Betrayal of UK rail workers’ fight against driver only operations reveals treacherous role of unions
By
Michael Barnes
4 December 2017
Following the sell-out deal signed between the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) and Southern Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) earlier this month, the private rail companies are escalating their offensive against rail workers.
The deal allows for a significant expansion of Driver Only Operation (DOO) train services on Southern, the largest private rail franchise servicing southern England from its terminuses at London Victoria and London Bridge. It lays the basis for the eventual elimination of conductors from Southern trains.
ASLEF leader Mick Whelan said the deal was not a “template” for the rest of the industry, but this is exactly what it is.
Its immediate impact has seen an escalation of the assault on rail workers across the country. Virgin Trains West Coast has threatened to impose a pay deal that members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union had previously rejected. Virgin workers voted nine to one to strike.
A consortium led by Abellio, which also runs Scotrail and Greater Anglia, has just taken over the London Midland franchise and declared it will make major changes to working conditions. It has also refused to commit to retaining the conductor on trains. Arriva Cross Country have severed all talks with rail unions on new rostering demands and deployed a scab army of managers to work trains.
On November 8 in its third attempt ASLEF delivered a blow against striking conductors, securing a ‘yes’ vote in a ballot for their deal with Southern. After having modified forms of the sell-out rejected twice previously, ASLEF made clear there would be no return to strikes and that it would…