I'm a LDC rep for my depot (ASLEF).....We have a good sort of relationship with my company.....Most problems are sorted out at local level and you will be surprised what we can achieve for drivers, so yes it's worth joining. Anyone say it's an expensive diary are not worth the time of day, and if that's the case, why don'y they leave!!!
You can join RMT, and you could find that some depots could be a majority of RMT with drivers....There are depots out there.
You can join who you like, but if the majority will be ASLEF for drivers......If you need representation in the driving grade, then preferably you will need an ASLEF rep, as if your in the RMT, the person representing you from RMT maybe be a rep that maybe in the role of station staff, and may not know a drivers conditions.
I'm not sure on the price scale, but the scale is what your current earning are, so a trainee driver would pay a lot less than a qualified.
I'm not sure what the Southern is like now, but in the 80/90's they were quite militant and you will find most are ASLEF......Though the railway has changed over the last 5 years massively, so not sure whats it's like now.
And who are Unison...lol
I hope I make sense, and welcome to the driving grade.
I'm about to start as a trainee train driver, i have been seriously considering joining a Union.
Can someone please explain why it's a good idea and how much does it cost ?
Sorry i really no nothing about unions so any info is helpful.
Because if you **** up, you will be out the door.....At the end of the day, your a number and with no union representation they can just easily get rid of you.....
Cost.....you will pay a lot less than a qualified driver, but you will need to look into that yourself.....I pay £34:08 which is the max, every 4 weeks