Rail Delivery Group

Rail Delivery Group urges ASLEF to remain at the table, rather than further disruption
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date 11 July 2022
source Rail Delivery Group
type Press release

Responding to the ASLEF ballot on 11 July.

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group which represents train operators, said: “We want to see rail unions engage with train operators over the reforms needed to secure a bright long-term future for the industry, including working with ASLEF to deliver the more punctual, reliable services we know passengers care about. Instead of causing further disruption to passengers and businesses, we urge the ASLEF leadership to continue talks."

Notes to editors

o The discussions between operators and most unions have been constructive. The shape of the reform package needed so we can both give our people a pay rise and bring the railway into line with others in the wider travel industry is emerging. But more strike action would only make this harder. The last strikes cost the industry £150m and no one wins, staff lose money and passengers suffer disruption. We can resolve this but only through talking and if the leaders of the rail unions constructively engage.
o Some examples of the areas for reform under active discussion with unions include:

o Putting an end to rail workers being able to take a full day off on full pay for routine medical appointments like eye tests or drug and alcohol tests.
o Cut down on historic inflexible conditions that add cost to the industry and increase disruption for customers, such as –
o Drivers rostered for a training day cannot be redeployed to working trains to cover sickness or disruption without prior union agreement. This leads to unnecessary train cancellations and disruption for customers.
o Priority, often given to drivers working overtime – on enhanced rates of pay – to cover train services, rather than using an available driver from another depot.
o Other areas for discussion are around training where the adoption of modern technology has been slow to take place – like using driver advisory systems designed to reduce fuel consumption and improve train punctuality
o The RMT are holding their ground to the notion that guards open and close doors on trains – a relic from the days of slam-door steam railways. Automatic doors on modern trains can be controlled by a driver who has visibility of the whole platform – lowers the risk of operational incidents at dispatch and seems to lower risk of onboard assaults. (Safety of Driver Controlled Operations, RSSB, June2018)

Railhub Archive ::: 2022-07-11 RDG-001