[A-List] UK labour movement: railway struggles

[Keaney Michael]

This appears to be a significant intervention by the "impartial" rail regulator in the ongoing pay disputes involving train drivers. A useful reminder of what Third Way-style regulation is really all about.


Union is accused of hidden agenda

IAIN WILSON
The Herald, 25 March 2002

      TOM Winsor, the rail regulator, has accused
      elements within Aslef of using the ScotRail drivers'
      dispute to achieve renationalisation.

      He also claimed the hidden agenda includes a
      return to national pay bargaining, and that the
      elements would welcome ScotRail's financial
      collapse.

      Mr Winsor has avoided public comment until now
      on the pay dispute, on the grounds that it is outwith
      his remit.

      However, he told The Herald: "Some elements
      want to bust this company (ScotRail) so that they
      can achieve renationalisation by stealth."

      Mr Winsor called for "a spirit of realism on the part
      of unions" during talks to reach a settlement after
      four one-day strikes which have cost ScotRail £1m
      in loss of revenue, and the threat of more
      stoppages stretching to May 15. 

      The drivers have come under fire for the stoppage
      on May 15 when football fans will be travelling to the
      prestigious European Champions League Final to
      be played at Hampden Park.

      Kevin Lindsay, Aslef's Scottish district secretary,
      has dismissed the claim that the membership was
      being manipulated for political ends.

      He said: "It is a nonsense to suggest ScotRail
      drivers are being used as a ploy for
      renationalisation or national pay bargaining.

      "I am surprised at such comments."

      However, Mr Winsor's view is supported by
      ScotRail insiders who suspect that some in Aslef
      hope the company will walk away from the
      franchise - leaving the government to pick up the
      pieces.

      The drivers want parity with companies in England
      - in effect, a 22% "no-strings" rise which would take
      their basic salary from £23,000 to £28,000.

      The Rail Regulator urged a compromise, for the
      sake of passengers and industry as a whole, and
      warned: "The economy of the industry is fragile . . .
      the train operating companies are not wealthy, with
      money to burn."

      ScotRail's negotiating team, including Jerry
      Farquharson, operations manager for the
      Strathclyde network, is due to return to the
      negotiating table on Monday.

      It is hoped that ScotRail, its parent group National
      Express and Aslef will be able to hammer out a
      possible solution to the pay row, which has been
      going on for three months.

      Nick Brown, acting managing director, said of
      Friday's adjourned talks: "We've had a good set,
      exploring and understanding a range of issues.

      "Some work will go on over the weekend in
      preparation for Monday."

      Mr Lindsay said: "The talks are progressing and I
      am more positive of an amicable settlement than at
      the start of negotiations."

      On Wednesday, Aslef raised hopes of a possible
      end to the dispute, after suspending two strikes
      planned for next week.

      Industrial unrest continues, however, with Aslef
      calling on Friday for three more strikes at First
      North Western over dismissals and downgradings
      in a disciplinary dispute.

      Aslef said that members from First North Western
      had voted by more than 10 to one in favour of three
      new walkouts in a long-running dispute between
      the union and bosses at the firm over the
      downgrading and dismissals of a number of its
      members.

      The 24-hour strikes will be held on three separate
      days in the week following the Easter bank holiday,
      a spokesman said.

      The union accuses First North Western - which
      runs services across Cheshire, Lancashire and
      Cumbria - of going too far and of abusing
      procedures in its disciplinary actions.

Full article at:
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/archive/25-3-19102-23-35-45.html

Michael Keaney
Mercuria Business School
Martinlaaksontie 36
01620 Vantaa
Finland

michael.keaney at mbs.fi