http://www.standard.co.uk/news/tran...800-passengers-are-left-stranded-8819715.html
The RAIB report made chilling reading.
If GTR were genuine in their position they would have no problem whatsoever with having a similar agreement to the Ticket Examiner role on Strathclyde. The fact that they are not prepared to agree to that sort of agreement logically leads us to the conclusion that they have no interest in the longevity of the OBS role.
The business case for the OBS role doesn't make sense if you have the same number of staff earning the same money running the same number of trains. It only makes sense if you sack them or reduce their wages. Therefore we must assume that that is the goal of the process, which is why GTR will not agree to a Strathclyde-style agreement.
I think it is clear that GTR have no intention of keeping the OBS role in the medium or long term.
Pretty much spot on there.
ASLEF made an agreement in good faith, and in turned out in court that the agreement was leakier than the Titanic because of all the caveats, caveats that ASLEF agreed to to try and help the operation of the business.
There is a lesson to be learned for ASLEF here, to be sure, which is don't agree to caveats to help someone out in disruption, because they'll use it to force you to do it all the time.
The RMT have certainly understood this lesson loud and clear, which is why they're not prepared to accept Connex Charlie's mealy-mouthed assurances at face value. The man clearly and obviously cannot be trusted, as ASLEF learned the expensive way.