strikingly realistic made his name on With Attitude on Fortunately, Jim of England Labour 700lb bronze statue, The Word and now Imagine FM in didn’t spill anyone’s Party board, and part- complete with titfer, presents Northerners Stockport. beer… time stand-up comic, target seat of Welwyn with Rosie Hatfield in Newbigging, Labour’s Hertfordshire. ‘She’s OMOV in Wales prosective just what we need,’ Parliamentary says Les. ‘Pro-union DO7 Brian Corbett and district council candidate for the key and very left.’ secretary Ian Thompson, who sits on the general council of the Wales TUC, attended the special Welsh Labour Party conference in Cardiff on Saturday 15 Lest we forget September to determine the new process This year’s ASLEF poppy badge, – one member one vote or a reformed marking 100 years since the end of 2018 electoral college – for voting for the the Great War in 1918, is available ASLEF Welsh Labour leader. ‘After much debate in three versions: a traditional red OMOV was selected by 64.1% to 35.9%,’ poppy; a white poppy with the said Brian. ‘Which all delegates accepted ian and Brian with NEc member and cardiff raised me tal detail in black and in a positive and comradely manner.’ county councillor darren Williams gold; and a white poppy with the detail in gold. Price £5 (inc p&p); TOTON RAILWAY FAMILY REUNION email [email protected] TWEETS OF THE MONTH The Toton old boys’ annual reunion will be held in the function room at The Sportsman pub on the CONFERENCES & RALLIES The number of trains corner of Granville Avenue and Derby Road, Long The StUc black workers’ conference is at the cancelled or significantly Eaton, from 19.00 on Friday 26 October. ‘All ex-Toton Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel, Glasgow, late has risen by 50% since the old boys, their partners, and anyone else who would from Saturday 6 to Sunday 7 October. The itF Tories came to power. Labour will like to be there in the company of other members of congress is at the Suntec convention centre in invest in rail & take it back into the railway family, are most welcome,’ says Reg Singapore from Sunday 14 to Saturday 20 public ownership to be run for the Sargeant. October. The StUc women’s conference is at many, not the few. the Caird Hall, Dundee, from Monday 29 to Andy McDonald NETWORK RAIL SELLS OFF RAILWAY ARCHES Tuesday 30 October. The StUc disabled Worried tenants – independent shops and small workers’ conference is at the Golden Jubilee We’ll run our railways for businesses such as garages and craft breweries – fear Conference Hotel, Glasgow, from Saturday 17 passengers, not private rents will soar and they will be ‘turned out onto the to Sunday 18 November.