Aslef Journal

Westminster 9April 2010 ASLEF At ASLEF backed General Electioncandidates in your District ...District : 4Constituency: KeighleyCandidate: Jane thomasOlympic gold medallist James Cracknell and Team GB diving hopefulTom Daley. The athletes travelled to the Olympic Park by Javelin®train in under seven minutes in its first time trial between St. PancrasInternational and Stratford Internationaldirector of high speed 1, whichoperates high-speed lines tomainland europe, is a strongsupporter of the 2012 games.‘We’re pleased to be a central partof the transport success story,’ hesaid.FINE LINESWork to upgrade the northLondon line, operated by Londonoverground, has started, with thefirst of the new air-conditionedtrains already providing a breathof fresh air. meanwhile, testrunning is taking place on theextended east London line.Improvements to the victoria andJubilee lines, through new trainsand better signalling are allunderway.tHE WORRIESAlthough work on the transportlinks, new trains and greenconstruction seems to be going toplan or ahead of it, steve grant,Aslef district organiser, hasworries.‘We all want a successfulgames,’ says steve, ‘but we haveconcerns about some of theupgrades. There are delays on theJubilee and northern lines, thereare issues over communicationswith the proposeddecommissioning of the oldsystems leaving no back up, andwe have worries about automaticdoors and some of the fittings inthe cab on the trains.‘The time constraints causesafety issues, particularly notenough practical training for ourmembers and, of course, we don’twant to end up like dLR with nodrivers.‘The Aslef general secretary,Keith norman and I, are due tomeet mayor boris Johnson in afew weeks to discuss these andother concerns plus the £400mshortfall in funds. We don’t wantto see fare or tax increases tocover this shortfall. The PPPstructure was imposed on Londonunder the principle that it wouldtransfer risk from the taxpayer tothe private sector.‘We believe that the arbiter ispreparing to leave the door openfor TfL to cut back or delay theupgrades which could affect thenorthern and Piccadilly lines.’‘If it all works well then it willcreate jobs for our members andthat’s one of the positive things.’As the Journal went to press,the first of the olympic stadium’slighting towers were successfullylifted into place, taking the venueto its full height – 60m above thefield of play. A 650-tonne cranelifted the 28m-high lightingtowers into place, on top of theinner ring of the cable-net roof.The lighting towers will light upthe field of play and are neededfor high definition televisionfootage. They are located abovethe stadium roof to ensure thebest lighting angles and to avoiddazzling spectators,photographers and competitors.Let’s hope mayor boris sees thelight and can assure Aslef that toachieve a magnificant 2012olympic games crucial things likesafety and training are asimportant as meeting schedules.JAne is a former university lecturer who has workedfor a number of not-for-profit organisations. she has long shown aninterested in public transport issues and has used her position onthe national Policy forum to lobby for bus re-regulation. Jane hascalled for more rail firms to be taken back into public ownership andcampaigns for a high speed rail link from London through Leeds tothe north east.Jane says, ‘getting transport links right is crucial to inwardinvestment and the future of the region in terms of jobs andeconomic growth. I look forward to working with AsLef in thefuture to make sure we get the railway system the country deserves- and needs.’Contact to offer assistance: call Jane on 07957 240826 or emailjane@janethomaslabour@googlemail.comDistrict: 6Constituency: Luton NorthCandidate: Kelvin HopkinsI hAve been the Labour member of Parliament forLuton north since 1997, I’m active in AsLef’s Parliamentary groupand I’m the joint co-ordinator of the Trade union group of mPs.Public transport is a passion with me and I have outlined mydetailed plans for a national dedicated freight rail route both in yourJournal and at your annual conference.I support the socialist campaign group, the co-op Party, War onWant, cnd and the campaign for Labour Party democracy. I’m afounder member of Luton campaign for Racial harmony. I’ve alsoworked for the Tuc and unison – and been a semi-professional jazzmusician!Contact to offer assistance: Please sign up to the supporters liston www.kelvinhopkinsmp.comDistrict: 8Constituency: Leyton and WansteadCandidate: John CryerJohn was AsLef’s political officer, organising ourParliamentary group and becoming highly involved in the freighton Rail campaign, before he took up a similar position with unite.John was the mP for hornchurch - a few miles from his presentconstituency - from 1997 to 2005. he was recognised as anindependent-minded and assiduous mP, voting against both theIraq war and top-up fees. he only narrowly – by 400 votes – lost hisseat in a constituency the Tories expected to win comfortably.John was ‘born into the Labour movement’ and has spent mostof his adult life in east London. he says, ‘I aim to be accountable andaccessible in Leyton and Wanstead and to be an effective voice inParliament on behalf of 60,000 voters.’Contact to offer assistance: Please phone John on 07966 589833 or email john.cryer@unitetheunion.com