Do "Mafias" Still Exist ?

[Mutant Lemming]

Are there still "Mafias" at underground depots and are they still run along the 'old school' lines ?

 

[DavyCrocket]

They do still exist, but some depots have moved to fixed link. Some now though wish to return.
LU are wanting to move to having more train operators in a 'pool' rather than on rosters though.

 

[Daniel]

Yes they're still quite active. One even has two, although I'm not quite sure how that'd work...

 

[Yew]

If you annoy a 'mafia' are you likely to find the cab of your train has been replaced by the cab of a 'nodding donkey?'

What does the term 'mafia' mean in this context

 

[Daniel]

What does the term 'mafia' mean in this context

Drivers on the roster can ignore their rostered duties and give them all to the mafia. The mafia man sorts out all of the duties rostered people have given him and tries to keep eevryone happy - give people who want earlies early, people who want lates lates etc. Senority means priority...

 

[12CSVT]

What does the term 'mafia' mean in this context

Isn't this a management term for anybody who has been in the job long enough to know their terms & conditions, employment rights, etc.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

If you annoy a 'mafia' are you likely to find the cab of your train has been replaced by the cab of a 'nodding donkey?'

What does the term 'mafia' mean in this context

You aren't that far from the reality of the 'old school' mafias. If you annoyed them you would be frozen out of changeovers and have to work your own turns and would find it very difficult swapping annual leave.

Management left the mafia man well alone knowing that generally it meant people got the turns they wanted and things ran smoother. The 'mafiaman's reward for fixing people's shifts was usually to do the highest paid/easiest turns.
It was expected once staff became salaried with no variation of pay for shifts that mafias would die out but it appears not.

 

[Southernrover]

Far from dying out the mafias are thriving.
Two locations I've worked at in the last 15 years have each had two mafias operating. That said they sometimes cannot accommodate their members wishes regarding changeovers due to too many staff chasing too few turns; eg nights etc.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Far from dying out the mafias are thriving.
Two locations I've worked at in the last 15 years have each had two mafias operating. That said they sometimes cannot accommodate their members wishes regarding changeovers due to too many staff chasing too few turns; eg nights etc.

Was always the sign of a bad mafia man if he let too many people on one shift into it. Without evenly balancing the numbers it just wouldn't work.

A 'good' mafiaman though could do pretty much as he pleased. I recall at a certain depot (which shall remain nameless even if it was some time ago), where the mafia man prided himself on not having been out 'on the track' for over 6 months.