Severance roll-out

[secretsquirels]

Rail industry voluntary severance scheme set for rapid roll-out

UK: The first details of the Special Voluntary Severance Scheme that will be offered to railway employees have been outlined as the Department for Transport pushes forward with a widespread reduction in staff numbers across all parts of the rail sector.

www.railwaygazette.com

Anyone witnessed a scheme open at their TOC?

Customer facing or middle management roles first on the block?

 

[LowLevel]

Rail industry voluntary severance scheme set for rapid roll-out

UK: The first details of the Special Voluntary Severance Scheme that will be offered to railway employees have been outlined as the Department for Transport pushes forward with a widespread reduction in staff numbers across all parts of the rail sector.

www.railwaygazette.com

Anyone witnessed a scheme open at their TOC?

Customer facing or middle management roles first on the block?

There are rumours that operational traincrew won't be eligible due to a general shortage of drivers and guards. Otherwise each application gets taken on it's merits, apparently.

We've had an email from HR basically saying "more details to follow". Network Rail on the other hand have got the ball rolling in some areas of their business with management grades.

They've already started playing in some areas with a recruitment freeze - a station local to me has numerous unfilled vacancies and they've steadily moved to having most trains self dispatch there.

 

[secretsquirels]

So if rumours are to be believed, traincrew are exempt; if you read the Williams review, the want catering and cleaning in-house as opposed to third party, which would suggest as a whole those areas aren’t set for massive culls.

All of the talk is about reducing “duplication”, so are we talking control, hr, finance, management?

 

[Efini92]

The only train crew that will get it are the ones that are always off sick.

 

[The exile]

So if rumours are to be believed, traincrew are exempt; if you read the Williams review, the want catering and cleaning in-house as opposed to third party,

While we’re at it, can customer service help lines be brought not only “ in house” but “ into area”?

 

[the sniper]

It'll be interesting to see how many jump at it. Terms are seemingly quite inferior to those in PTR&R?

 

[DarloRich]

Perhaps waiting for the details to be published instead of speculating might be an idea

 

[43066]

It'll be interesting to see how many jump at it. Terms are seemingly quite inferior to those in PTR&R?

As you’re train crew, you’ve got no chance!

 

[LowLevel]

Perhaps waiting for the details to be published instead of speculating might be an idea

The scheme rules have been published, I've got a PDF file with them in. They might not have been formally distributed yet but they're certainly out there

 

[bramling]

There are rumours that operational traincrew won't be eligible due to a general shortage of drivers and guards. Otherwise each application gets taken on it's merits, apparently.

We've had an email from HR basically saying "more details to follow". Network Rail on the other hand have got the ball rolling in some areas of their business with management grades.

They've already started playing in some areas with a recruitment freeze - a station local to me has numerous unfilled vacancies and they've steadily moved to having most trains self dispatch there.

Must admit I can’t claim to be massively surprised at this. Just taking my local station staff numbers have become a bit bloated over the last decade, mainly with gate line staff, yet it’s still a lottery whether the booking office will be open. This compares rather differently to the 1990s when the station would generally have just two staff on duty at most times.

Being brutally honest, this heavy staff presence doesn’t really contribute much to the average journey experience, especially when they aren’t able to do much during disruption.

 

[choochoochoo]

Being brutally honest, this heavy staff presence doesn’t really contribute much to the average journey experience, especially when they aren’t able to do much during disruption.

And they are powerless at doing any real kind of revenue protection these days. Hard core fare evaders know they can't be stopped/touched by them !!

 

[High Dyke]

Been unveiled to Network Rail staff, but only to certain staff - and not frontline maintenance or operations (yet). However, management communication on the matter has led to some confusion amongst staff, and raised questions for recently recruited signallers about their future.

 

[Exscrew]

Been unveiled to Network Rail staff, but only to certain staff - and not frontline maintenance or operations (yet). However, management communication on the matter has led to some confusion amongst staff, and raised questions for recently recruited signallers about their future.

What questions have been raised regarding recently recruited signallers ?

 

[High Dyke]

What questions have been raised regarding recently recruited signallers ?

Personally I've had questions about job security from those just starting their railway career, trying to get on the property ladder etc. Equally from those that would leave, given the opportunity, but not on the terms of this proposal.

 

[ggbrf]

Personally I've had questions about job security from those just starting their railway career, trying to get on the property ladder etc. Equally from those that would leave, given the opportunity, but not on the terms of this proposal.

What questions?

 

[Horizon22]

My understanding is TOCs are awaiting details of VSS, but that it is coming imminently.

 

[skyhigh]

My understanding is TOCs are awaiting details of VSS, but that it is coming imminently.

From what I've heard it'll come soon and it'll be over quickly. If you're interested in taking it, it's worth considering now how much you'll want to get to take voluntary redundancy as you won't have much time to think when it comes out.

 

[Horizon22]

From what I've heard it'll come soon and it'll be over quickly. If you're interested in taking it, it's worth considering now how much you'll want to get to take voluntary redundancy as you won't have much time to think when it comes out.

Early September seems to be the consensus. And I'm far too young for that!

 

[Watershed]

The details have already been published, it's just a question of thrashing out who is eligible and the exact way it'll work.

And if the TOCs have an ounce of common sense, they won't let their traincrew situation get even worse than it already is at most TOCs.

 

[Crazyb]

Some of the Avanti drivers are holding out on their pensions to see what the RIRG comes up with....Though train crews are quite safe, the pax numbers have come down, and on rural route's, you could possibly have voluntary redundancies, if the service has reduced.

To be honest, if any of us oldies where offered a package, you would see a massive queue.

 

[LowLevel]

Some of the Avanti drivers are holding out on their pensions to see what the RIRG comes up with....Though train crews are quite safe, the pax numbers have come down, and on rural route's, you could possibly have voluntary redundancies, if the service has reduced.

To be honest, if any of us oldies where offered a package, you would see a massive queue.

Our rural routes have the most passengers I've been used plenty of local and regional trains over the last week or two and they've been generally well used.

 

[dk1]

One of my managers laughed at me when I mentioned it. Said he was licking his lips at the prospect but being a driver I was too valuable a commodity so didn’t have a hope in hell.

 

[BluePenguin]

One of my managers laughed at me when I mentioned it. Said he was licking his lips at the prospect but being a driver I was too valuable a commodity so didn’t have a hope in hell.

Licking his lips at what? At least you are safe from the chop then. Good to know your company values you

 

[dk1]

Licking his lips at what? At least you are safe from the chop then. Good to know your company values you

Not if you can take that & the pension. It’s a win win. Remember it’s voluntary.

 

[Qwerty133]

Must admit I can’t claim to be massively surprised at this. Just taking my local station staff numbers have become a bit bloated over the last decade, mainly with gate line staff, yet it’s still a lottery whether the booking office will be open. This compares rather differently to the 1990s when the station would generally have just two staff on duty at most times.

Being brutally honest, this heavy staff presence doesn’t really contribute much to the average journey experience, especially when they aren’t able to do much during disruption.

Probably another example of where incompetent middle management have allowed too many 'flexible working requests' amongst the staff at a station* meaning they have more staff than they know what to do with in the middle of the day Tuesday-Thursday but don't have enough staff to provide the advertised service during early mornings, evenings and weekends.
* Which is absolutely not the fault of individual staff members whose hours have been adapted through the use of such requests.

 

[Efini92]

Not if you can take that & the pension. It’s a win win. Remember it’s voluntary.

It’s unlikely any drivers will get it. If you don’t have a poor sickness record then you’ve got no chance.

 

[dk1]

It’s unlikely any drivers will get it. If you don’t have a poor sickness record then you’ve got no chance.

Exactly.

 

[UTV]

If you look around most TOCs are actively recruiting drivers. WMT are actively training new drivers and still advertising for qualified and trainee drivers. They are so short, plus with a lot of retirements over the next year, I think drivers are safe. Don’t know about guards though?

 

[LowLevel]

If you look around most TOCs are actively recruiting drivers. WMT are actively training new drivers and still advertising for qualified and trainee drivers. They are so short, plus with a lot of retirements over the next year, I think drivers are safe. Don’t know about guards though?

Even if you wished to move away from guard operated trains you can't just click your fingers and do it, it's a couple of years worth of work to implement. In some areas the role of the guard may come under imminent scrutiny, in others I imagine they'll just keep doing what they do as it's not worth changing it. Either way guard recruitment is continuing everywhere.

 

[BluePenguin]

It’s unlikely any drivers will get it. If you don’t have a poor sickness record then you’ve got no chance.

Good! I am pleased to hear that drivers are likely to be kept as we need them to drive our trains. Anyone looking to retire anyway may be disappointed