News Archive

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Services, not prices, should increase, says GS

29 Nov 2006Keith Norman said today that there should be increases in the number of trains rather than the cost of travelling on them. He was reacting to the news that season tickets will rise by 4.3% in January and rises of over 12% are predicted for some rail journeys. ‘If fare rises continue at this rate, people will be forced to use their cars for economy’s sake,’ he said. ‘We are in danger of building a railway for the rich,’ he said.

First Great Western cuts its Welsh services

29 Nov 2006General Secretary Keith Norman has condemned cuts by First Great Western (FGW) to cut services in Wales as ‘immoral, mean and discriminatory’. The decision to axe the 1718 from Cardiff Central - one of the best-used trains from Cardiff to Swansea - has sparked claims that First Group are only interested in London-Cardiff trains, and that it has little interest in the rest of the principality.

Railtrack profits 'show divide' says GS

27 Nov 2006Keith Norman, general secretary of train drivers’ union ASLEF, says today’s announcement that RailTrack secured pre-tax profits of £747 million in the last six months ‘marked the clear divide between government, providers - and passengers’.

One strike suspended

8 Nov 2006Following lengthy discussions at ACAS - which concluded at 23.50 last night - the following no strings offer was negotiated and is to be placed before the Executive Committee with a recommendation from Andy Reed, National Organiser; Nigel Gibson, EC Member and the full Company Council that it be put out to referendum.

Strikes set to hit Eastern England in November and December

2 Nov 2006Train drivers union ASLEF has announced that its 750 members in ‘one’ will take industrial action against the company on 10,17 and 24 November and 1,8,15 December. The dispute concerns a pay offer the union deems ‘totally unacceptable’ and marks another low point in relations between the company and its key workers.

Tendering process: ASLEF seeks staff guarantees as franchise bidding begins

2 Nov 2006The bidding process is now out for tender with proposals having to be submitted by March 2007. Final decisions will be made in summer next year. ASLEF is seeking meetings with the nominated ‘preferred bidders’ in order to secure guarantees on job security – it is adamant there will be no compulsory redundancies - and conditions of service.