I work on the railway AMA

[StationManager]

As my name change suggests, I work in the stations function, but can try and answer questions about any rail-related matters. Happy to discuss strikes, industry reform, disruption!

Do you agree with the strikes? And why?

@SouthCountryGirl

I agree with anyone’s right to go on strike. I think it’s really important in a democratic society.

Looking specifically at rail strikes, I sympathise more with the RMT than ASLEF.

Management grades are not included in either of these strikes and I have worked on every strike day, covering the duties of those of my team who are out on strike.

Many station staff earn little more than the minimum wage, some grades are able to top up their wages through a variety of enhancements, for example working on Sundays. Part of the deal the DFT are trying to make with the unions is industry reform, which is desperately needed, however if you can only afford to go on holiday or buy your kids Christmas presents because of your enhancements, and you think these will be taken away from you, then I totally understand why people are upset and angry.
Its a lot more complex than just pay rises.

I have less sympathy with ASLEF, who represent train drivers. But this is probably because I understand less about the implications of industry reform on their jobs. On the one hand, train drivers earn at least £65K once trained. One the other hand, they are responsible for the safety and ultimately the lives of up to 2000 people on board their train, so surely they deserve that, maybe more.

One thing I know for sure is neither of these disputes is likely to be easily and quickly resolved. And as strikes continue all it does is further drive our customers away, which threatens all our jobs.

My son's friends all seem experts at fare-dodging, things like what I believe is called doughnutting (buying tickets for the start and end of the journey to get through the barriers). My son won't do this. He thinks it's wrong, a view that his mates find quaint. He loves railways and might possibly want to work in the industry. Is this a big problem where you work?

I think you'll find it's the frozen pay for the last few years and the changing of the drivers' terms and conditions for ASLEF. Just because they earn more doesn't negate the need to make a stand.

@CharlottenBerg

Your son sounds like a good lad. I would definitely recommend the railway as a career for anyone with the right attitude.

Fare evasion is a massive issue where I work. Staff on the gateline have an online form to fill in every time someone is evading a fare. They probably report hundreds every week. But this doesn’t take into account people travelling between un-gated stations and not paying at all.

We do have revenue protection teams that work at stations or on-trains, issuing penalty fares, but a lot of them are quite ineffectual. We also have a fraud investigation team who gather evidence against people who repeatedly do things like what your son’s friends are doing. When they have enough evidence they prosecute, sometimes tens of thousands of pounds.

It’s an uphill struggle though.

@Theimpossiblegirl

Yes absolutely. I don’t disagree with them striking if they think it’s the right thing to do.
As I said, I’m less familiar with their function and the issues surrounding their reasons to strike. I’m sure they’re not just doing it for the fun of it!

No questions, but working for the railways would be my dream job! Unfortunately any roles I have seen seem to be multi-location and require you to drive, which I can't.

He says his mates say 'everybody does it', and he said back, 'but that won't help you if you are the one who gets caught'. He knows of people who tag trains or railway property with paint and is thinking of reporting them to BTP in advance so maybe they would get caught and put off before they are killed by a train or electrocuted. I told him 'it's up to you', and he said 'yes, I know'. An old head on young shoulders. I'm very proud of him.

No questions but I’d have loved to be a train driver. Probably too old now sadly.

@StationManager as a member of ASLEF working for one of the highest paid TOC's in the country - I do not earn at least 65k 🤦‍♀️

Also some of the T&C's they want to impose on us are awful.

Shame to see a RMT member pedalling lies tbh

@90stalgia

Ah, that’s a shame. There are some roles in my organisation that require multi-site working and driving, but there are also static roles, based in one place. I would keep looking if it’s something you really want to do. Although sometimes family-friendly working leaves a bit to be desired as well!

Are you a train driver, @Chesneyhawkes1 ?

@DigbyTheDigger I am yes. Have been for 19 years

@RoseBucket

I’m sure you’re not too old. Some of our drivers are still going strong into their seventies! They are difficult roles to get into though. Good luck!

@Chesneyhawkes1

Thanks for your reply. Do you mind saying how much you do earn? And what are the Ts&Cs you and your colleagues are fighting for? I’m curious to learn and understand more. I didn’t mean to offend you, if I have. Those are the salaries colleagues speak about. I certainly wasn’t intentionally peddling any lies.

And I’m actually not an RMT member either. I’m not in any union, as a manager if I wanted to join a union it would have to be the TSSA.

Is nepotism as rife in your station?

Deep envy. My eyesight is crap so it could never have happened for me.

@drinkyourtea12

Not in my station, no. But within my organisation there is definitely evidence it exists.
Most people seem to be married to, or in some way related to others in the railway.
I don’t know how many of the people I work with were hired on merit, or because of who they know.
I didn’t have any family members in the railway when I joined and I still don’t now.

I earn 63k so very near the figure, but friends who work for other TOC's earn 50k - my company pays one of the highest for drivers with Sundays outside the working week. But we have had a few leave for lower paid TOC's recently to get a better work/life balance. We work 3 out of 4 Saturdays where I am and have nights and 2am starts.

Certainly drivers can and do earn a lot more, overtime is pretty much relied upon to cover our service, which is why we are unable to run a full service next week as ASLEF have called for an overtime ban.

Some of the T&C's won't effect me, I'm DOO already. The ones I personally have issue with are being able to be moved with little to no notice off my hours when I am a cover driver. CurrentlyI can be moved 2 hours each way - so a 6am start can become 4am or 8am etc, but I need 48 hours notice of this.

Obviously we all have a life outside of work and I plan mine around the hours I'm working. The above would especially impact people with childcare responsibilities.

The other is currently if I am sent from my depot to cover work at another depot, due to driver shortage - I travel there as part of my working hours for that day.

The RDG would like me to do this in my own time. So maybe 2.5 hours travel, 9 hour job and then the same travel back.

This is despite our company stating you must live within a 30 minute commute of the depot when applying for the job - to reduce the impact of shift and driver fatigue etc.

I'm sure there are more - but those 2 for me are big sticking points.

I didn't mean to imply you had offended me. I'm just sick of the lies surrounding these strikes tbh - as I'm sure you are and I apologise. I fully support my RMT colleagues in their efforts. Platform staff especially can make my life so much easier on a packed to the rafters train 😁

@90stalgia I'm sorry to hear that 😔

@Chesneyhawkes1

Thanks for a detailed reply.

Some of those changes definitely don’t sound on. Especially having travel time not included as part of the working day if
they insist you work elsewhere. It seems really regressive when so much work has gone into reducing fatigue to improve safety over the last 20 years.

Pay also has to reflect the anti-social hours being worked and the safety critical nature of the work. I consider train drivers on the same level as airline pilots or surgeons, if someone has my life in their hands, they should be paid as much as they ask for!

@StationManager I wouldn't accept a 50% rise for those conditions. But as you will know, they are thought up by someone in an office working 9 - 5 weekdays only 😂

Same with the RMT issues where they want to reduce track maintenance. I 100% do not want this. If I'm travelling at 100mph plus with hundreds of tonnes of train and passengers behind me - I want to know the track is regularly and well maintained.

Some of the things they want are progressive and yes the railway has to move with the times. But some like you say are regressive. I feel the UK has a safe railway - not always a punctual one - but safe. I wouldn't want to loose that.

For me platform staff are essential for mobility impaired travelling passengers. I feel quite strongly that people shouldn't have to book travel in advance to get assistance. Why do they not deserve spontaneity. Anyway - I don't want to derail your AMA (pun intended) so I'll stop now 🤦‍♀️

Is the microwave story true . Railway staff are allowed paid time off work for check-ups if they use microwave ovens.

Media says that they are fighting to keep that rule.

@Chesneyhawkes1

I agree, the railway is safe. And many of the things the unions are asking for help maintain that safety.

Absolutely, we must be able to maintain unbooked mobility assistance. And for operators like yourselves where there are no guards, platform staff are essential. Time and time again in customer surveys, one of the main things customers complain about is a lack of staff visibility at stations. Compulsory redundancies won’t help that at all.

@skyeisthelimit

In my organisation paid time off is given to attend hospital appointments. Whether you use a microwave or not has nothing to do with it!