Staff Let Go

[whole diary]

[ReWind]

I have heard a worrying thing today.

To my knowledge, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) as made 10 staff redundant at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative)).  These staff being from Gateline and Platform/Station Supervisor staff.

I am looking on the internet for any further info.  This information has come from FGW traincrew.

Could anyone confirm/provide more information on this subject?

[devon_metro]

Im not sure why that would be true, there isn't a lack of demand?

[inspector_blakey]

I have heard almost identical suggestions regarding redundancies among gateline and supervisory grades from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) station staff at another location. The cynic in me suspects that the need to make those premium payments to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) is starting to bite, although how laying off modestly-paid front-line staff is likely to make a big impact I am not sure. I sincerely hope that this isn't a near-immediate reversal of many of the customer service improvements implemented during the Andrew Haines "era".

[John R]

It sounds like it could well be a reversal. And of course, Andrew is not there to resist it. Maybe he did? There's a thought......

[super tm]

I dont think that there are any redundancies yet.  These would have to be negotiated with the unions and I have not heard of any.  What is much more likely is that vacant posts will not be filled.  AIUI^▸ ('as I understand it') that is the reason that the ticket barriers on the over bridge at Paddington are no longer staffed.

[Ollie]

Regarding Paddington, a lot of the barrier line staff were agency, and the contract was ended and not renewed hence why overbridge is not really in use much.

In terms of staff being layed off at other stations, the unions are on to it. It is said to be some front line roles that are going.

[vacman]

this is a rumour that i've heard aswell but not from any reliable source, I think it's more likely that vacancies won't be filled and the overall headcount reduced, but I wouldn't read to much into it until I hear it from a decent source!

[Ollie]

this is a rumour that i've heard aswell but not from any reliable source, I think it's more likely that vacancies won't be filled and the overall headcount reduced, but I wouldn't read to much into it until I hear it from a decent source!

Saw a union briefing at Paddington about it.

Even though Paddington according to them is not an affected station.

[12hoursunday]

I have heard a worrying thing today.

To my knowledge, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) as made 10 staff redundant at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative)).  These staff being from Gateline and Platform/Station Supervisor staff.

I am looking on the internet for any further info.  This information has come from FGW traincrew.

Could anyone confirm/provide more information on this subject?

Im not sure why that would be true, there isn't a lack of demand?

That's because it isn't true. Talks are taking place between the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) and managment about reductions in a number of stations Temple Meads Bristol Parkway Swindon and Bath to name a few, also some in the west country. A lot of these would be the non filling of vacancies. Don't forget they are proposals at the moment nothing more!

[Super Guard]

A brief moment of sanity...

33 staff are likely to lose current positions from Swindon to Penzance, which will result in staff reorganised to other positions (as others have said - there are plenty of vacancies not being advertised at the moment).

A reliable source has told me it is unlikely that anyone would be forced out of the company.  On a side note, I can name at least 5 people who would take voluntary redundancy, and i'm sure there are many more out there too if the question was asked and the price was right.

Let the OTT^▸ (Open Train Times website, or possibly 'over the top', depending on context) reactions carry on now...

[Super Guard]

The cynic in me suspects that the need to make those premium payments to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) is starting to bite, although how laying off modestly-paid front-line staff is likely to make a big impact I am not sure.

Was it not reported recently that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were going cap-in-hand to the Government re: payments to DfT?  If so, surely FGW needs to show the DfT that they have got control of their budgets and that staffing is as tight as safety & performance can allow ?

My suspicion is this is no-more than an exercise to impress the DfT that FGW are doing 'their-bit' to keep costs in check during the 'Global Economic Meltdown/Crisis/Disaster/Armageddon'.

(Yes I am one of those that believes the media is causing more trouble with regards to the 'Crunch' than anyone else at present'  )

[smokey]

I have heard almost identical suggestions regarding redundancies among gateline and supervisory grades from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) station staff at another location. The cynic in me suspects that the need to make those premium payments to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) is starting to bite, although how laying off modestly-paid front-line staff is likely to make a big impact I am not sure. I sincerely hope that this isn't a near-immediate reversal of many of the customer service improvements implemented during the Andrew Haines "era".

Well I'm not surprised, FGW need to start to find some big bucks to give to the DaFT^» (Department for Transport - critical sounding abbreviation I discourage - about).

Of course if someone did some maths at FGW they might just find out where ^100'000s are wasted on something that FGW are paying for and Wessex didn't pay for.