Posted 11th March 2011 | 5 Comments
London Midland Sunday services hit by pay dispute
TRAINS will run on only three London Midland routes on Sunday, as a war of words continues between the operator and the train drivers’ union ASLEF, which denies an accusation that it is holding London Midland ‘to ransom’ over the issue of Sunday pay.
London Midland is warning its passengers that trains will run on only three routes on Sunday. These include core services between London Euston and Milton Keynes Central, but even here there will be only an hourly service, with the last train of the day leaving London at 19.53.
The other routes still open will be Blake Street–Birmingham–Redditch and the Stourbridge Town shuttle.
ASLEF said the problem concerned the fact that Sunday working is voluntary, and that two years ago LM increased the rate to double time, in order to attract more volunteers. This rate is now being reduced again.
The union added: ‘The coming weekend is the first time drivers are expected to work for a lower rate of pay than they have had for the past two years. They have individually decided how to react.’
General secretary Keith Norman explained: “I don’t see what other reaction the company could expect. They cut the rate of pay and then they are surprised when no one snatches their hand off. ASLEF has not asked anyone not to work this weekend. But equally I would be surprised if there is a queue to do so.”
Meanwhile, London Midland said the union demands were ‘unrealistic’, and it had been trying to reach agreement with ASLEF on harmonising terms and conditions.
It added that the payment of double time ‘was never a long-term arrangement and, as harmonisation has so far been unsuccessful, London Midland believes it is unsustainable to continue to pay this rate’.
Wallace Weatherill, who is London Midland’s Director of Operations and Safety, said: “London Midland is phasing these temporary Sunday arrangements from double time to time-and-a-half over four months to allow families to budget for the change. Our drivers do a demanding and highly responsible job, but our disagreement is with ASLEF and its unrealistic demands, rather than individual drivers.
“This orchestrated action comes quickly after ASLEF’s refusal to work Monday to Saturday overtime, and the union position is totally unreasonable.”
As a result of the impasse, London Midland is advising its passengers not travel on Sunday unless their journeys are absolutely necessary.
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
K Davies-Miller, Stourbridge
London Midland have constantly backed out of harmonisation talks for drivers' pay and conditions and could have resolved this problem years ago. Drivers have been left with no option and LM are just using this current situation to attack the union and create negative publicity. Union members need to remain strong and stand up to a company whose huge profits are forever increasing despite the period of austerity.
Alison, Leighton Buzzard
.. I understand the weekend working thing BUT.... I pay £400 a month to travel to Euston from Leighton Buzzard and twice this week trains have been cancelled one after another due to strikes. So twice I have been considerably late for work and have then had to work late to make up for it - without getting paid any extra - and then have had to get slow trains home later which has ment cancelling previous plans and having to pay someone to ride and deal with my horses as I have been home too late to do it myself. I know I can claim back a delay repay but who's paying the money to the groom I paid to ride my horses? Oh and who's going to actually apologise sincerely for my missing meetings and deadlines at work due to this?
Not impressed.
H Harvey, Birmingham
No one can blame the drivers for accepting double time for Sunday working and at the time LM must have accepted it. In which case LM should be throwing the bricks at the managers who negotiated the deal not at ASLEF who are simply defending a negotiated contract. LM negotiated the deal and should have to honour it or negotiate to replace it.
Throwing 'blame' at the union helps no one.
The union should however realise that times are hard for us all and be more willing to agree to a settlement that reflects the times.
Part of the settlement should includ a contractually binding clause that LM shareholders, directors and top management should accept similar terms to those accepted by their drivers.
Geoff Steel (Northampton RUG), Northampton, United Kingdom
It is wrong that any train service (public or private) should have to operate based on voluntary overtime. This is an ongoing dispute that has blighted this franchise since it was awarded. It is about time that Londonmidland and the unions resolved it so that passengers can be assured that a service will operate every day of the week. In addition, both the DfT and ORR should be asking themselves how they allowed a franchise to be awarded where trains only run on the goodwill of the staff. What are they doing to stop this nonsense as I would have thought that the TOC is in breach of its franchise agreement and if not why not?
Patrick, London, England
So basically London Midland are reducing Drivers' Sunday pay. No wonder not many of them are volunteering to work Sunday then!