Will a new MD for SWR mean an end to the strike action?

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50607416
South Western Railway's (SWR) managing director is to be replaced, in an announcement made days before a planned 27-day rail strike is due to start.

Andy Mellors had been leading talks with the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union to resolve a long-running dispute over guards on trains.

The operator said he would be moving to a new role.

He is being replaced by Mark Hopwood, the boss at Great Western Railway, who previously ran Thames Valley services.

As an SWR customer, I'm interested to see what this means - is it a change for the better (for customers / RMT / staff generally).

 

[NoMorePacers]

As an SWR customer, I'm interested to see what this means - is it a change for the better (for customers / RMT / staff generally).

Considering that (if it's true) it was the DfT who blocked the latest agreement the RMT, SWR and the ORR drew up (driver open, guard close), then I highly doubt it'll matter.

 

[Mills444]

As an SWR customer, I'm interested to see what this means - is it a change for the better (for customers / RMT / staff generally).

It will likely make no difference at all!

 

[swt_passenger]

Considering that (if it's true) it was the DfT who blocked the latest agreement the RMT, SWR and the ORR drew up (driver open, guard close), then I highly doubt it'll matter.

I doubt very much if ORR have any direct involvement in this dispute.

 

[father_jack]

Seeing as there's now a thread about the developments, I'll add this. I had PMd a moderator to have it added to the locked strike thread.

FASTLINE: Interim changes to GWR senior leadership team

GC
GWR Communications
Fri 29/11/2019
FASTLINE

Colleagues,


We have just shared a note from FirstGroup announcing a number of changes to its senior leadership team.

Those changes mean that from 6 January next year I am going to join our sister TOC South Western Railway on an interim basis, while they recruit a new Managing Director to replace Andy Mellors who is taking up a new role as Managing Director, Non-Franchised Businesses.

His role will oversee Hull Trains, Tram Operations Ltd, our new East Coast open access rail company which begins operating in late 2021, and the contact centre we are establishing in Sheffield to centralise a variety of customer service processes.

This is exciting news for Andy and I am pleased to be able to share my experience and lead the Executive team at SWR before handing over to the new MD when the recruitment concludes.

It means that Matthew Golton, Deputy MD, will take the role of Managing Director at GWR for the period that I am with SWR. We will make further announcements on the other back-fill roles in the Exec team shortly.

The changes don’t happen until January and as you’d expect, I’m keen to make sure we continue to focus on the work we still need to do to deliver the timetable changes in December and benefits for our customers. It is important that we don’t lose focus on the work that is still needed to ensure we are as ready as possible.

Matthew has been my deputy since 2017. He has a huge amount of experience, has led the negotiations for our existing franchise and has been instrumental in shaping the future of GWR so we realise the benefits of our transformation for our customers.

He has my full support and I know he will appreciate yours.

Mark Hopwood

Managing Director

 

[HLE]

Considering that (if it's true) it was the DfT who blocked the latest agreement the RMT, SWR and the ORR drew up (driver open, guard close), then I highly doubt it'll matter.

Yet again Mr Wilkinson and co. at the DFT are found to be the ones causing this whole charade across the country.

Doesn't matter who is in charge at the top of the franchises.

When will Mr Wilkinson appear before the public, IE his employers, to answer questions on the years of industrial action we've seen across the country.

Oh I'd love to meet him.

 

[Carlisle]

I doubt very much if ORR have any direct involvement in this dispute.

Indeed, I can’t think why the ORR would get involved in brokering deals in these circumstances

 

[3141]

Considering that (if it's true) it was the DfT who blocked the latest agreement the RMT, SWR and the ORR drew up (driver open, guard close), then I highly doubt it'll matter.

Is that true? Post #543 in the locked thread suggests it was First Group HQ that rejected the earlier agreement. Does anybody actually have evidence about why that didn't go through, as opposed to circulating rumours and speculation about it?

 

[fgwrich]

Seeing as there's now a thread about the developments, I'll add this. I had PMd a moderator to have it added to the locked strike thread.

As did i. Funny enough, Paul Clifton was full of praise last night for Hopwood for brokering a deal with the RMT to make the Thames Valley Services DOO - Despite the fact this was actually introduced and has largely been in operation since the Network SouthEast era. Hopwood may have managed to do deals with the RMT, But it certainly wasn't GWR who introduced DOO to the LTV.

 

[Goldfish62]

As did i. Funny enough, Paul Clifton was full of praise last night for Hopwood for brokering a deal with the RMT to make the Thames Valley Services DOO - Despite the fact this was actually introduced and has largely been in operation since the Network SouthEast era. Hopwood may have managed to do deals with the RMT, But it certainly wasn't GWR who introduced DOO to the LTV.

Yes, I read that rubbish as well.

From what I recall GWR wanted full DCO on the IETs, but after a few strikes settled for Driver open, guard close on long distance services.

There has in fact been a modest increase in DOO, because the Paddington Oxford services that were HST operated are full DOO with IETs. I know the RMT were stirring about this a while back, but then went quiet.

 

[Carlisle]

As did i. Funny enough, Paul Clifton was full of praise last night for Hopwood for brokering a deal with the RMT to make the Thames Valley Services DOO - Despite the fact this was actually introduced and has largely been in operation since the Network SouthEast era. Hopwood may have managed to do deals with the RMT, But it certainly wasn't GWR who introduced DOO to the LTV.

Absolutely, although I think he might’ve been in charge of C2C when they went DOO

 

[Goldfish62]

Absolutely, although I think he might’ve been in charge of C2C when they went DOO

I think you may be right, but DOO didn't seem to have the same level of sensitivity back then.

 

[AndyHA]

I think you may be right, but DOO didn't seem to have the same level of sensitivity back then.

The RMT were not afraid of loosing members ( and subs ) back then !

 

[Tom Quinne]

I think you may be right, but DOO didn't seem to have the same level of sensitivity back then.

RMT did a half hearted strike to try and stop DOO on C2C but obvious failed.

A guard or train captain was agreed to be used on 12 car trains until that proved to costly. RMT again balloted and went on strike, C2C removed at 12 car trains and ran a full service..dispute lost and 12 cars reintroduced.
Being a former NSE operation ASLEF agreed to DOO back under BR, much like Silverlink Metro/Overground so RMT didn’t have a leg to stand on sadly.

 

[NoMorePacers]

I suspect it helps in this case that ASLEF have basically left the RMT and SWR to it before they get involved themselves.

 

[theironroad]

As did i. Funny enough, Paul Clifton was full of praise last night for Hopwood for brokering a deal with the RMT to make the Thames Valley Services DOO - Despite the fact this was actually introduced and has largely been in operation since the Network SouthEast era. Hopwood may have managed to do deals with the RMT, But it certainly wasn't GWR who introduced DOO to the LTV.

I can't quite figure if Paul Clifton has a bad memory, is totally naive or pushing an agenda.

He was claiming on Twitter that the strikes on GWR before the introduction of the Hitachi trains only involved buffet staff, conveniently forgetting that guards/TMs were also striking over the potential doo/dco method of working.

 

[Carlisle]

I suspect it helps in this case that ASLEF have basically left the RMT and SWR to it before they get involved themselves.

Drivers on here have previously claimed it was ASLEF threatening to ballot that ultimately led to the scrapping of GWRs DCO proposals a few years ago .

 

[Helvellyn]

So where is their MD for Hull Trains off to? Louise Cheeseman if I recall correctly.

Moving Hopwood to SWR doesn't exactly spell confidence in the SWR Board if nobody is able to step up to cover Mellors. Very much feels like they want a steady hand on the tiller for 2020.

 

[daveshah]

So where is their MD for Hull Trains off to? Louise Cheeseman if I recall correctly.

Sounds like Andy Mellors will be in a newly created position above her in the company structure.

With effect from January 6, the current Managing Director of the South Western Railway franchise, Andy Mellors, will take up a newly-established role of Managing Director, Non-Franchised Businesses. He will oversee open access operator Hull Trains, Tram Operations Ltd, which runs Transport for London’s Croydon Tramlink network, and First’s new East Coast open access business which is due to begin operating from late 2021, as well as the new contact centre that FirstGroup is establishing in Sheffield to centralise its customer service processes. Hull Trains Managing Director Louise Cheeseman her counterpart at Tram Operations Ltd Jackie Townsend will report to Mellors.

 

[fgwrich]

Sounds like Andy Mellors will be in a newly created position above her in the company structure.

Is anyone else getting shades of 2007 First Group here, when a certain Ms Alison Forster, then MD of the ever unpopular and newly re-launched First Great Western was also politely shunted off to another newly created role deep within the Group?

I wonder if, through the South Western Alliance, this move could bring two former First Group masters together again in the form of Hopwood working with (albeit indirectly) Andrew Haines? They seemed to turn FGW around from a rock bottom franchise into one of the most highly regarded and converted.

 

[Class 170101]

I wonder if, through the South Western Alliance, this move could bring two former First Group masters together again in the form of Hopwood working with (albeit indirectly) Andrew Haines? They seemed to turn FGW around from a rock bottom franchise into one of the most highly regarded and converted.

They don't talk to each other on Great Western metals already? I'm sure they do.

 

[theironroad]

So where is their MD for Hull Trains off to? Louise Cheeseman if I recall correctly.

Moving Hopwood to SWR doesn't exactly spell confidence in the SWR Board if nobody is able to step up to cover Mellors. Very much feels like they want a steady hand on the tiller for 2020.

Not sure how steady a course the ship will sail, as the drivers last pay review was due on 1 April 2019 and is well overdue, and now in unprecedented lateness territory.

The rumour is that it is supposed to be a multi year deal including the dreaded doors issue and other changes to terms and conditions.

IF it doesn't go smoothly and the waters become slightly too turbulent, at the moment IF drivers withdrew their willingness to do voluntary(non-contractual) overtime on their days off ( rest day working) then I doubt their would be many more trains running than during the guards strike , as SWR are very reliant on rest day working at the moment as there are large outflows of drivers, especially in the London area.

IF there was a breakdown in talks and industrial relations and drivers went to industrial action then the timetable would be decimated, however afaik that is not on the horizon.

 

[Bigfoot]

Given that there is guaranteed overtime for those who want it and that that overtime alone is not enough to run the service without drivers working their non guaranteed days should they want to as well I would suggest that work to rule and no overtime would cripple the service quite impressively. The company could find itself in a difficult place if the carrot to the drivers isn't large enough. We wait with baited breath.

 

[Helvellyn]

Could be that Hopwood is being brought in to try and head off any worsening of the situation. As has been said, if the relationship with the Drivers goes sour as well then First/MTR could be in really big trouble.

 

[Joe Paxton]

Could be that Hopwood is being brought in to try and head off any worsening of the situation. As has been said, if the relationship with the Drivers goes sour as well then First/MTR could be in really big trouble.

It's a reactive move from First to try and pacify their partner MTR, who were threatening to bring in the Hong Kong Police... or the Triads... or both...

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

As an SWR customer, I'm interested to see what this means - is it a change for the better (for customers / RMT / staff generally).

Not sure how steady a course the ship will sail, as the drivers last pay review was due on 1 April 2019 and is well overdue, and now in unprecedented lateness territory.

The rumour is that it is supposed to be a multi year deal including the dreaded doors issue and other changes to terms and conditions.

IF it doesn't go smoothly and the waters become slightly too turbulent, at the moment IF drivers withdrew their willingness to do voluntary(non-contractual) overtime on their days off ( rest day working) then I doubt their would be many more trains running than during the guards strike , as SWR are very reliant on rest day working at the moment as there are large outflows of drivers, especially in the London area.

IF there was a breakdown in talks and industrial relations and drivers went to industrial action then the timetable would be decimated, however afaik that is not on the horizon.

I know this is off topic but what will this mean for GWR? Personally I feel Mark Hopwood has done a marvellous job despite GWR suffering badly in 2018.
Hopefully his replacement will do just as well !

 

[pdeaves]

I know this is off topic but what will this mean for GWR? Personally I feel Mark Hopwood has done a marvellous job despite GWR suffering badly in 2018.
Hopefully his replacement will do just as well !

His replacement is the current deputy MD.

 

[FGW_DID]

I know this is off topic but what will this mean for GWR? Personally I feel Mark Hopwood has done a marvellous job despite GWR suffering badly in 2018.
Hopefully his replacement will do just as well !

it’s only an interim move, GWR’s deputy MD will be running the show whilst MH is over at SWR

 

[theironroad]

it’s only an interim move, GWR’s deputy MD will be running the show whilst MH is over at SWR

Considering it is on!y an interim appointment, I do wonder why mellors is moving. Has he threatened to quit or do first just want someone new, whoever that is, in post as the new year starts?

Is Hopwood only interim until the drivers deal is sorted out and then whatever the outcome of method of working is handed over to a new MD?

Who knows?

Edit: spelling correction

 

[pdeaves]

Considering it is on!y an interim appointment, I do wonder why mellors is moving. Has he threatened to quit or do first just want someone new, whoever that is, in post as the new year starts?

Is Hopwood only interim until the drivers deal is sorted out and then whatever the outcome of method of working is handed over to a new MD?

Who knows?

The GWR MD running SWR is an interim arrangement until a full appointment is made. Other appointments to fill gaps left behind are thus interim until everyone GWR-side goes back to where they were (spelling corrected in theironroad's post)