The Ticket Collector

GNER staff reject to issue online tickets.

The GNER problem continues to carry on. TSSA balloted for action and on a 70% turnout (145 people balloted), 83% (82) voted for action short of strike and 91% (92) voted for strike action.

TSSA has issued the following breif on the 8th November telling staff as of the 10th November to refuse to issue any tickets booked online and refering them to that stupid machine which is always broken.

Any questions regarding web sales are to be refered to GNER management. Refuse to handle any material promoting online sales. Refuse to update the passenger charter boards (those boards which have the figures about how crap the train company is doing and if you will get a 5% season ticket discount). Refuse to order change or stock. And Refuse to issue any parking tickets
The Ticket Collector fully supports the GNER staff in their actions and if any GNER management think they can screw around with the staff then full industrial action could happen as a result and it wont just be the TSSA union this time either.
Copy of TSSA memo to GNER staff.

GNER Dispute - Ticket Migration
Further to the recent circulars regarding the above, I have indicated to management our willingness to meet to discuss the issues that separate us but management continue to press ahead with their plans and at the same time refuse to hold meaningful dialogue with your representatives.

In the recent ballot the members gave overwhelming support for industrial action both short of strike action and up to and including strikes with the aim of forcing management back around the negotiating table.
The only reaction from management has been to hold meetings to discuss how they can undermine any action. The Executive Committee has therefore sanctioned industrial action short of strike against GNER to bring about a change to their current stance.

On this basis I have advised the company that our members within the travel centres, employed as travel centre consultants and travel centre team coaches, shall be participating in Industrial Action from the start of the first shift on Friday 10th November until further notice. At this stage this action does not include the staff at Wakefield Station

TSSA members within the grades identified above should refuse to undertake the following:
1. At present any questions regarding ticket sales by fast ticket machines or web sales are dealt with by travel centre staff. You should refuse to deal with all of these enquiries. Instead refer them to GNER management.
2. At the end of a shift travel centre cash up and fill in the required paper work. You should make the relevant information available to your manager to complete the paperwork.
3. Refuse to handle any leaflets promoting ticket sales through any other system other than counter sales including posters, leaflets or handouts and promotion material for any GNER sale’s drive.
4. Refuse to complete any updates to the passenger charter board.
5. Refuse to order any stock or change.
6. Refuse to issue parking tickets

I strongly advise that if you are not a member of the grade groups affected you should carry out your normal duties and you should not volunteer to work extended working hours arising directly or in consequence of the dispute. Members are advised not to agree to any duties that could not be regarded as part of their job description and/or have not in the past been undertaken by them in their current post.

It is very strongly stressed that in the event that Management seek the agreement of, or instruct, staff with the appropriate background, to undertake duties normally performed by our members involved in industrial action that the circumstances should be reported immediately to the TSSA. This advice applies to circumstances whether or not the individual’s judgement is that they are competent to undertake the duties in question.

I am aware that many of our members are growing increasingly angry at the management’s stance over this issue.

There have been a number of requests to move straight to strike action. I believe any action should be to put pressure on the management to hold meaningful negotiations with you, but they are well aware further action, as well as strike action, remains an option open to us. Management seems willing to allow the pressures on staff to grow to an unacceptable level, as they push ahead with their plans regardless of the consequences.

The ballot results were a clear message that the travel centre staff are not willing to be treated any longer in such a cavalier attitude. It is time to turn that message into action. I hope that all members will continue to show the same determination that they have had to date. We have not balloted our members lightly but it is time your employer treated you with the respect and dignity you deserve.

‘one’ Railway Strike Called Off.

Just to let you all know that the strike has now been called off pending a new offer to ASLEF.

Will let you know on updates.

Mobile Phones on Trains

I know this gets on everyones nerves most, if not, all of the time. I was traveling on a Train out of Kings Cross today and it started almost as soon as the train departed.
“yeah yeah I know. I have submitted a Draft demand to bruce in the Plant department” or the person sitting next to me “Well im not back in the office until Tuesday but if James wants to defend it, then thats fine by me. Make sure he’s being shadowed though.”

Is it the fact that most office staff seem to do more work on the Train then actually in the place where they are ment to it.

LEAVE THE WORK AT WORK DONT BRING IT ON THE TRAIN AND ANNOY EVERY ONE ELSE.

I actually like the Virmin Trains idea of blocking all Mobile phone signals (except police radio signals) by using a special window in their trains. Ah such bliss, Banned mobiles on the whole train.

‘one’ railway to strike on Fridays

Drivers in the ASLEF union working for ‘one’ railway have proposed Industrial Action for forthcoming Fridays, commencing on Friday 10 November through to Friday 15 December 2006 inclusive.

Further information in respect of the effect on train services operated by ‘one’ will be issued as soon as it is available, and the moment is not available.

Question to Tall Vehicle drivers.

With yet another bridge bash happening today on the line, this has made me wonder a few questions.

Okay so why is it that you still try and force your vehicle underneath a railway bridge? You know your vechicle is too tall, yet you think that the bridge will automaticly grow in size when you go underneath it. Oh yeah screw the other railway users that will get delays because of your incompetent driving, or the fact that the railway tracks above could get misplaced causing a derailment.

Do you see those black/yellow markings? Yes that meens its a low bridge, funny that isnt it! Oh and what about that red triangle sign with a height measurement in it?
That means if your vehicle is above or close to those measurements it is NOT GOING TO FIT THROUGH so dont bother attempting it OKAY!

But we all know they dont apply to you do they, because your special arnt you. Thats why you continue to go through the same bridge time in, time out and still get stuck everytime.

Travelling between London, Gatwick and Brighton this Christmas?

Dont bother is all I can say.

Due to Network Rail re-”doing” a major junction at Earlswood, the railway line between Redhill and Gatwick Airport will be closed from the end of service on Christmas Eve until approximately 0400 on Friday 29 December. So the line is closed for 5 days.

Quote from Network Rail “As five consecutive days are required, it is not possible to confine the work to weekends. The dates of this closure have been carefully selected to minimise disruption, since the period between Christmas and the New Year is less busy than on any other weekday in the year. This also means that the work can be carried out on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day, days on which no services would normally run.”

People are advised to allow an extra 90 mins on top of their 2 hour check in times, for the replacement bus service to make an appearence and get you to your airport or from the airport.