Yes. That’s my understanding too
So which "steam age practises" were still in place in the 1980s?
Not quite correct. The Triple Lock is resulting in an upward drift in the State Pension in real terms, due to the fact that it cherry picks the bests of three measures each year. It averages around 1% each year. The flat 2.5% element is just one factor in that, but even without that the cherry-picking of the other two measures still results in a steady upwards drift, and would itself be a bad idea. By the way, 2.5% has been used four times, since the TL was introduced just over a decade ago.
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Interesting, would like to see how it roughly works come GBR as by then a few TOCs would be part of it. And so mostly one company rather than the current many we have now, unless it will be handled region by region for the TOCs already by then part of it.
The Tories suspended the triple lock for the 2022-2023 financial year so I better chase the DWP if they paid it in the past 5 years as they owe me money.
As does everyone’s who is on higher rate tax. Just watch what happens in the October budget, I predict that higher rate tax payers (I am one but ex railway) will have their tax relief on pensions reduced to 30 rather than 40% (full) relief. That means a Driver’s take home pay will fall so the Government can put money into things like, NHS, railways etc. Gordon Brown did a pension raid back in the day by changing the tax relief for private pensions by effectively taxing dividends pensions funds received. It devastated the pension industry which, by its very nature, must be able to plan 10, 20 years forward. Changes to taxation of pensions is totally destabilising, it seriously affects people’s retirement.
The triple lock was changed that year to be a triple lock where the average earning factor was replaced by the CPI for one year only, which was already a factor in the lock. They did this because the increase was too high and artificially inflated.
Apart from a few a multi year deals, most didn’t receive a pay rise in 2019.
I think you're remembering 2018-19 pay deals that were agreed in 2019-20.
Probably not on the same terms as this though? Also London Overground and TfL Rail compete for staff on most grades with London Underground, the franchised TOCs mostly just with one another.
It's a good point, and I do cover it in the linked threads.
Elizabeth Line, London Overground, Merseyrail, Tyne & Wear Metro, Pre Metro Operations (Stourbridge Shuttle), Transport for Wales, all Open Access Operators, and all Freight Operating Companies, have all done deals.
Yes and no.
Yes your correct. Southeastern drivers have had to wait over 5 years for this deal. We will still be under 65k with London waiting added on top.
Ah dang. At least for now there's been an uplift
ASLEF is formally in dispute with Elizabeth Line with ballots for action being sent out in the coming weeks for action short of strike, or strike (this is regarding the lack of a suitable pay offer for 2024). I believe it's the first time a union at Elizabeth Line has been in dispute with the company.
Industrial action was definitely called in January and May 2023. I can't remember if it actually went ahead.
I believe that was RfL staff rather than MTR Elizabeth Line staff.
ASLEF also balloting at LU for 2024, rejecting 3.8% offer and failure to agree on assurances that changes to terms and conditions won’t be imposed.
Similar at GA, going up to £60.5k
Quite a few I'd not be surprised that sone will call it time. I know some a few drivers from 4 different TOCs who were waiting for a decent deal with Backpay. At least one of those TOCs(possibly also a second) have some trainee posts that have recently appeared.
Seems as though the latter half of 2025 is going to be a frantic time for the railway, both with franchises ending and the shortage of drivers growing bigger.
