Great Western Coffee Shop

I was wondering when this news would finally break!

http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=160285 (http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=160285)

FGW response here

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/About-Us/Media-centre/First-Great-Western-response-to-the-RMT-intention-to-ballot

Gotta love the RMT's chutzpah.  :o

What next? Balloting Merseyrail or Northern Trains' staff to try and get them an Olympic^ bonus.  ::)

There's an overall net increase of 0.5% in FGW services during the Olympics^. So give only those staff directly effected a bonus of 0.5%.

I suspect though that Commie Bob will be pushing for a nice round ^500 a head, regardless whether a staff member is directly effected by the Olympics^.

Don't cave in to these outrageous demands and threats FGW. It's the thin end of the wedge. Next time it'll be demands for bonus payments to work the odd additional Rugby, Football, Glastonbury or Cheltenham Races service. It should be 'needs of the business' and overtime where necessary. Not lump sums.

This is getting a bit stupid now  I can understand the bus drivers wanting more money but I feel the trains drivers get paid enough as it stands and could be earning extra already if they are working overtime during the olympics. That said  I  can understand why some of the lower paid railway staff (gateline assistants etc)would want a little extra money for working during the olympics

In fact with the threat of the bus drivers in London going on strike you can watch some drivers from other parts of the country being drafted in to provide cover (Already heard this from soneone I know working for a certain major bus operator in south wales)

It's worth pointing out that most train drivers who are union members would belong to ASLEF.

ASLEF are, as far as I'm aware, not threatening strike action.

I think it's because the train staff have already agreed an extra amount, the union is now trying to get the same for station staff. The whole thing seems quite daft and greedy.
Personally I don't see why anyone should get extra for doing the job they do the rest of the year just because there's a special event on. A driver can only drive one train at a time irrelevent of how many people are on it and the same for a Guard. Perhaps it should be suggested that they get paid less for working the quieter early morning & late night services.
I'd like to point out that I am not anti-union (I do belong to one) but I don't like greed.

I quite agree, but unfortunately the culture of bonus payments just for doing your job has become entrenched, starting at the top:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/9339462/Londons-transport-chiefs-set-for-massive-bonuses.html

Is not crossrail being built partly in order to reduce overcrowding on other parts of Londons transport system ?
So perhaps those employed on those transport facilities that will become less busy should receive a pay cut, when crossrail opens ?
A lot more than ^500, since the the games are only for a few weeks but crossrail is permanent.

Also the growing use of Oyster cards has reduced the need for ticket offices on Suburban and underground stations. Closure of some has been proposed, to which the trades unions have reacted with predictable fury.
Perhaps more ticket offices could be kept open if the relevant staff took a pay cut. After all, if they expect more money for an increase in trade during the games, then less money for a decline in trade seems reasonable.

  Bob Crow is an embarrassment to a lot of the hard working, concientious railway staff.

 Talking to platform staff, you can understand why (and with the extortionate subscription) they
 are deserting the RMT.

This thread takes me back to to my job at an Aluminium plant in South Wales in the early 1980s

The employees a bonus for not taking sick days  - so basically a bonus for turning up to work...

<Sarcasm>

Oh those were the days :)

</Sarcasm>

The FGW link is now a 404 error...

I am quite happy to remain on the same salary level during the olympics... this of course assumes the level of verbal abuse that gets handed out by the public due to delays/overcrowding etc also remains at the same level... oh... you think we should be paid double time now? ;D **

**The above statement is intended to be tongue-in-cheek and nothing more.

From http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=161577

Still on topic I'm adding this just to prove that the rmt have done this to other toc's .... I personally side with swt on this

http://m.portsmouth.co.uk/news/transport/south-west-trains-hold-strike-talks-with-rmt-1-3962609

And I suspect that RMT release quoted above covers the same reaction from FGW - i.e. they've given reassurances but probably little else by way of extra pay.

Poor show from FGW to back down and now pay everyone a flat rate bonus. I'm sure local train crew in Devon and Cornwall will be delighted to be getting a bonus for having to do sod all extra work.   ::)

Bonuses should be earned for performance above and beyond. Not handed out for doing nothing. This is a cost that will have to be borne by other parts of the business. Most likely, ultimately, it'll be the passengers.

It's probably too late now but I wish at least one TOC would take the fight to the RMT.

Not quite flat rate - apparently the amounts being paid are less the further west you go.

Is a joke, is a shame the ballot didnt go ahead as most staff were going to vote a big fat NO to industrial action as most, like myself, think that the RMT are well off the mark here and are just greedy............. oh, isn't that what they're always accusing the TOC's of?  ;)

And when ticket offices start closing to cut cost the rmt WILL be part to blame! Unions are a good thing they are needed they help ensure a fair working environment they should not be used as a platform for personal wealth and fame, this is nothing but pure greed and as already stated above the vast majority of front line staff are not in favour of this latest ballet !

^300 Paddington to Slough
^150 Burnham to Reading
^100 All others

75% premium for all on board staff working on additional overnight services (as do additional station staff).

50% premium for Paddington & Ealing Broadway Sunday working.

I don't think Bob Crow has any plans to bring that sort of culture to the rank and file RMT members. I think it's a bit too elitist for his tastes. He certainly couldn't be the premier danseur noble. Imagine him in a leotard and tights...... <shiver> 

 ;D

Spelling never was my strong point, but actually I can imagine the prat wearing one

That's OK relex. You gave me a good laugh. Problem is I can't get the image of Commie Bob in a tutu out of my head.....  :o ;D

Thank-you for those figures Ebrown. Interesting to note that neither TSSA or ASLEF have been quite so millitant as RMT. Or did they just quietly work out an agreement with FGW for additional payments only for staff directly affected by the Olympics^?

---

Any FGW staffers in the west who are feeling a bit guilty about getting the hundred sovs.....

I'm a bit short at the moment.  ;)

Or better than giving it to someone who will just waste it on feeding his rail travel habit why not donate some or all of it to charity? It'll give you a warm glow inside and, if you believe in such things, get you in the good books of your deity of choice. FGWs current chosen charities are, I believe, Save the Children (http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/) and Railway Children (http://www.railwaychildren.org.uk/).

So where does this money come from?

Why did FGW back down so easily?

According to someone on the rails, this has been a long time coming with money from the Olympic Commission given to TOCs ages ago. Sickening all the same. Just as bad as the profiteering of hoteliers etc.

Doesn't make thr RMT or TOCs look good in the eyes of Joe public.

The agreed olympic payments are payable to all FGW staff regardless of which Trade Union they subscribe , by paying this payment fgw have ensured adequate staffing levels will be maintained in what is the main summer annual leave block period

Most workers would be proud to work for their company during the olympics to ensure the smoothoperation without needing to be bribed

As a former military commander pointed out on the BBC yesterday, the soldiers being brought in at short notice to plug the gap left by G4S won't be getting a bonus.

Quite.

Whether you agree or not with the fact there is an extra payment, I think the deal itself is a bit of joke and has raised a few eyebrows from staff i've spoken to.

I understand this tiered level of payment for Station staff, given the fact Reading-Pad will be in the thick of it every day.

However for example a TM/Customer Host who works from the West (Bristol/Exeter/Plymouth) to Pad will get ^100 whereas a TM based in London will in theory work the same job but in reverse and get ^300.

Be interested to see if London crews will manage to work their Sundays now which generally go uncovered... ::)

vacman is right though - the number of people voting NO for Industrial action was huge, as many understand there are bigger arguments coming (DOO for example), that will require action and not a few extra coins for the Olympics.

but they will probably end up getting free accomodaton and subsistence allowances, super guard is right there are much bigger arguments such as extention of DOOP on the horizon, with which the trade unions will need to deal robustly with any situation which presents itself

I doubt whether those soldiers who were expecting to be on leave at home or going on a now cancelled holiday would regard free accommodation and subsistence as a benefit, nor should they. 

Is that why I see quite a few FGW staff travelling eastbound at weekends "on the cushions". Have they been drafted in to cover?

That'all depend where they are staying, those in Barracks will pay the normal rate, mess fees and PAYD.

Not sure what others will do, PAYD will probably be reduced.

I don't know, but I can imagine many further West will be expecting the extra Sunday premium if it is to cover a Paddington depot diagram.