ASLEF DISTRICT 1
MINUTES OF DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 25 TH OCTOBER 2010 .
DISTRICT 1 SUPPORTING THE RMT AT LOBBY OF PARLIAMENT . 27 TH JAN 10
MINUTES OF MARCH DISTRICT COUNCIL 1 MEETING . THANKS TO ANDY BULL .
Meeting 23.03.2009 London
New banner
The poster suggested by Simon Weller is to be used for the new banner. It is a famous poster that is recognisable to the travelling public particularly on the southern side. Depicts a large green steam engine with the driver leaning over the side to talk to a little girl looking up at him on the platform. The original text will be replaced with the following:
“Men who suffer an injustice with the power to remove it deserve not compassion but contempt”
On the back (if I remember correctly) it will have the ASLEF logo. It will have a list of all the branches from 2000 to present day including the ones that have closed.
Financial
District One
Good, no concerns. Balance of £543.85, income £219, outgoing £10
Hardship Fund
Good. Balance of £405, in £505, out £100
Executive Report
Pensions:
Happy with progress, ASLEF got what it wanted. Industrial action was threatened. Company’s generally going along with ASLEF proposals, watching to ensure this continues.
The changes are to members retiring now within ages 50-59. What he called cost neutral factors and have resulted in a 2% reduction in rates.
Pension pot is down 30-40%. Figure taken before recession really kicked in. When the next valuation is taken it will show effects of recession more and he is expecting 50-60% reduction. This will result in us having our payments increase to cover this. This results in a difficult balancing act. The need to get funds to cover losses against making pension payments to expensive and members opting out of the scheme which will snowball the losses.
Freight:
Is in a very bad way (currently 50% down and increasing) and used language such as:
“Going to take a lot of time to sort out”
“True colours of privatisation coming through”
“Recession hitting hard”
There is a big risk of redundancy both voluntary and compulsory across the UK. Some company’s are handling the situation better than others and are being monitored by the union. Some company’s are simply telling drivers not to come in where some are working with the union.
There is a high risk of drivers being moved into none driver grades within the industry to ensure they have some kind of income. Situation becoming desperate.
Union is very active by monitoring and keeping communication open with all the companies. They are helping drivers find work with other companies and monitoring vacancies to ensure no one from outside the railway is taken on.
The government and network rail are adding to the problems by reducing budgets and work such as track renewals etc. ASLEF has very large concerns over safety (refer back to new banner and political news from Simon Weller) as is reaching out to MP’s, rail authority, and anyone else who could help to highlight the growing problems. Planning a leafleting campaign in London area headed up by Simon Weller with more information to come. Lots of marginal seats in our area and ASLEF want to use this.
DRS tried to stop agreed 4.6% pay rise to drivers recently. This was refuted as they had entered into an agreement.
EWS currently worse off as the smaller companies are more flexable. EWS driver’s conditions better than other companies meaning EWS loosing or not competing for contracts as they can not get their drivers to the job.
Depots in Wales are currently running drivers on reduced hours to save jobs. Work is being spread out to keep everyone working. ASLEF solution to problem accepted by the company. Situation is being closely monitored with hours returning to normal as soon as is possible. Drivers are now doing 30 hour week and earning £34k.
The principle being worked to be if ASLEF protects the junior drivers everyone above (senior drivers) are safe too. Senior drivers voted against ASLEF solution as they would be the last to be made redundant as it is run last in first out. ASLEF protects all members.
Industrial Action
National Express East Anglia: Agreements are not being kept to, ASLEF pushing to change this.
Finances
-£212k: This is due to returns for 2007 not done yet for some branches.
National Organiser Andy Reed has left ASLEF with Simon Weller elected.
District Organiser Report – Simon Weller
ASLEF is industrial and political organisation. Simon is working to help support people who share ASLEF values and ideas. Financially ASLEF does not have much strength but can help in many other ways such as man power and expertise. This is all important to make our voice louder.
Deadline has been given (6 months) to Southern and Southeastern regarding cab seating in 377 and 375. Enough is enough time they acted or we will be in dispute.
Southern HR problems: Drivers being sent to HR when instances occur and treated badly.
SWT: Potential problems with clause 9
Pensions: Everything agreed with Southeastern, all looking very good.
Training –
Same courses again plus some new ones to cover future needs such as political training. Like members to become councillors in local councils as it gives more influence for ASLEF.
Franchises – Southern given short 5 Year deal as they now run Gatwick Express. This brings the whole franchise to end on the same date.
Govia not as bad as other TOC’s with SWT and National Express being the worse.
Soon be celebrating 175 years of first union which is being held in Dorchester, big turn out requested.
Political
Struggling to make people understand the issues ASLEF has. In contact with government departments but each one is giving out different messages. Often contradicting the other or seemingly unaware of what the others are saying.
Main problem is 50% reduction in traffic in freight due in part to cut back in track renewals. Network divides work into periods of time to plan the work and money needed with what’s available. Current period has 4 years left with all planned work to be completed by then for the next phase to begin. Network rail believes cancelling all work for the next 2 years and doubling the work load in the last 2 years to be cheaper. MP’s are not seeing this as a problem as they have been told it will reduce disruption and delays. They refuse to look that there will be double the disruption latter to catch up.
If this happens many more drivers will loose their jobs as companies will have very little contracts as engineering work accounts for vast majority of contracts. In two years time Network Rail will then hand out contracts with the expectation of jobs being done cheaper than they would be now as companies will be desperate for the work. This will result in poorer pay and conditions for the workers. The railway is currently the main buyer of steal and is supporting the steal industry. If work stops the British steal industry will disappear. Rather than looking to cut back work Fiscal stimulus is needed to increase work to get the rail improved, protect current jobs, and create new jobs. The government won’t listen. On top of this there are many worrying safety concerns with planned cut backs on track and signalling inspections, staff, and rule changes.
This is where the leaflet campaign mention before comes in. We must inform passengers of the problems and potential dangers. We are campaigning for the industry not just us as the industry can not survive another major incident.
Questions:
DOO
All DOO has to be agreed with ASLEF. Network Rail can agree what they like but nothing changes until they speak to ASLEF. Although it does raise problems when DOO is already in place. Quite a complex situation and will talk more with concerned members.
Cab seats
Confirmed Southeastern 375 cabs included in 6 month deadline.
Secretary’s Reports
BEMRC – website being set up
LGBTRC – Now has a journal. Would like branches to help them more as have been discriminated against
RMS – Trying to get better state pension. Raffle big success and will be having one this year. Tickets will be sent out in the journal, 50p each.
WRC – Toilet improvements very popular. Southern company council are helping and working with WRC. Currently helping member with IVF treatment and ensuring she gets all her entitlements. Met with other WRC from around the world recently, UK and ASLEF have by far the best working conditions. Will be entering fun run to raise money for women’s cancer charity.
Any other Business
Comments on union tie required.
PROPOSED DESIGNS FOR A DISTRICT 1 TIE
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