Thoughts on the Rail Industry Going Public Again? (Impact to Staff)

[Dippa]

Hi all,

Just wanted to hear your thoughts on the re-nationalisation of the railways and what it might mean for us as drivers and staff across the board

Do you think going public again would be a positive move, particularly in terms of pay, conditions, pensions, job security or even investment in infrastructure?

Some say it could mean a return to more stable, long-term contracts and better workforce planning. Others worry it might bring tighter controls, less flexibility, or even pay restraints under government oversight.

Whats everyone’s opinion ?

 

[Leyland Bus]

Hi all,

Just wanted to hear your thoughts on the potential re-nationalisation of the railways and what it might mean for us as drivers and staff across the board

Do you think going public again would be a positive move, particularly in terms of pay, conditions, pensions, job security or even investment in infrastructure?

Some say it could mean a return to more stable, long-term contracts and better workforce planning. Others worry it might bring tighter controls, less flexibility, or even pay restraints under government oversight.

Whats everyone’s opinion ?

I think we're beyond nationalisation potentially happening, it is already well underway. Sadly, not a great deal is known about the final structure of Great British Railways but there are several threads on here discussing how it may turn out

 

[MoraleSponge]

Having worked in public/government organisations I'm not convinced that being nationalized will result in any improvement to pay or pensions whatsoever.

 

[whoosh]

Having worked in public/government organisations I'm not convinced that being nationalized will result in any improvement to pay or pensions whatsoever.

Totally agree. I think the unions are hankering after the idealism of nationalisation under a Labour government- and will be disappointed. And will be even more so whenever the Conservatives eventually get back in.

Having said that, the previous franchising system was at an end anyway.

 

[Terry844]

Having said that, the previous franchising system was at an end anyway.

Personally I don’t think privatisation is an issue as the railway was built by private companies, the problem was it was done wrong with the whole franchising system and subsidies it created an industry where there was no true accountability or reason to re-invest back into the railway. As said we can only wait to see how this new initiative turns out.

 

[Zomboid]

Public sector pay has always been rubbish. Pensions have always been good though.

 

[JonathanH]

Public sector pay has always been rubbish.

Public and private sector pay can, for different areas of the workforce, be rubbish or good. It depends on the value that the employer places on an individual's skills, what the services that individual can offer will generate in economic value, and the ability to replace that member of staff. As a population, the UK has some form of embedded economic wealth but is beholden to a global market for skills, a productivity crisis and buys a lot of imported goods, none of which helps the government to increase pay levels.

The railway has a cost issue, but also strong union representation, and the ability to withdraw labour remains a credible threat to anyone looking to suppress the pay of skilled railway workers. Not every business with a cost issue, and therefore its workers, is in that situation.

It might be noted that the early years of privatisation were actually good years for staff in the railway industry from a pay perspective, as there was competition for workers and limited appetite for making decisions that may lead to industrial action.

Pensions have always been good though.

Voting in the Reform party would soon put pay to that, although there are some structural reasons relating to unfunded pension arrangements which prevent wholesale change happening. There is a lot of press briefing against public sector pension arrangements appearing in right leaning media at the moment.

 

[Oldgaloot]

Whenever I read someone in the right wing media briefing against public sector "gold plated" pension arrangements I think they should declare their own pension arrangements just so we can all see where they're coming from. It's amazing, when you think about it, that anyone would work in the private sector when pension arrangements are so much better in the public sector. There must be some other attraction.