The 500 Club - Aslef

ASLEFPUBLiShEd By thE ASSOciAtEd SOciEty OF LOcOMOtiVE ENGiNEERS ANd FiREMENJOURNALNOVEMBER 2011Debatesat Labour4 10 about women in ASLEFDecision: our newDiscussions: Union surveyGeneral Secretary!More thanjust a union

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ASLEFPUBLiShEd By thE ASSOciAtEd SOciEty OF LOcOMOtiVE ENGiNEERS ANd FiREMENJOURNALNOVEMBER 2011Farewell, brothersand sistersthiS will be the last column i write as yourGeneral Secretary. it was no easy decisionto step down, but i did so for my familyand for the union. i made a promise to my wifechristine that i must keep, and i believed it wastime to hand over the leadership to maintain theimpetus of our union.it has been a great privilege to have been yourgeneral secretary, and i am satisfied that i leave theunion in a healthy condition and in good hands.the union is financially stable, well organised anddemocratically accountable. Mick Whelan iscapable, energetic and principled. he will serve youwell.ASLEF has been more to me than a union, or anemployer. it has been a way of life. i have bondswith it that time will never break. Our internalarguments have paled into insignificancecompared with the fraternity and loyalty that havealways been its hallmarks.the history of ASLEF is the stories of itsmembers. i first learned what comradeship andsolidarity meant at the end of a fireman’s shovel.Since then i have lived with your concerns,ambitions and challenges throughout my adult life.i have learned much over the years. i owe the uniona great deal.there are too many of you to thank individually,but the people i hold in the greatest regard are ourrank and file members who have always backedtheir union and their colleagues without hesitation.Without them, this union would not have survivedthe crisis of seven years ago. they are the backboneof ASLEF. thanks, too, to the head office staff whoare seldom seen, but always there for you.Farewell, my friends and colleagues. you willremain in my thoughts and in my heart when ileave the general secretary’s office for the last timelater this month.Good luck to you all.Keith NormanGeneral Secretary13 6News4 Mick Whelan elected ASLEF’s new GeneralSecretary 4 cable Street battle is still relevant 5 A day of hope for children with cancer 6 Blackfriars goes green 7Features Rebuilding Rail: exposing the waste anddefining the cost 9 Women in union – ASLEF survey 10 Labour offers a new approach to rail 12 Key Worker: Jon Beale: Safe journeys on therailways and sea 14 Pleural plaques ruling recognises rights ofvictims above interests of insurers 18 Ellie campaigns to bring back BR 22Regulars815 Keeping track 15 Obituaries 17 Branch News 19 Letters 20-21 Prize crossword/Legal services for members 2341122AbOUtASLEFAslef Journal published monthly by ASLEF✉ 75-77 St John Street London Ec1M 4NN ☎ 020 7324 24006 020 7490 8697 : journal@aslef.org.uk : www.aslef.org.ukASLEF JOURNAL l EDITOR Keith Norman l PRINTED BY tU ink, London Ec2A 4QS l GRAPHIC DESIGN Michael croninADVERTISING ten Alps Media, 1 New Oxford Street, high holborn, London, W.c1A. 1N.U. l ADVERTISING CONTACTS contactclaire.barber@tenalps.com tel : 020 7878 2319 MEMBER SMALL ADS contact sfrancis@aslef.org.uk or call Sarah at headquarters.the acceptance of an advert does not necessarily imply endorsement of that product or service by ASLEF. CHANGE OF ADDRESS Pleasepost your details to ASLEF, 75-77 St John Street, clerkenwell, London, Ec1M 4NN.More thanjust a union

4 News the ASLEF JOURNALMick Whelan elected ASLEF’s new General SecretaryMicK WhELAN, the organiser forASLEF’s district 6, mainly coveringthe Midlands, has been electedthe new General Secretary of theunion in a very close election.Mick, 50, received 3,683 votes,with National Organiser SimonWeller getting 3,458.Mick said, 'it is a privilege andan honour to become the leaderof this proud union. i would like torecord my thanks to all thosemembers who voted for me andto the other candidates whoacted throughout with dignityand decorum.'i would also like to thank KeithNorman for the work he has doneon behalf of our members duringhis period in office.'Mick joined the railway in hisearly 20s after quitting his first jobas a trainee bank clerk.‘i can certainly say i made theright choice there,’ he joked.Once he has settled into thehot seat, we will carry aninterview with Mick in a futureedition of the Journal.Mick Whelan will be the union’s18th general secretaryMick is the 18th ASLEF GeneralSecretary. His predecessorshave been• 1880–1885 – Joseph Brooke• 1885–1901 – Thomas G.Sunter• 1901–1914 – Albert E. Fox• 1914–1936 – John (Jack)Mick and Simon in Keith Norman’s room waiting for the ballot resultBromley• 1936–1939 – W.J.R. (Richard)Squance• 1940–1947 – William P. Allen• 1948–1956 – James Baty• 1956–1960 – Albert Hallworth• 1960–1964 – William J. Evans• 1964–1970 – Albert Griffiths• 1970–1987 – Ray Buckton• 1987–1990 – Neil Milligan• 1990–1993 – Derrick Fullick• 1993–1998 – Lew Adams• 1998–2003 – Mick Rix• 2003–2004 – Shaun Brady• 2004–2011 – Keith Norman• 2011 – today - Mick WhelanUnion recommends fouryearLondon pay dealASLEF members in LondonUnderground are being balloted ona pay offer that, if accepted, willresolve their income for the period1 April 2011 to 31 March 2015,reports EC member Terry Wilkinson.The negotiators are recommendingthat the offer be accepted. Its mainfeatures include• First Year - 1.5%• Years Two to Four - inflation (RetailPrice Index) plus 0.5% - or 2% if thatis greater.Other aspects includeNEW YEARS EVE NIGHTSAll train staff will now receive thesame payments. Previouslyvolunteers received this payment,while rostered staff did not.CAREER BREAKSTrain operators who took a careerbreak of over six months used tohave to resign. This clause, ifaccepted, will give the opportunityto 19 individuals who previouslywould not have been re-employed,to return to the grade of trainoperator. It would also protectfuture train operators who takesuch career breaks.BANK HOLIDAY WORKINGTrain operators who are booked onannual leave on Bank / PublicHolidays will now have the right tocome in to work their original timeand hours.BOXING DAYThe current dispute on Boxing Dayhas been referred to the TrainsFunctional Council to makearrangements that will cover thisyear. They are also charged withmaking a permanent agreement bynext March 2012 which will be putto a further membershipreferendum.The result of the vote on pay,which will be counted by theElectoral Reform Society, will beannounced on 9 November.tICKEt ROULEttETrain tickets are so complicated that only a small minority ofpassengers know what they are buying according to a recent surveyby consumer magazine Which? It revealed that only one percent of people asked could fully identify the main tickettypes 61% did not know advance tickets were non-refundable and 48%had no idea they had to travel on a specific train 51% did not realise off-peak tickets did not allow travel in busytimesThe Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) complainedthat the poll of 775 people was misleading because they askedpeople to identify tickets they may never have bought.bAGS FOR bOGS IN HOLLAND!The Dutch National Railways is introducing emergency plastic bagsfor passengers to urinate in as part of its first-aid provision on somecommuter trains. They are intending to introduce ‘wee bags’ oncommuter trains without toilets for use in emergencies like powerfailures.The company’s website says they are for the use of ‘anyonewithout access to traditional or sanitary facilities’. Apparently the bagis attached to a spout and filled with a powdered substance thatturns into a gel.Women passengers are said to be particularly unimpressed.

News 5NOVEMBER 2011cable Street battle is still relevantsays Nigel Gibson, executive committeemember for District 5 ...ON Sunday 2 October i took mytwo youngest children to theevents commemorating the 75thanniversary of the Battle of cableStreet in London’s East End. theproud slogan for the march andrally was ‘they did Not Pass’.this reflected the fact thatthree-quarters of a century agothe working people of the EastEnd defeated the efforts ofOswald Mosley and his Blackshirtsto drive out the Jewishcommunity by spreading fear andhatred.this year saw speakers andbanners from a whole range ofbackgrounds including localcommunity groups, theinternational Memorial Brigade,trade union and politicalorganisations. We also heard froma man named Max Levitas, nowaged 95, who was involved in the1936 Battle and went on tobecome the communist MP forStepney for 15 years after the war.A common theme expressedat the rally was that although thebattle had been won in 1936, thefight against racism and fascismcontinues. in fact fascists thrive attimes like these, when theeconomic crisis begins to impactupon the lives of working people.the extreme right uses thedeprivation and job losses tospread their vile hatred.i was reminded of this, and ofthe importance of rememberingevents like cable Street, on theday following the rally. i foundamong my emails a chain letterfrom a fellow ASLEF memberwhich attempted to portray islamand the Muslim religion in a lightthat would only serve the farright. in the past i have alwaysignored such emails, dismissingthem as puerile nonsense. But onthis occasion i felt compelled towrite back to the sender, tellingthem to remove my name fromtheir distribution list. Whilst it mayonly be a small gesture, perhapsthose individuals will think twicebefore pressing ‘send’. i wouldencourage others to let thesenders of this material know theyNigel’s sons Keir and Rohan passon the proud message thatMosley’s fascists were turnedback from the East Enddo not share these reactionaryviews rather than ignore them.in the words of one prominentspeaker on Sunday, i have more incommon with a chinese cleanerthan i do with a British banker.Nigel GibsonRAIL SHORtSThe splendid mural that is a memorial to the brave anti-fascistdemonstrators of 1936■ The Battle of Cable Street took place on Sunday 4 October1936. Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists,planned to march thousands of his supporters, clad in theirBlackshirt uniforms, through the East End of London as aprovocation to the large Jewish population of the area.■ Despite the obvious threat of violence, Stanley Baldwin’sConservative government refused to ban the march andprovided over 10,000 police, including 4,000 on horseback,to prevent it being disrupted.An estimated 300,000 anti-fascist demonstrators,including Irish labourers and dockers, turned out - and aftera day of running battles succeeded in turning back theFascists.■ Two days after these events, Mosley married DianaGuinness, one of the Mitford sisters, in the Berlin home ofNazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels, with Hitler one ofthe guests. Moseley had planned to emerge victorious fromthe East End march to impress his fascist chums. Thedemonstrators ensured the wedding champagne was ratherflat! ORR WANtS EVEN MORE OPERAtORSThe Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has begun a consultation onwhether having direct competition on the same routes wouldimprove rail efficiency. Currently there are only a handful of routeswhere the main franchisee has competition for a particular route.ORR director Cathryn Ross claims, ‘Greater on-rail competition isone means by which the challenge of making significant efficiencysavings could be addressed.’ But Keith Norman said it wasastonishing that anyone would want to further complicatefranchising, already ‘an impenetrable mass of bureaucracy andcontradiction’.The consultation will run until the end of the year. DUtCH MOVE FOR EASt ANGLIAAbellio, an offshoot of Holland's national rail company, isunderstood to be the favourite for the London-to-Norwich linefranchise. The decision will be made this month. A successful Dutchbid will re-ignite the ‘overseas buyers’ argument that flared afterthe decision to make Siemens of Germany the preferred bidder forthe Thameslink train manufacturing contract. PAID OVER DOWN UNDER?The Sydney Morning Herald complained last month about theBritish influx into the management of the Australian rail operatorMetro. ‘Senior management at Metro is now almost exclusivelymade up of British railway men despite the company beingmajority owned by Hong Kong's MTR,’ the paper says, claiming thatmany of them are earning up to triple what they would get for asimilar job in the UK.

6 ASLEF bACKING CHARItIES the ASLEF JOURNALA day of hope for children with cancerthe train of Hope steam special onSaturday 1 October was organised toraise funds for CLIC Sargent, the UK’sleading cancer charity for children andyoung people. the trip from Crewe toCarlisle and back was put together by ateam of Virgin trains drivers based atManchester, including John Young, whoreports on a very successful day ...I’d been looking forward to the trainof hope run for a long time - but theday didn’t start well. Long after thescheduled departure time, there was still nosign of the locomotive, 46115 ScotsGuardsman, or the coaches, which were due atcrewe from carnforth. the diesel locomotivehauling them had broken down a few milesshort of crewe!Fortunately the waiting passengers wereentertained by a brass band and the friendlypresence of celebrity and railway fan PeteWaterman.it was very emotional for me to see ScotsGuardsman, bearing the train of hopeheadboard, steaming down the platform,marking the culmination of 13 monthsplanning. i had to look away for fear ofshedding a tear. All credit to West coastRailways for providing the immaculate loco(which they provided free) and stock.At Preston we were joined by our bannerplane from Air Ads Ltd which followed usalong the track for 20 minutes.thanks to driver Kevin treeby and hisfireman we arrived in carlisle only 24 minuteslate, where we were met by civic dignitariesand solo piper Andrew Wheeler. then we wereoff over the hills to Settle in unexpected indiansummer sunshine with our immaculatecatering and onboard staff. We left the ScotsGuardsman at hellifield for an effortless runback to crewe on another diesel.it was a fantastic tour as you can see on ourwebsite www.trainofhope.co.uk.The ASLEF team behind the event: Gary Nutall, John Young, Jamie Chadwick and Alan MossThe Train of Hope gets ready to steam out,with it modern equivalent on the facingplatformOur fundraising target is to break £40,000.We are well on the way and there are still somevery special items available for sale or auctionon our website, including photographs of theday, an original oil painting, limited editionprints, programmes and more.Hope in the countryMany thanks to all the staff who gave theirservices free and to companies like duncanhill and the Stratford 47 Group – andespecially to Virgin trains and our partners.Let’s make it a special christmas by raisingeven more money for cLic Sargent to helpchildren and their families.John Young, Driver, ManchesterPiccadillyRAIL bIKE RIDE NEtS £1,000 FOR CANCER CHARItYOn Sunday 2 October a group of railwaymen from London Midland and Arriva trains Wales alongwith friends based in Shrewsbury took part in a charity cycle ride from Shrewsbury toMachynlleth – and in the process have raised in excess of £1,000 to support the cancer Ward ofBronglais hospital in Aberystwyth, where one of their colleagues from Arriva trains Wales atMachynlleth is currently being treated.the 7-strong team set off from Shrewsbury train station at 08:00 and completed the gruelling65-mile ride over the mountains of Mid Wales via Montgomery, caersws and talerdigg in a littleless than 4 hours.team support, London Midland train driver Wayne Massey, said, ‘i’m amazed at the generosityand support shown by the staff and families of the different rail companies both in Shropshireand on the cambrian lines. they not only donated – they also came out to cheer the cyclistsalong the route. it goes to show that rail staff are still one big family in this area.’Wayne said he was grateful to halfords of Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, and the Post Officedivision of the co-operative for their sponsorship of this event.The magnificent seven arrive in Machynlleth.Left to right they are Ian Mair, Mick Paul, KevBillington, Glen Mercer, Jim Hall, Adrian Peckand Aiden Kidson

News 7NOVEMBER 2011Blackfriars goes greenWORK has begun on what maywell be the world’s largest solarbridge, part of the newBlackfriars railway station inLondon. It is planned to installmore than 6,000 square metresof solar panels over theVictorian (1886) bridge thatcrosses the Thames by nextautumn.It is estimated that the solarpanels will provide half thestation’s energy and reduce CO2emissions by 511 tonnes peryear. In addition to solar panels,it is intended to introduce rainharvesting systems and sunpipes for natural lighting intothe development.The Blackfriars upgrade ispart of the Thameslinkprogramme.How Blackfriars Bridge with its solar panels should look in the middleof next yearEast Midlands crossing initiatives praisedEASt MidLANdS tRAiNS, in collaboration with Network Rail (NR) and the British transport Police (BtP), wonthe Safety award at this year’s National Rail Awards in relation to the work it has been doing to reduce levelcrossing risk. this has included consultation with train drivers on level crossing problems to build up a real-life pool of knowledge andideas on how to tackle the issue. collaboration with NR, BtP and the Office of Rail Regulation to develop an industry-wide understandingof level crossings and their risks. As part of this, East Midlands trains has provided drivers to take part in‘Action days’ to help educate car users and other members of the public on the safe use of level crossings. taking part in a joint trial on the Lincoln to Peterborough ‘joint line’ – a route that has 74 crossings in justover 50 miles – to gain a feel for the issues surrounding crossing misuse.this collaborative approach is now helping to influence national policy, and the industry’s national AllLevel crossing Risk Model is being reviewed – with East Midlands trains active support.‘We have worked closely with the company on this initiative and i’m pleased it has got the recognition itdeserves,’ says ASLEF’s Andy Botham who is secretary of the company council.Copper theft increases on railNETWORK RAIL says that on average there are currently six copper cablethefts a day across the country. This increase is the result of a rise in theprice of metals such as copper and lead, driven by global demandprompted by China and other booming economies.The price of copper has more than doubled since 2009 to more than£5,000 a tonne. Some estimates put the cost of copper thefts to the UKeconomy in the area of £770 million a year.Last month cable thieves working overnight stole between 200 and 300metres of overhead cables in the Broxbourne area causing severe delaysinto Liverpool Street - and causing a track side fire. The thieves climbedgantries to cut the cabling but left the lines dangling. With the power stillturned on the cable ends - and carrying 25,000 volts - caused arcing withthe tracks and created the fire.EUROPE COMPLAINS At LACK OFCHANNEL COMPEtItIONThe European Commission said lastmonth that it was taking legal actionagainst France and Britain over theirfailure to take steps to open railservices in the Channel tunnel toincreased competition.tUC tO ‘REVIEW’ ISRAELI LINKSThe TUC is calling on its affiliates to review any bilateral relations theyhave with Israeli organisations, including the Histadrut (Israeli TUC).Regulator says NR‘has work to do’THE Office of Rail Regulation (ORR)says Network Rail has ‘madeprogress’ against its efficiencytargets in 2010-11, but has morework to do to justify all of itsclaimed savings.Network Rail says it hasachieved efficiencies of 13.2%(£629m) since 2008/09, and is oncourse to meet its 23.5% target by2013/14. The regulator, however,has raised questions over theevidence for some of the efficiencyclaims, saying it feels they are reallyin the order of 11.3% (£539m).Longer hGV trailerevaluation - in spiteof consultationKEith NORMAN, ASLEF’s generalsecretary, has accused thegovernment of ‘making a mockeryof consultation’ as it announcedthat it is evaluating longer hGVtrailers, with up to a 2.05 metre (7feet) increases being considered.Keith points out that in theconsultation 41 responses were in favour ofallowing high volume semitrailers(the majority of whichwere hauliers, manufacturers,retailers or parcel/maildelivery companies) 253 responses (of which 43were trade bodies,representative groups,businesses or local authorities)were clearly opposed toallowing high volume semitrailers;and 24 responses did not state aclear preference or providedan impartial response.‘Given these results, what is thepoint of our responding toconsultations at all?’ Keithdemanded.

Whatever life throws at youASLEF will help to protect you.Free legal advice and representation on:• Personal injury at work (including assaults)• Personal injury away from work• Road traffic accident injury• Industrial disease or illness• Criminal law representation (for work-relatedmatters)Free legal advice and representation on:• Personal injury away from work• Road traffic accident injuryAs a ASLEF member you’re covered for: †• Free will writing service• 30 minutes free telephone advice for anynon-work issues such as landlord disputes,neighbourhood disputes, matrimonial andconsumer issues• Employment law accessed through your ASLEFdistrict organiserASLEF members and their families are covered for: †• Special terms for clinical negligence cases• Reduced rates for conveyancing and familymember willsFor more information call ASLEF on 0808 100 8009† Exclusions apply. Thompsons Solicitors is a trading name of Thompsons Solicitors LLPand is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Rebuilding rail 9NOVEMBER 2011Quantifiable costs ofprivatisation and fragmentationQuantifiable costs of privatisation & fragmentationFragmentation costsTOC sub-contractors’ operating marginsROSCO sub-contractors’ operating marginsLeakageDividend payments: RailtrackDividend payments: TOCsDividend payments: ROSCOsSunk costsTOTAL COSTSExcess interest payment on Network Rail debtCost of interfaces between TOCs & Network RailNetwork Rail: cost of outsourcing renewals /enhancements (& maintenance before 2003/04)Underselling ROSCOs at time of privatisationDebt write-off, liability transfer to sell Railtrack£1.2 billionAnnual£156m£290m£200m£76m£15m-£227m£207m--£11.3–11.7 billionCumulative£950mnot known£2311m£771m£176m£709m£507-1000m£2520m£1100m£2208mEU rules do not block reformEU rules do not block reformRail infrastructure must be privately owned?Train services must be by private companies?Railway infrastructure and train services mustbe run by different organisations?Trains must be leased from privatecompanies?Domestic passenger services must be opento competition?Railways must be regulated by a body that isnot the Ministry of Transport?Domestic freight services must be open tocompetition?Railways must hold assets, budgets andaccounts separate to those of the State?Rail infrastructure manager must draw upseparate accounts to train operator(s)?EU rulesnow inforceNONONONONONOYESYESYESEU rules if‘Recast’DirectiveadoptedNONONONONOYESYESYESYESEU rules iflaws followfrom 2011TransportWhitePaperNONONONOYESYESYESYESYESWhat theUK hasdecidedYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESREBUiLdiNG RAiL: EXPOSiNG thEWAStE ANd dEFiNiNG thE cOStTHE four rail unions – ASLEF, RMT, TSSA and UNITE - have joined together to commission amajor research project on the effects of privatisation on the UK rail industry. An interim reportwas unveiled last month at Labour’s annual conference and its major findings are that over £11 billion has left the industry which could have been re-invested to improve theservice the excuse that European Union rules forced the change to privatisation is simply wrong –there are no such demands that there are potential savings of over £300 million a year if franchises were taken backinto public hands as they expire removing Rolling Stock Companies (ROSCOs which lease rolling stock) from the systemcould save the taxpayer some £220 million a yearThe research is being carried out for the unions by ‘Transport for Quality of Life’ and willoffer the academic evidence to back up the union’s policy positions which call for an end tofranchising. More detailed findings will be presented over the coming months, and it isintended to make presentations of the findings to members across the country as well as topoliticians and other transport opinion formers. Shadow transport minister Maria Eagle hasalready welcomed it as ‘a valuable contribution to the debate about Labour’s future policy onrail’.The website of the organisation carrying out the research on our behalf iswww.transportforqualityoflife.comRebuilding Rail: TOCsRebuilding Rail 1: TOCs• Doesn’t need ‘big bang’ approach.• Take franchises into direct operation as expire.• Reclaim franchises from operators in breach.• Use directly operated lines to show improvement underdirect operation: lower costs; higher performance;greater passenger satisfaction.• Train operations part of ‘guiding mind’ organisation• Only consider buy out as last resort where criticalroutes offer re-integration benefits worth capturing inthe short term.Potential saving: £300+ million per yearPotential saving: £300+ million per yearRebuilding Rail Rail: 3: ROSCOs• Medium term aim to remove ROSCOs from the system.• Purchase new stock directly from other sources, as partof an industrial strategy supporting UK rail manufacture.• Negotiate lease price reductions in exchange for usageguarantees.• Regulate the ROSCO oligopoly for fair lease prices.• Create mechanism to claw back excessive profit.Potential saving: £220+ million per yearPotential saving: £220+ million per year

10 WomenIN UNIONthe ASLEF JOURNALWomen in union – ASLEFA survey and report prepared for ASLEF’s Women’sRepresentative Committee (WRC) by the LabourResearch Department has revealed that there are fourmajor areas within the union and the industry thatneed to be addressed. the WRC agreed that the surveyraised so many issues that it would not be practical totackle them all at once, but feel urgent action is neededon ...bULLYING AND HARASSMENt IN tHEWORKPLACE: A high level of our womenmembers believe they have been victims ofbullying or harassment in the last year.however the majority had not lodged formalcomplaints, fearing reprisals.HEALtH AND SAFEtY COMPLAINtS: themain health and safety complaints are aboutthe weight of equipment drivers are requiredto carry, the state of toilet facilities and theuniforms.AttItUDES tO EqUALItY: A largeproportion of the women surveyed do not feelthe union is doing all it can to push theequalities agenda within the rail industry.FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES: it is clear fromthe data that women with caringresponsibilities have a very different opinion ofthe rail industry than those who do not. theWRc wants to see the union working harderon family friendly policies such as flexibleworking.ACtION POINt ONE - bULLYING ANDHARASSMENt IN tHE WORKPLACEthe high levels of bullying and harassmentwomen perceive, but fail to report because offear of reprisals can only be alleviated bychanges to the culture in mess rooms.companies already have policies in place forASLEF women go international at ITF Londonconferencedealing with complaints but people need tohave a belief in the system and the confidenceto speak out.the committee, with the full backing of theexecutive committee, are proposing threeinitiatives developing and extending the role ofBranch Equal Opportunitiesrepresentatives which will hopefullyencourage activism from members whowould not traditionally be involved andhelp to have more diversity among ASLEFreps. encouraging all drivers to sign up toequality statements on safety days. thishas been introduced successfully in SouthWest trains after work from the black andethnic members representatives and thecompany council. this is likely to bedebated at the union’s 2012 annualconference (AAd). Using the Journal to open up debatebetween the WRc and the membership.the idea is that the women’s committeecould write a column on a contentiousissue and invite members to respond.ACtION POINt tWO - HEALtH ANDSAFEtY COMPLAINtScomplaints over the standard of toilet facilitiesFormer driver Celine Roberts spends hourscarefully creating layouts for enthusiastshave gone on for years – but despite unioncampaigns, little seems to have improved.therefore the WRc is proposing that company councils seek to gain release fora female member to carry out a visit toeach of the facilities within the area. theywould report back to the company councilto raise the issues with management. itwould also encourage a female laymember to take up an active post in theunion. members are asked to ‘Report a Loo’ bysending photographs anonymously to theJournal of the worst facilities theyencountered. we specifically contact female freightdrivers to speak to them about theirfacilities - which are notoriously worsethan those of the tOcs.But it is not only toilet facilities that poseproblems for our women members. there is noneed in this age of palmtop computers or“I’D LIKE tO SEE tHEUNION PUSHING MOREFOR FLExIbLE ROStERSFOR PARENtS OFSMALL CHILDREN”personal data assistants (PdAs) to makewomen struggle with heavy books. Somecompanies already provide PdAs – so it can bedone. the use of different bags, such as thoseused by air-line pilots, could also be examined.ACtION POINt tHREE - FAMILYFRIENDLY POLICIESthe union has tried to look at the issuesaround securing flexible working agreementsand formed a working group earlier this year.this is not, of course, confined to the railindustry and the government has beenconsulting on the issue generally. it is said tobe considering changing the law so that allemployees at least have the right to apply.the union obviously does not determinewho the employer will recruit, but the WRcbelieves that it will remain difficult to bringwomen into the industry unless workingpractices become more family friendly. themajority of women will have had - or will have- children and they need flexibility as they areusually primary carers.there is scope to invite employing FOcsand tOcs to comment on the survey,especially in areas such as facilities,

11NOVEMBER 2011 WomenIN UNIONsurveyThe trainblazers: the first seven women onthe footplate in 1981. Karen Harrison, CelineRocchia, Ann Winter, Sarah Wainwright, TinaWhybrow, Sandra Baldwin and Tricia Rocheequipment, uniform and recruitment, and toraise it in other trade union forums like thetUc.A SUMMARY OF tHE REPORtthe union asked the Labour Researchdepartment to analyse a questionnaire surveycarried out by ASLEF among its womenmembers. A total of 701 questionnaires weresent out, of which 185 were completed andreturned. From the responses the LRdconcluded the main reason women apply to bedrivers is as a natural progression from aprevious role in the rail industry. Pay is animportant, but not decisive, factor. theterms and conditions are not a great draw. More than one in five of the ASLEF womenmembers who responded felt they havebeen bullied or harassed in the last year,most likely because of their sex. thePhilippa combines being a full-time traindriver with being an Olympic athlete – butshe is still smiling!proportion is higher for those withchildcare or other caring responsibilities.Few lodge formal complaints. More than three-quarters of women are‘quite’ or ‘strongly’ satisfied with their payand conditions. Satisfaction with pay isparticularly widespread among those whohave been employed in the railwayindustry for fewer than five years. Job security also receives positivesatisfaction ratings, especially amongthose who have been in the industry for20-30 years. there are high levels of dissatisfaction forthe suitability of facilities such as messrooms and toilets. Many women are dissatisfied with theamount of equipment they are required totransport, the more so the older the agegroup, and the uniform they are requiredto wear. While a slim majority are satisfied that therailway industry is inclusive and diverse,this view is considerably weaker for those“IN FREIGHt tHEtOILEt FACILItIESAREN’t bAD. tHEYARE SIMPLYNON-ExIStENt!”with childcare/caring responsibilities. A majority of respondents think womenare encouraged to be active within ASLEF,but there is a quite widespread feeling thatthe union feels like a ‘boy’s club’. Only two in five women are satisfied thatthe union is doing everything possible topush the equalities agenda in the railindustry. the most common topic suggested for theunion to improve on was to push for morefamily-friendly working conditions. therewere also calls for improved toilet facilitiesand efforts to encourage more womeninto the industry. To see the final report, please go towww.aslef.org.uk/womensequality‘I SAW It AS A CHALLENGE,ESPECIALLY AS tHERE WEREFEW WOMEN IN tHE ROLE.bESIDES, A MALE DRIVER tOLDME I WOULDN’t PASS tHE tESt. IAPPLIED tO SHOW HIM ICOULD, IF I’M HONESt!‘ ’WE COULD DO WItH A SHAKE-UP WItH MORE WOMEN INREP JObS AND MOREDISCUSSION AbOUt WOMEN’SISSUES. tHERE NEEDs tO bEMORE WOMEN WORKINGON tHE RAILWAY.’I DON’t WANt tO bE tREAtEDDIFFERENtLY. POSItIVEDISCRIMINAtION ISDEtRIMENtAL tO WOMENIN tHE END.’’’‘‘‘WE HAVE A LOt OF RHEtORICFROM COMPANIES AbOUtEqUALItY bUt NO REAL EFFORttO bRING A MORE DIVERSEWORKFORCE. bEHAVIOURNEEDS tO CHANGE!PERHAPS WE COULDENCOURAGE NEW MEMbERStO MEEtINGS bY HAVING AbUDDY/MENtORING SYStEM.ASLEF memberJacqueline Campbellsupported the ‘Reclaimthe Night’ march thathighlights women’ssafetyTorepwwme

12 Labour PartyCONFERENCE the ASLEF JOURNALLabour offers a newthe Labour Party Conference this year was surprisingly vibrant, with a sense of a newbeginning after the rather subdued atmosphere of final years of the blair and browngovernments. Ed Miliband has called for a major review of Labour’s policies after theelection defeat and a fresh look at the direction for rail is high up the agenda. ASLEFplayed its part in helping to formulate innovative new policies which we believe willbenefit not only our own members, but also passengers and Labour if they areadopted. We organised a fringe meeting to discuss the implications of the McNultyreport and joined other rail unions in launching a new research document exposing thefollies of the botched and discredited franchise system …Shadow transport minister Maria Eagle withDistrict Organiser Colin Smith who arrangedand chaired the meetingMCNULtY: RIGHt DIAGNOSIS, WRONGPRESCRIPtIONShadow transport minister Maria Eagle signalledfive major differences she has with the previousLabour government’s approach to transport atan ASLEF fringe meeting discussing the McNultyReport on the future of rail.Maria said it was ‘absurd’ that passengers shouldshoulder increases to rail costs as it would ‘pricepeople off the railways’. insisted there must be no inflation-bustingfares while transport companies have licences toprint money – rejecting Andrew Adonis’ ‘RPi-plus’policy opposed track maintenance and signallingentering the profit arena will oppose cuts to front line staff in ticketoffices: and she confirmed that she is ‘not convinced thatfranchising is the right system’.the fact that over 100 people attended thefringe was, said ASLEF official colin Smith, 'proofthat investment in transport not only improvesthe lives of working people – it can win electionsfor Labour’.tHE DIRtY DOZEN!Mark dowd OBE, chair of the MerseysidePassenger transport Authority, insisted that, ‘itwill be up to working people to do somethingabout the damage this government is doing torail. the Rail delivery Group set up to implementthe McNulty recommendations is made up of‘twelve Unwise Men’ – senior figures in thefranchises that have milked the system, takenthe money and helped to worsen the service.’he said the tories had no respect or concernfor transport, citing the fact that his authority’sgrant had been slashed from £34m to £11m thisyear.Mark insists that, ‘Without forcing a change ofpolicy, station closures are ‘inevitable’’.Enticing people to come to the ASLEF fringe –and yes, those blue skies are Liverpool a fewdays before October!Manuel Cortes insisted ‘We need to turn angerinto action!PASSENGERS ARE ALLIES IN tHIS FIGHttSSA Assistant General Secretary Manuel corteshad five clear messages for the meeting the next Labour government needs to havethe courage that the last one lacked – toimplement the 2004 conference decision to takefranchises back into public hands as they end it is ‘ridiculous’ for McNulty to sayfragmentation is wrong – and then proposemore of it through vertical integration the McNulty proposal to have 675 stationswithout staff would ‘create magnets for pettycrime and vandalism’ and station staff cutswould make train travel impossible for theelderly and disabled. Staff cuts will mean higher fares – becausemachines will not offer you the cheapest option the passengers are with us – we need to turntheir anger into action!The fringe drew a large crowd to Liverpool’sContemporary Urban Centre, thanks to thegood offices of ASLEF organiser Colin Smith

Labour 13NOVEMBER 2011 PartyCONFERENCEapproach to railThe ASLEF delegation to the 2011 Labour PartyConference in Liverpool, with ASLEF membersCollette Gibson and Rebekah Peterson whowere representing other organisations. Left toright are Finn Brennan, Simon Weller, ToshMcDonald and Kevin Beresford‘Reduce dividends and profits – not staff costs!’is Tosh’s formulaStAFF HAVE bEEN PRODUCtIVE –INVEStORS HAVE NOtASLEF’s vice-President tosh Mcdonald insistedthat our members have been hugely productive– but the system of franchising has held back theservice.‘We are not the inefficient ones,’ toshdeclared. ‘Our members spend 48% more time inthe cab now than they did ten years ago. Wehave reduced slack time by 39%. We have madehuge contributions to efficiency.‘however, we will never concede change thataffects passenger safety.’tosh insisted that vertical integration – trainoperators taking over track – was a real safetyconcern. ‘Private maintenance ended when 35people died,’ he told the meeting. But he wasalso deeply concerned for freight. ‘you don’thave to be a genius to realise that if they ownthe track, train operators will favour their rollingstock over freight, do you?’And his message on franchising echoed otherspeakers: ‘Get rid of the ‘musical chairs’ approachto rail. Stop the waste – and stop the rot.’AROUND tHE CONFERENCE:ED WANtS COOPERAtION IN tHEWORKPLACEin his Leader’s speech, Ed Miliband called for ‘aneconomy built on co-operation not conflict inthe workplace.’ he said ‘the most importantfuture for the UK’s trade unions’ was to raiseproductivity and ‘work together, helping firms tocompete.’ he conceded that it had been right forthe thatcher government to have changed therules on the closed shop and to have insisted onballots before strikes took place.in a well-received speech, he said the essenceof his leadership was ‘Ambition’. the ambition tochange our country, he said was why Labour wasfounded. ‘it’s in our souls. it’s the only point indoing the jobs we do,’ he told delegates.MUtUAL MODEL bESt FOR RAILSimon Weller was one of the panel at a meetingorganised by the cooperative Party to discusshow to develop an accountable railway. it wasrather unfortunately entitled ‘Keeping thepassenger tied to rail’ which Simon said, as adriver, drew up a most unwelcome image forhim!‘When the railway was privatised the toriessaid it was to introduce competition. So thewhole exercise was unnecessary folly from dayone, because rail already had competition: fromair, road and sea.’the meeting’s central purpose was toexamine how the public could become involvedin their railways. Andrew Gwynne, who spoke atthe ASLEF conference earlier this year, said thatthe idea of a mutual option would be seriouslyconsidered in Labour’s policy review. ‘EdMiliband has said there are no idealogicalbarriers,’ he told the meeting, as he concededthat the last Labour government had been tootimid in its attitude towards franchising.COLOMbIAN SOLIDARItYUnion vice-president tosh Mcdonald spoke at ameeting on colombia – the most dangerouscountry in the world to be a trade unionist.the main speaker was colombiancongressman ivan cepeda, a high profilecolombian politician and human rightscampaigner. his father, a Senator and editor ofcolombia’s only national opposition newspaper‘Voz’ was murdered in 1994. ‘Regrettably, this isby no means an unusual story in my country,’ hesaid. the colombian state accepted its role in thekilling earlier this year.the civil conflict in colombia has killed anestimated 250,000 people in the last 25 years. itis this horrendous toll that led to theestablishment of colombians for Peace and theNational Victims’ Movement (MOVicE). Figuresfor those forcibly disappeared in the sameperiod vary between 30-50,000 and over 5million people have been internally displaced.State forces and paramilitaries have beenresponsible for the majority of these abuses.‘We are proud to have Justice For colombiaworking out of our union’s head office building,’said tosh. ‘ASLEF may be small in number, butour trade union values stretch across the globe.’WHEN FRANCHISES COME UPin her conference speech, shadow Labourminister Maria Eagle said that when franchisesare let by this government they must not reward companies that walk away fromfranchises to avoid payments to government –and then expect to bid again or carry on makingmoney somewhere else of the network. not reward companies who widen peak timeto charge the highest prices for more of the day not reward companies that average out thefare cap, so commuters pay way over the oddsfor a ticket.Simon Weller told the Labour Party conference that we should be reluctant to use the ‘n-word’ –nationalisation – but urged us all to work for a railway that has service and not profit at its core.‘We want a railway we can be proud of, one which serves the public well and rewards its stafffairly. A railway that passengers feel they own and can influence. Workers and passengers alikeare tired of seeing money that should be reinvested into our industry used to line the pockets ofrich investors,’ he said as he pledged, ‘ASLEF will play its part in producing a rational detailedtemplate for the railway of the future.’ Photo: Andrew Wiard

14 Key Worker the ASLEF JOURNALJon Beale: Safe journeyson the railways and seaWhen Jon beale isn’t wearing the uniform of the GreatWestern trains he runs out of Parr in Cornwall, he donsthe livery of a Coastguard. Since moving to the area in1997, he has played a part as a volunteer for thecoastal emergency service. Chris Proctor went to meethim …JON hails from a small village, buteven as a ten-year old he developed afascination with trains. From tinyBerkeley in the cotswolds he journeyed tocheltenham railway station at weekends witha school friend to see the trains.‘i was hooked,’ he says. ‘My tolerant parentstook me on trips - often using Kellogg’s cornFlakes tokens - to Paignton and places. theyenjoyed it - but i was awestruck!’After school, Jon worked in a hardboardfactory near his cotswold home. ‘it was achoice in our valley of that or the pork piefactory! All our family worked for one or theother.‘it wasn’t the job for me, but this was themid-80s when there were three millionunemployed, so you had to make sure you hadanother job to go to.’Jon sent rail applications all over thecountry, usually hearing nothing. But thenBescot invited him for an interview and hesoon started as a traction trainee. ‘i couldn’thave been happier!’the move to a bigger town was eased byhaving an uncle who put him up for a fewweeks while he found his way. it was, he says,exactly what he’d wanted.FORtUNE SMILEShe started as a second man in the summer of1987, later transferring to Gloucester to get hisdriver’s job. it was there he met wife irene, whois now secretary of the union’s St Blazeybranch. She was a guard then, but she toojoined the footplate, moving to Newport whenfreight work dropped off.‘A few of my Bescot mates had moved toParr. When i visited i thought it looked anattractive option. then i bumped into KeithNorman who told me there was a vacancycoming up, so i went for it.‘irene also applied and by a stroke of goodfortune four weeks later both our requestswere agreed. She was the first woman freightdriver in cornwall.‘there is a myth that to be accepted hereyou had to come over with the Normaninvaders, but actually there are very few locallyraised drivers at our depot. Anyway, irene isfrom Glasgow - so she soon puts people intheir place!‘We took to living here right away. i’m not acity boy and it’s away from the rat race. Andthen there’s the work content. it has itsmoments, like running down branch lines inthe summer.’GEttING INVOLVED IN CORNWALLAlthough both Jon and irene wanted to live ina relaxed place, they are not the sort to hangaround doing nothing. So while he“WE GO OUt IN ALLWINDS AND WEAtHER -tHE WINDIER tHEbEttER”volunteered for the coastguards, she workswith the sea cadets. ‘it gets you active in thecommunity,’ he says.Jon is always on call for the coastguards asit is an emergency service, but he got used tothis from an early age as his father was astation officer for the local fire station. ‘ithought about following his footsteps, but thecoastguard was an obvious choice because ifyou live near the sea, you want to be part of it.’Jon has always loved sailing, although thescope was limited when he was young – justthe Severn River and the water parks. But afterthey arrived in cornwall, irene and heinvestigated the local yacht club.John Beale doing his bit to keep the sea safe‘i began working on the safety boats theyneed to hold races. these are the first boatsout – marking the course – and the last onesback, because you follow to make sure no oneis in trouble. i do that whenever i can fit itaround shifts.‘We go out in all winds and weather. thewindier the better. you get out at sea andyou’re bobbing around on a boat and youhaven’t got a worry in the world.’i am rather unconvinced by this. i hint thatbeing in a small boat on a big sea mightactually be very dangerous. in fact, isn’t thatexactly why coastguards are so important? Jonsmiles as if i am a little demented and tells meabout the service.A CHANGED ROLE FOR HMCthe coastguard was set up 200 years ago tocombat smuggling, but now her Majesty’scoastguard is a government agency, which,like rail, comes under the department fortransport.The well-stocked Coastguard vehicle ispacked with stretchers, pegs, rope and otherrescue equipment

Key Worker 15NOVEMBER 2011Coastguard Jon with the Charlestown’s idyllicharbour in the backgroundit is the emergency service that coordinatessearch and rescue operations along ourcoastline. this can mean anything from asailboarder who can’t make it to shore, awalker fallen down a cliff or someone injuredon a ship. When a radio signal calling forassistance is picked up, or someone on theland sees a vessel or a person in distress, their999 call is relayed to the coastguards and analert goes out to a team of people trained toknow how to deal with a coastal emergency.this usually involves coordinating the activitiesof other professionals - which could includethe military, the lifeboat service (RNLi),commercial tugs, a helicopter or any othershipping in the area. ‘We are the eyes and earsof the service on the scene,’ Jon says. ‘Weenable the right decision to be taken aboutwhat help is required.’coastguards have now branched out intoother activities like producing safetyguidelines for recreational boat users andadvice about personal survival at sea.ANSWERING tHE SHOUtthere used to be visual coastguard huts (theold coastguard stations) scattered all aroundthe coast, but now these are run on avoluntary basis. ‘they often refer things to usthey have seen that could be a person or boatin distress,’ Jon says.Just to prove he is a train driver, Jon poses forthe camera outside St Austell station!in between the tragedies, calls often turnout to be nothing - but like all safety issues, it isthe other time that counts. ‘When Boscastlewas flooded in 2004 we went to relieve thelocal team. We combed the coast looking forseven missing people – who, it emerged, hadspent the night in a community centre!’As a full-time train driver, Jon can’t always‘answer the shout’ as he calls it. ‘But we alwayshave someone who will turn out. We need aminimum of three to operate the equipment.We’re a mixed bunch - a tax inspector, a blokewith his own company, one who works in apatisserie, a clay pit worker and someone whodelivers meat. We meet twice a month fortraining, learning new equipment or justmaking sure we’re not rusty about some of theoperations.’Jon and irene are part of the place now -even if they didn’t come over with theNormans. their home overlooks the sea, andthey are both based at Parr. ‘But what thefuture holds is uncertain in the present railway.you can only plan as far as the next franchise.’Our final words demonstrate 46-year oldJon’s positive outlook. As he drops me at thestation he tells me, ‘i’m getting a staircasedelivered from italy today. you assemble ityourself.‘i’ve never done anything like that before.But i think there are instructions with it.’Jon shows where the visual lookout stationstill stands, although these days it is staffedby volunteersJon at the wheel of the CoastguardLandrover in Charlestown, CornwallWould you be prepared to befeatured in future editions ofthis column, or know someonewho would be a good subject?If you do, please let us know atthe ASLEF Journal, 75-77 StJohn Street, London EC1M 4NNor journal@aslef.org.ukthe November 1911 ASLEF LocomotiveJournal included a report fromPontypool about one of the union’s firstmembers, and another article discussedMPs salaries …PONtYPOOL: A MAN OFHONOURBrother Sidney Evans was one ofthe six who, with Mr E Evans, putdown their first shillings to formour Society. At Griffiths town,Pontypool Road on August 15thhe was asked to retire from theA HUNDRED YEARS OF UNIONfootplate, he having reached hisage limit with 45 years’ service tohis credit.On Friday August 17th, he wasgoing to work, not knowing thestrike had taken place. Being metby one of our old comrades andtold the Situation he said, “youknow my circumstances, i amleaving on Wednesday next.” hewas then told, “We will notpersuade you either way”. Be itever remembered of his nobility ofcharacter that rather than violatethe principles of the Union he hadso helped to form and faithfullyadhered to for 31 years he replied,“ then i will go back home”.MPs ExPENSES AN ISSUE!in the General Gossip of “NotaBene” we uncovered this gem …“the public refusal on the partof certain Members of Parliamentto accept their salaries is not socreditable as it seems. it savourstoo much of self-advertisementand the “dog in the manger”Principle. these particularMembers can well afford todispense with the money, butthere are many others who arenot so fortunately placed. At anyrate, any member who wished toforego his stipend can easily doso, without drawing publicattention to his act of so-calledabnegation”. Extracts selected andedited by Dave bennett

The TThe 500 ClubNOThe 500 ClubNOW OPEN OPENJOINJOIN TODATODAODAY! ODAY!Join the RMS’s new and exciting fundraising schemePay a £4 stake each month and be entered into a monthlydraw to be in with a chance of winning a cash prize!the ASLEF website…... all you need at theclick of a buttonOf the total monies collected 50% will help fund RMSactivities and half will go back to club members as prizes.£The more membersin the club,the bigger the prize!The 500 Club is open to individuals, branches anddistrict councils.If you would like to join the club please contact Lee James atHead Office at ljames@aslef.org.uk .uk or on 020 7324 2400.www.aslef.org.uktake part in the monthly pollview the up to date asleF rule bookget up to date with the latest asleF newsfind out the current elections taking placeadd your views in the members only discussion forumread ec, district council and committee minuteslearn about legal, financial and travel offersNew featureyou can now leaveyour comments onasleF newsarticles!Driving Change across theFirst Great Western NetworkQualified Train Drivers£40,823 per annum plus competitive benefits I Based London, Paddington and ReadingIf you are a Qualified Train Driver there has never been a more exciting time to join First Great Western. With theannouncement of the electrification of the Great Western Main Line and the Intercity Express Programme (IEP),our Qualified Train Drivers will be at the forefront of exciting changes across the network.This is a great opportunity to make a key contribution in a business committed to constant progress. If you’re aQualified Train Driver with personal drive and commitment to excellent customer service, safety and your owndevelopment, we’d like to hear from you.As well as receiving a competitive salary, you’ll also benefit from a final salary pension scheme, generous holidayallowance and free travel for you and your family on First Great Western Services.For more information and to apply please visit www.firstgroupcareers.comClosing date Sunday 27th November 2011.

Obituaries 17NOVEMBER 2011RICHARD ‘DOt’ COttON – POPULAR MAN OF MANY INtEREStSIT IS with great sadness that I report thedeath of retired member Richard ‘Dot’Cotton.Richard joined London Underground in1974 as a guard on the Northern Line, laterbecoming a driver based at East Finchley,where he remained until his retirement in2009. Richard loved his job.Dot had been a member of ASLEF since1992 and attended branch meetings whenwork permitted, but he was a ‘lates’ driver,so wasn’t able to attend as often as hewould have liked.He was a quiet man with many interestssuch as astronomy, visiting Jersey, trainsand boats and was an avid collector of‘stuff’, (stamps, coins, cardboard boxes,pens, string, you name it, he collected it!).He was a big fan of Johnny Cash and one ofhis favourite songs ‘Orange BlossomExpress’ was played at his funeral.He didn’t enjoy the best of health andwas medically retired in 2009, but thatdidn’t stop him showing up in the messroom for a chat with his old mates and ifthere was drink-up on - he was there!When his sister rang and said Dot hadbeen admitted to hospital and wasn’texpected to last the week, his ward at theWhittington hospital was inundated withNorthern Line drivers, past and present.Even though in obvious pain, he managedto retain his sense of humour and I’m glad Igot the chance to see him and saygoodbye. Dot held on for a further monthor so, finally losing his battle on 22August.I knew Dot for about 10 years and in allthat time I can honestly say I never heardhim say a bad word against anyone, he wasa truly lovely, genuine man and will besorely missed by all his friends andcolleagues on the Northern Line.Deborah Reay, branch Secretary,Northern Line/NorthtHOMAS (‘HARRY’)GRIEVE NO bEttERPERSONit iS with great sadness that i aminforming you of the death of myfather, thomas henry Grieve(harry), who passed away on the29 August aged 87.dad started work as a 15-yearoldtelegraph lad at the halewoodoffice before moving to BrunswickSheds in 1941, during the time ofthe German blitz on Liverpool'sdock area.he was soon firing the variousG.c. classes on the main line andspent many years as a fireman.dad had commented thatRobinson 04s (nicknamed ‘tinys’)were the finest goods engine hehad ever encountered. he wenton to drive a variety of steamtONY NUNN NEVERFORGOttENSAdLy it has just come to light that i have to reportthe passing of Retired Brother tony (‘toe – Joe’)Nunn, who affectionately resembled a JapaneseEmperor: and hence his nick-name. he was one ofthose depot characters you would never forget as heoften tried to flog you a policy of some description.he was always loyal to ASLEF during those headydays of disputes with BR in the 1970/80s.tony started at Plaistow on the steam, then hemigrated to Ripple Lane and then on to tilburyRiverside. here, while he drove trains on the London,tilbury and Southend Railway (LtS) he also became alocal councillor in thurrock for many years.When Riverside closed tony went back to RippleLane and with another closure he headed toStratford 30A to see out his working days. he retiredto the tranquillity of Wainfleet St Mary inLincolnshire. his son Kevin still carries the familymantle as a driver at tilbury Freightliner.Cliff blackwell, Reporter, tilbury branchengines over many years beforemoving across to drive diesel andelectric trains out of Liverpool.dad retired as a train driver in thelate 1980s and kept in touch withthe great friends he had made inhis time on the railway.his funeral service took placeat Springwood crematorium inLiverpool on the 7 September andmany of his former railwaycolleagues joined family andfriends at the LMS club in Garstonto remember a very special man.it was a pleasure to meet them.dad was the most genuine andcaring person you would everwish to meet and we have oftenheard the term ‘Gentle Giant’ usedto describe him. i am sureeveryone who ever met himwould agree with that sentiment.he leaves behind Jean, hisbeloved wife of 60 years,daughters helen and Jeanette,myself, 7 grandchildren and onegreat-grand-daughter.dad lived for his wife andfamily and we could not havewished to have a better person inour lives - he will never beforgotten.Phil Grieve, SonLOSS OF tWO At NEWtONHEAtHit iS with sadness that i report the loss of ‘Big John’tomlinson at the age of 79. John was big in stature,but also as a man. his friendly mild attitude to lifeand to people made him a popular man of thefootplate. Oldham born John grew up with railwaysin his blood and in 1949 his footplate career startedat his local shed in Lees, until closure brought hismove to Newton heath.When he retired due to ill-health, John moved tocarnforth, close to Morecambe Bay. Being near theWest coast Main Line and ‘Steamtown’ at carnforth,was ideal for John and Muriel until illness brought hislife to a close. Our thoughts are with his family andfriends at this sad time.We have also heard of the passing of Ernie Stokesat the age of 75. Ernie started his footplate career in1951 and we offer sincere condolences to his familyand friends.J. M. black, Retired Members Section,Newton HeathtHREE tILbURYDRIVERS MOURNEDSADLY I have to report the veryrecent passing of three retiredtrain drivers from the closedTilbury Riverside Electric andMixed Traction Depot.Bro Jack Pickard, who diedaged 91, started his career atGrantham where he became aRoyal Fireman before migratingsouth to Tilbury Riverside forhis driver’s check after the 1955strike. He remained at Tilburyuntil his retirement. Jack was awell-liked and respected driveramongst his colleagues, andwas always a good loyal ASLEFmember.Bro Jack Ellis was aged 84when he died. He was on thesteam at Tilbury beforeelectrification in the 1960’swhence he became a Motormanon the sparks, plying his craftbetween Fenchurch Street andShoeburyness until he retired.He was a lovely bloke whoenjoyed a good laugh and joke,something which is sadlymissing in the industry today.Bro Bob Risk was about 74when he died. After his NationalService Bob went back on thesteam at Tilbury and when thedepot closed he migrated toRipple Lane. Some years laterhe returned to Tilbury Riversideon the sparks where he stayeduntil he retired. Yet anothergood lad who enjoyed a goodlaugh.They will all be sadly missedand our condolences go out toall their families and friends.Cliff blackwell, branchReporter, tilbury

18 Legalthe ASLEF JOURNALPleural plaques ruling recognises rightsof victims above interests of insurersthE Supreme court has dismissed anappeal brought by four UK insurerswho challenged the lawfulness of anAct of the Scottish Parliament (the damages(Asbestos-related conditions) (Scotland) Act2009).in unanimously rejecting the insurers’appeal the Supreme court delivered a ringingendorsement of the holyrood legislationwhich preserves the right of people withpleural plaques in Scotland to sue forcompensation. the court accepted thatScottish pleural plaques sufferers were directlyaffected by the insurers’ legal challenge andVictoria Phillips, Head of theEmployment Rights at our legaladvisors thompsons, reports on lastmonth’s Supreme Court decision onpleural plaques compensation inScotland. Now the Westminstergovernment is alone is refusing toconcede that people whose lungs havebeen damaged by asbestos are entitledto compensation …had a right to object. the legislation was saidto serve a legitimate social policy aim and wasa proportionate means of doing so. theinsurers were wrong to complain that the Actwas an unreasonable, irrational and arbitraryexercise of legislative authority.WEStMINStER GOVERNMENt‘ISOLAtED’the ruling will also enable a similar Act inNorthern ireland to come into force. thepurpose of both Acts was to reverse thedecision of the house of Lords in Rothwell vchemical & insulating co Ltd [2007] UKhL 29.in that case it was decided that pleural plaquesdid not constitute injury which could give riseto a claim for damages.it means that ASLEF members in Scotlandand Northern ireland who have beendiagnosed with pleural plaques will be able topursue claims for compensation against theemployers who negligently exposed them. Butmembers in England and Wales remain unableto do so.this decision recognises the democraticright of the Scottish Parliament to legislate forthe benefit of its citizens.in Scotland the rights of people withpleural plaques are more important than thecommercial interests of insurers, which is howit ought to be. the Northern ireland Assemblyhas approved a Bill in similar terms to Scotland.Meanwhile nothing has changed for pleuralplaques sufferers in England and Wales. thefailure of the Westminster government to actleaves it isolated. Only the discreditedarguments of insurers and politicians couldattempt to justify why people in Scotland andNorthern ireland whose lungs have beendamaged by asbestos are entitled tocompensation while those suffering from thesame condition in England & Wales are leftwithout a remedy.ObituariesGREG PINNINGFUNERAL INMANILAIt with regret that I have toreport the passing of retireddriver Greg Pinning at the youngage of 61. Greg passed awaypeacefully after a long strugglewith illness at the QuirrinoMemorial Medical Centre inManila in the Philippines. Hisfuneral was held in Manila.Greg was one of the last ‘FenTigers' commencing hisfootplate career at March in1966. Subsequently he obtaineda drivers position at St Pancras,then, when Thameslinkwithdrew their work, moved toBedford, where he became apopular colleague. It was whilehe was at Bedford that hecontracted his illness whichresulted in him having to beaccommodated on shed dutiesuntil he achieved his goal, whichwas to retire with his wife Denia,to their new home in thePhilippines.He was a very dependabledriver who could always berelied upon to carry his duties toa very high standard, assistingeveryone to get away early by'putting' their trains away forthem at the end of a shift. Hisstamp collection was one of hishobbies and he was a lover ofplaying the ‘bandit’ in the messroom. A big man in all senses ofthe word, he will be sorelymissed.His son Chris followed Gregonto the footplate and iscurrently a driver at Bedford.Our thoughts go out to hiswife Denia, daughter Christine,son Chris, grandchildren and allhis family at this difficult and sadtime.bill Davies, RetiredMembers Section, bedfordtONY FIFIELD AMAN WItHOUtENEMIESIt is with great sadness that Ihave to write to inform you thatBrother Tony Fifield of theCroydon Tram/Light Rail No 1branch passed away in the earlyhours of Thursday 6 October.Tony was a bus driver beforehe joined First Tram Operationsas a Tram Driver in March 2000.In October that year he becamea Revenue Protection Inspector,before returning to driving inMarch 2007.A great football fan he could -and would! – talk at great lengthon the subject. Highly respected,I don’t believe there was oneperson who disliked Tony.He was diagnosed with throatcancer during the summer butthen passed away suddenly frompneumonia. He remainedcheerful to the end. He was just60 years old.We would like to extend ourcondolences to his partnerShirley and to his family andfriends.Robert Sambridge,Secretary, CtLR branch No 1

19NOVEMBER 2011 Branch NewsUpcoming events SWANSEA HIGH StREEtThe annual retired section Xmas social will take place onWednesday 14 December at the Cwmfelin Social Club,Approach Road, Manselton, SA5 9NR from 13:00 - 18:00.All welcome.The Saltley stalwarts on show!Long service recognisedat Saltleythe October meeting of theSaltley branch was pleased towelcome a good number ofcolleagues who were receivingASLEF service badges, and onemember – Malcolm Kirk - whowas retiring. We were fortunate tohave as our guest dave calfe, theEc member for our district, tomake the presentations.the people in the group shotall received recognition badgesfrom dave. they are, from left toright on the top row M. Akram (30year badge), tim Mudd (25 years),craig thompson (25 years), JimBall (45 years), Simon Black (20years), Jason Allen (20 years) andPhil Read (25 years). in the frontrow we have Malcolm Kirk (withhis retirement certificate), davecalf (Ec member), helen Landry(10 years), Bryan Andrews(10years) and Steve Beesley (10years).Malcolm Kirk is presented with acrystal glass by EC member DaveCalfe. We’ll miss him!congratulations to them all!We wish Malcolm all the best inhis retirement. Sadly he had toretire before he reached the ageof 65 on the grounds of health. hewas a driver for over 40 years.Adrian Harnett, Secretary,Saltley branchGarston may become LiverpoolGarston had their latest reunion on Saturday 24th September at theLMS institute Burnsall Street, Garston, Liverpool.the venue is well known to former members of the depot as it wasused as a meeting point after duty for many of the staff.Sadly a lot of ex-Garston staff did not turn up, although it was widelyadvertised.the night however, was a good entertaining evening and the peoplewho turned up had an enjoyable night.A few suggestions were made regarding future reunions. Onesuggestion is that rather than have a Garston reunion, we could make ita Liverpool reunion. this seems to be a generally acceptable idea assadly Garston staff are diminishing in numbers. A lot of the staff wentonto other depots throughout Liverpool, Warrington, crewe andMerseyrail, so i'll put the idea forward to see what can be done for nextyear.thanks to those who attended and made the night enjoyable.Chris todd GAtESHEAD 52A/NERSWAGATESHEAD 52A/NERSWA’s annual reunion will be held inthe Gateshead Railway Club Wellington Street Gatesheadon 17 November from 13:00. Buffet supplied. Old and newmembers welcome. HItHER GREEN REUNIONThe 2011 Hither Green Reunion will take place on 4November from 18:00 in the Beacon Road, SE13 Railwayand Social Club. Everyone connected with the depot, pastand present, is welcome.Congratulationsto BernieShergolds onhis retirementSalisbury train driver BernieShergolds retired on the 8October 2011 after nearly 50 yearson the Railway. Bernie started hiscareer with British Rail as a steamengine cleaner back in 1961,passing out as fireman in 1962. in1979 Bernie became a mainlinedriver, driving diesel locos such asthe 33, 47, and his favourite the50. he also drove the hampshireunits.Next, Bernie worked for SouthWest trains, driving 159, 158 and170s, on the main line. he did thisSaltley thanks to Steve JamesThe August meeting of the Saltleybranch was saddened to hear thatSteve James was standing down asthe Cross Country Health andSafety representative as he isretiring from the company at theend of the year after a period of illhealth.We would like to publicly thankSteve for all the outstanding workhe has done since he took up thejob in 1999. This included a stint asChair of the Safety AdvisoryCommittee. Steve worked tirelesslyand with great enthusiasm toBernie: 50 not out!for many years.Bernie's last position was as adepot driver with Salisbury traincare.congratulations - and a happyRetirement from everyone atSalisbury.ensure the health and safety of hiswork mates, all of whom wish him aspeedy recovery and hope to seehim soon at a branch meeting.Steve will be a hard act to followbut we are fortunate in havingJason Allen ready to step into hisshoes. Welcome – and good luck,Jason!And once again, many thanks toSteve for many years of selflessactivity on behalf of his fellowdrivers.Adrian Harnett, Secretary,Saltley branch

20 Letters the ASLEF JOURNALthese are the pages where you talk to us. We welcome yourletters, either by mail to the ASLEF Journal at 75-77 St JohnStreet London, EC1M 4NN or by email to journal@aslef.org.ukbecause of our space constraints, please try to keep yourcontributions as short as you can. this month we continue ourStAR LEttER feature. the immensely lucky winnerwill pocket a rich range of ASLEF regalia!thanks from Mick …i am a proud man as i write to express my verysincere thanks to everyone who offered metheir support, their backing and their vote inthe recent GS election.i am fully aware that to become the leaderof this union is a great responsibility. i can onlypromise you that i will do my best to repay thetrust you have shown in me.in the years to come i will guarantee youone thing: i will always remember that thegeneral secretary is not the union. you are theunion. that is what makes us strong.i would finally like to pay tribute to the wayNick Whitehead and Simon Weller conductedthemselves during the election, and to thankKeith Norman for the extraordinary efforts hemade on behalf of the membership.Mick Whelan, General Secretary elect… and from SimonI WOULD like to thank everyone whohelped and supported me in the recentGeneral Secretary election. Whilst I’mnaturally disappointed I’d like to give Mickmy sincere congratulations and I lookforward to working with him to take ASLEFforward on to the next chapter of ourhistory.My disappointment is tempered byknowing the honour I have of serving asASLEF’s National Organiser. I will continueto give the commitment and energy to thatrole that you deserve.Individuals come and go. ASLEFremains.Simon Weller, National OrganiserASLEF subs are goodvalue!through the medium of the Journal, i wouldlike to express my gratitude and appreciationof the excellent representational skills recentlyafforded to me by district 6 Organiser MickWhelan.After i had been involved in an unfortunatework-place situation, Mick Whelan representedme at two hearings and an appeal against asanction we considered to be draconian.despite being goaded by management andnot furnished with the correct paperwork,POTS, KETTLES AND OLYMPIC GAMESI SAW an article in the EveningStandard last month about theagreement the union has reached onthe London Olympics. The headline was‘Tube drivers get £1,200 to save theGames’. It was the usual dig at LondonUnderground staff for allegedly‘holding the capital to ransom’. A ToryMP said, ‘Tube drivers are not badlypaid and they should not need extramoney just to do their job’.Then again, I thought, I’ve never redesignateda second home, rented outa home, over claimed for council tax ona second home, subsidised propertydevelopment, evaded or avoided tax,claimed expenses while living in aMick retained his composure and against allthe odds he managed, at the appeal stage, toget my ‘sentence’ reduced by using reasonedstructured argument.i was most impressed. Our union subs aregood value as far as i’m concerned!John Greene, LLC rep, DerbyGoodbye tSSA!After reading the general secretary’scolumn in the September Journal, I am yetagain amazed at the disrespect the RMTdisplays towards ASLEF. The TSSA generalsecretary Gerry Doherty must be amazinglyshort-sighted if he believes he isnegotiating a merger with the RMT. He isactually discussing the absorption of hisunion into the RMT, with the identity of theTSSA disappearing into the abyss!Steve Hill, Driver, Newton HeathStaff travel angerAs a new tOc entrant (i have 15 years’ service) iam extremely disappointed that the staff travelcampaign appears to have been put on theback burner. i am now finding it increasinglydifficult to justify my continuing membershipof the union.grace-and-favour home, furnishedother homes, exploited the ‘no receipt’rule or over claimed for food.MPs should look long and hardbefore making comments like this. Theyare elected to serve the people whovoted for them – not to servethemselves.We all have bills and mortgages topay and a bit of extra money alwayshelps. But we don’t have the luxury ofclaiming – or fiddling – expenses.Working people get on with what wehave and rely on our union to negotiateon our behalf.Darren Powers, Canvey Island,Essexthe contributions saved could go towardsmy train travel costs particularly in retirement,as i will not retain any travel facilities, unlikeour European rail colleagues who continue toenjoy travel concessions on our national railnetwork after only 11 years’ service.J. Owen, Driver, three bridgesbad day for Kevini’ve just suffered a ‘disruption’ to my journey –by hoards of screaming girls at my local busstop! Even worse, i got home to find that thereare suggestions of scrapping free travel for tFLfamilies and flatmates.i would remind those people thatpensioners like myself signed up for ‘free travelon and off duty’.Kevin Christie, RetiredDriver/Operatorthanks for drama supportI would like to thank ASLEF in Scotland, andespecially Kevin Lindsay, for the union’sgenerous donation of £100 toward ourstaging of the ‘Ragged TrouseredPhilanthropist’ at Loganlea Miners’ Welfareas part of our “Better Way Campaign”.The play was delivered superbly and

Letters 21NOVEMBER 2011clearly identifies that nothing has changedexcept the date since Robert Tressell wrotethe original novel, and it serves to attractmore activists to our campaign.Jim Swan, Secretary, West Lothiantrade Union CouncilCapitalism is out of dateAfter the political party conferences, all ofwhich quite rightly concentrated on thenational and global economic crisis, i find itastounding that the blindingly obvious hasbeen ignored by the lot of them.Abroad, we have the iMF warning of aglobal depression, the Eurozone in meltdownand demonstrations against finance capitalistsfrom Wall Street to the Acropolis. in Britain,while consumer spending is plummeting andgrowth is estimated at a pathetic level, ourgovernment thinks the answer is to have VAtat 20% and throw thousands of public sectorworkers onto the dole.yet none of the big three parties will admitthat it is the core system of capitalism that isfailing. Any economic model based on greedwill eventually consume itself, and if thecondem government thinks that creatingunemployment, cutting public expenditure,and attacking pensions is the solution, theyare wrong. they are actually making thingsmuch worse. the latest move to create moremoney for the banks through more'quantative easing' is a sign of desperation.the current economic system doesn't needtinkering with or propped up by everincreasing public financial support. it needsreplacing.John Metcalfe, Driver, CarlisleI don’t want to saveLabour!Here we go again. Keith Norman’s editorialin the October 2011 Journal once againpanders to the view that the Conservativesare the 'baddies' whereas Labour can do nowrong. It says that 'in the Major years' thegovernment sold the industry and causedthe current huge fares. Is John Major stillthe Conservative Leader? No. And why can’twe welcome the fact that the currentSecretary of State for Transport is unhappywith the situation? That should be a goodthing, provided he does something aboutit.It was a Labour Government thatpromised to re-nationalise the railways -then refused to do so when it had thechance. I also believe Gordon Brown soldthe country’s gold at a bargain price - andraided our pensions. Labour are no more‘on our side' than any other party.We should remember that if the railwayshadn't been privatised, and fares were notat their current levels, then train driverswould not be earning the salaries we do.I am not a Conservative supporter but Iwas annoyed later in the Journal to see anarticle by Gregor Gall calling on Labour to‘save itself'. Why? They don't want to beseen associating with the unions, they onlywant our financial backing. Mr Gall,however, says that while the unionsrepresent three million members, only onemillion pay the political levy. So two-thirdshave opted out, and I’m sure there areothers – like me! – who are thinking ofdoing the same.Why pour money into an oppositionparty that has no influence on governmentdecisions? The unions should use their cashto lobby whichever party is in government -and therefore influence the people whomake decisions, rather than make emptypromises.Andrew Milner, xC Driver, LeedsCLASSIFIED ADVERtISEMENtSto advertise in the ASLEF Journal please contact Sarah Francis on 020 7324 2400 or sfrancis@aslef.org.ukwanTeD:- an original 'vinyl' CoPy of 'green all Theway' by Dave goulDer. I am able to copy the tracks & return therecord or am willing to purchase at a reasonable price. Please telephoneReg on 07702396921.aSlef Train Driver collects ASLEF/railway badges, signs, shedplates, signalling items, etc. Phone Mark on 01562 746537 or (mobile)07789301551one CarDiff branCh baDge, which areindividualy numbered priced at £3 each, One ASLEFtie pin, priced at £2 each. One ASLEF tie clip/slidepriced at £3 each. The price of P&P is £2 per orderup to 5 items. My contact details are, Edwin Cox, 2Skenfrith Mews, Celtic Horizons, Newport, NP10 8HF, 07811761656.Driver ColleCTS br33056 SerieS TrainCrew /Driver ManualS. Contact Lee on 07919127972 or e-maillippydavies@blueyonder.co.ukfaverShaM branCh (077) hasfinally launched its 25th AnniversaryASLEF/NUM badge. They cost £10each including P&P. A few FavershamBranch Centenary badges remainavailable at £5 each including P&P. To order please contact the BranchSecretary, Steve Gurdler, 18 Hunters Way West, Chatham, Kent ME57HL. steve.gurdler@aslefonline.co.uk or 07941 110473fooTball PrograMMeS and fooTballbaDgeS bought by collector. Please call or email withany pre-1965 programmes or other early footballmemorabilia. Martin Scott 07718 131622 Email:scottfootball@hotmail.comeX Driver offerS uK, euroPean anD worlDwiDerail TiCKeTS anD TourS We offer a booking service for railtickets,tours and can arrange FIP tickets and reservations for journeys inEurope. We offer a bespoke service to rail staff and can also arrangehotels and flights if required. Please call David at RailTourGuide on0191 246 0708 oremail mail@railtourguide.coma very liMiTeD nuMber (25) of TheKing'S lynn aSlef branCh CenTenarybaDge (2006) have been reproduced and are availableat £10 inc. P & P from M Steele, 1 Rosecroft, SouthWootton King's Lynn Norfolk PE30 3WX or Telephone 07788 153954.Thornaby MoTive Power DePoT reunion After 50 yearsthe depot now demolished. I would like to inform and invite all membersto the first depot reunion to be held in Jack Hatfield Bowling ClubMiddlesbrough on 14th December 2011 from 13 00hr onwards. Formore info call Jim Smith; Tel 01642 823819 Email smith215@sky.comCiTy of lonDon baDgeS, one 10-yearand one depot badge. Depot badges arenumbered 1-150. There are only 150 of each.Price £5 plus £1 p&p. All profits to City ofLondon branch funds to acquire a branch banner.Further information or orders to Colin Dawson 01689 849 543 or22 Hutchison Road, New Addington, Croydon, Surrey CR0 0BD.nXea 2009 STriKe baDge commemorating solidarityof ASLEF members. Purchase (£3 plus p&p) from NXEABranch Secretary or District Council 5 Secretary. Contact MSteele on 07788 153954, 1 Rosecroft, South Wootton,Kings Lynn Norfolk PE30 3WX. Proceeds to DistrictCouncil 5 Education Fund and ASLEF Fighting Fund.

22 Bring back BR the ASLEF JOURNALEllie campaigns tobring back BRLast month’s tUC fringe meeting stressed the need to reachout to other transport groups to campaign for radical changeon the railway. We have close links with the better knownorganisations like the Campaign for better transport, butthis month we look at a small but active band called ‘bringback british Rail’, the brainchild of the author of this article,Ellie Harrison …SiNcE i founded the ‘BringBack British Rail’campaign in 2009, it hascaptured the imaginations of railpassengers and train companyemployees alike. its simplemessage aims to do ‘exactly whatis says on the tin’ – to bring ourcountry’s railways back into publicownership and to start runningthem as one newly unifiedorganisation that puts peoplebefore profits.the message seems to strike achord with all those who traveland work on railways, becausenobody seems happy with thepresent system. it might be seenas ‘a big ask’, but it feels importantthat, nearly 18 years after therailways were sold-off, the BringBack British Rail campaign existsas a bold statement thatprivatisation was not progress -and a radical rethink of ourcountry’s rail network isrequired.A PASSIONAtE PASSENGERi’ve never worked for the railwaysand i was actually only 15 yearsold when British Rail was killed offby Major’s government. i havesome memories of the oldintercity trains travelling toScotland and Wales on familyholidays and of NetworkSouthEast where i grew up inEaling. But, as a teenager, i wasoblivious to what was happeningpolicy-wise. i describe myself nowas a ‘passionate passenger’ –someone who endured years ofdelayed, over-priced and overcrowdedjourneys around the UKand finally snapped. that’s when iset up the campaign.Because we are a smallorganisation run by volunteers(largely just me in my flat inGlasgow!) we have begun tocollaborate with largerorganisations with more fundingand manpower. in August, weworked with the campaign forLively Ellie brings great enthusiasm to the campaign for public railThe first outing for Ellie’s new banner - which she hopes will makemany public appearances!Better transport (cfBt), theenvironmental group climateRush and trade unionists to puton a mass demonstration outsideLondon’s Waterloo Station againstthe government’s train fare rises.IDEALIStS AND REALIStSthis grouping worked really wellas it echoed the campaign’s ethosof uniting both the passenger andthe employee perspectives –bringing together the idealists(like us and climate Rush) and therealists like the cfBt. this protestgot a lot of media attention andwas the first outing of our BringBack British Rail banner - which ihope will make far more publicappearances over the next fewyears!the central focus of thecampaign over the coming year isthe e-petition on the newly relaunchedgovernment website.the petition is acting as a usefulplace to channel people’senthusiasm for the campaign’smessage and to amount support.We aim to get 100,000 signatureson the e-petition before it closeson 4 August 2012, in order toforce the issue into Parliamentnext year. We are want to workwith other organisations to coordinatefurther demonstrationsand actions.LOOKING FOR LINKSAt the moment the campaign islargely happening online, wheremy own skills lie in social mediaand web-development. i amconscious, however, that this mayisolate a large number of potentialsupporters without easy access tocomputers.Over the next few years we arehoping to bridge this divide, bysetting up a network ofsupporters in different areas ofthe country to do groundwork atstations and with local unionoffices. this’ll take time, of course,but we have the patience to keepat it… We are in this for the longhaul!the Bring Back British Railcampaign will continue to exist –kicking-up-a-fuss and puttingpressure on the government – justas long as the railways remain intheir current mess. We will keepgoing strong until there is aradical restructuring of the railnetwork so that the passengersand the employees benefit ratherthan the shareholders of privatecompanies. Only then, perhaps,will we be able to feel real pride inworking and travelling on ourtrains again. to join our mailing list orFacebook group go tofacebook.com/bringbackbritishrail if you’d like to get involvedwith BBBR, please get in touchviainfo@bringbackbritishrail.org Why not sign our e-petitionand circulate it to yourfriends? you can also support us bymaking a donation, buyingmerchandise or joining ourmembership scheme (seedetails online).

NOVEMBER 2011crossword 23Prize Crossword No. 67 set by ZebedeeAcross1 An inexperiencedyoung†person (5)4 Reserved in manner (9)9 Work function (7)10 Shouting (7)11 Oscar Wilde's nationality (5)13 having or bringing goodfortune (5)15 industrious little hilldweller(3)16 diamond reserve? (3)17 Give instructions to society(5)19 Point to a beastly placethat isn't pleasant (5)21 Gallium, selenium, sulphur,radon, xenon etc. (5)23 demonstrated (5)24 confirmation the ayes haveit (3)25 it's all about islanders (3)26 disparage rap (5)28 Usher's fell in Poe story (5)29 Feel pleased when a coupleof coppers walk around (7)31 having given an order,presented with a bill (7)33 the act of taking a step inwalking (9)34 transport by road and railpresumably (5).Down1 Showing possibility ofachievement (9)2 Sharply exact (7)3 indeed, the time's not right(3)4 turn around (5)5 Archaically of thee (3)6 She's easily caught (5)7 Brief reply about maildistribution at the zoo (7)8 it's nearly time for bed (5)12 Eye-catching little devices?(5)14 Vehicle to travel as freight(5)18 Music hall has round shapewith ring (5)19 One part in nine equalparts (5)20 Beatles' hit which can't bebrought back? (9)22 Fake postal order circulatedby top cleaner (7)24 having been delivered later(7)25 Support for those in office(5)26 is aware of . . . (5)27 the thrills of football (5)30 Essential feature of aneedle or watch, maybe (3)32 Part of linear curvature (3).The winner of this month’s crossword will receiveMarks & Spencer vouchers to the value of £25Across Solution to crossword No 66 which appeared in the1OctoberAn inexperienced2011 editionyoung†personof the ASLEF(5)Journal.- 4 Reserved in manner (9) - 9 Work function (7) - 10Shoutingcongratulations(7) - 11toOscarPeterWilde'sGriffithsnationalityof Rayleigh(5) - 13 Having or bringing Name.....................................................................................................................................good fortune (5) -15 Industrious little hill-dweller (3) - 16 Diamond reserve? (3) - 17 Give instructions toAcross: society (5) 7 Bogie, - 198 Point hotheaded, to a beastly 10 Signal, place that 11 isn't Needless, pleasant (5) - 21 Address.................................................................................................................................Gallium, selenium, sulphur,12 radon, Underclassman, xenon etc. (5) 14 - Peregrine 23 Demonstrated falcon, 16 (5) - 24 Confirmation - the ayes have it (3) - 25 It'sProcrastinate, all about islanders 19 Visceral, (3) - 2620 Disparage Fusils, 21 rap Numerical, (5) - 2822Usher's fell in Poe story (5) - 29 Feel..................................................................................................................................................canto. pleased Down: when a 1 couple coriander, of coppers 2 Viennese, walk around 3 Mountain (7) - 31 Having given an order, presented with arailway, bill (7) 4 - chiefs 33 The of act staff, of taking 5 dahlia, a step 6 Sense, in walking 9 Electric (9) - 34 Transport by road and rail presumablytrain, (5). 13 Footplate, 15 Linesman, 17 Rocket, 18 Minus.........................................................................................Postcode......................................DownThanks for all your responses to the 66th ASLEF crossword in the October edition. If you complete this month’s crossword please send1 the Showing solution possibility to the Editor, of achievement ASLEF Journal, (9) - 275-77 Sharply St exact John (7) Street, - 3 London Indeed, the EC1M time's 4NN not by right the 14th of the issue month.(3) - 4 Turn around (5) - 5 Archaically of thee (3) - 6 She's easily caught (5) - 7 Briefreply about mail distribution at the zoo (7) - 8 It's nearly time for bed (5) - 12 Eye-catchinglittle devices? (5) - 14 Vehicle to travel as freight (5) - 18 Music hall has round shape withring (5) - 19 One part in nine equal parts (5) - 20 Beatles' hit which can't be brought back? (9)- 22 Fake postal order circulated by top cleaner (7) - 24 Having been delivered later (7) - 25Support for those in office (5) - 26 Is aware of . . . (5) - 27 The thrills of football (5) - 30Essential feature of a needle or watch, maybe (3) - 32 Part of linear curvature (3).!changed your Address?ASLEF’S legal services – your rights for their wrongs!FREE LEGAL ADVICE ASLEF also provides first class free legaladvice – both for members and for their dependents. during2009 ASLEF recovered £1,946,190.45 in damages for all types ofcases. call the helpline on 0808 100 8009EMERGENCIES if you are an ASLEF member who is arrested orbeing interviewed by the police and need legal assistance –day or night – you can call the members' Emergency hotline on0800 587 7530.SACKINGS OR OtHER PRObLEMS At WORK harassment,discrimination or bullying? if your local, branch or districtrepresentative is unavailable, call the industrial Relationsdepartment at union headquarters (020 7324 2400) or emailinfo@aslef.org.ukMore than just a unionName.......................................................................Address......................................................................................................................................................Postcode.................................................................telephone..............................................................Branch.....................................................................Membership No...................................................Please return coupon to: 75-77 St John Street,London, Ec1M 4NN