Train Driver's Pay
Discussion
Very simple question (and probably dim, so please forgive me in advance)....
Why does the government get involved in setting train driver's salary discussions?
The railways have been privatised, so why isn't the train driver's salary set at a commercial rate by the private company that they work for?
Why does the government get involved in setting train driver's salary discussions?
The railways have been privatised, so why isn't the train driver's salary set at a commercial rate by the private company that they work for?
ks spouted (some by you I believe).Pitre said:
Very simple question (and probably dim, so please forgive me in advance)....
Why does the government get involved in setting train driver's salary discussions?
The railways have been privatised, so why isn't the train driver's salary set at a commercial rate by the private company that they work for?
That’s how they got as high as they are: it takes a year or more to train a new driver, so it’s a fairly restricted skill. Other companies don’t want to wait a year and have to pay a driving instructor for all that time, so poach other drivers by throwing cash at them, pay escalates right through from the late 90s to the 2010s. ASLEF also played a blinder playing the privatised rail companies against each other.Why does the government get involved in setting train driver's salary discussions?
The railways have been privatised, so why isn't the train driver's salary set at a commercial rate by the private company that they work for?
The privatised train operators are now paid a set fee to operate services under contract to the DfT; the DfT keep the ticket revenue and the private operators are paid the same fees regardless. Every additional cost incurred has to be approved and effectively ultimately met by the DfT, including pay rises.
Pitre said:
Very simple question (and probably dim, so please forgive me in advance)....
Why does the government get involved in setting train driver's salary discussions?
The railways have been privatised, so why isn't the train driver's salary set at a commercial rate by the private company that they work for?
To answer the OP’s question Why does the government get involved in setting train driver's salary discussions?
The railways have been privatised, so why isn't the train driver's salary set at a commercial rate by the private company that they work for?
During COVID, the train operating company contracts were effectively transformed into management contracts, where the TOC was paid a fixed fee to run the service, and the government assumed the financial risk (but also took the revenue). This had happened previously with some under performing TOC’s, notably GNER.
Therefore, any expenditure had to be signed off by the DfT, hence the government being involved in the dispute and involved (well, not involved, as the case of the previous Tory government, who made an offer designed not to be accepted then stonewalled for a good 18 months) in pay negotiations.
81 year old OAP here.
I am sure the train drivers will enjoy their newly negotiated wage increase of £5000pa while I have had no say in losing my WFA of £300. I'm am encouraged to use my travel pass to get on a train this winter for several hours a day so I can keep moderately warm. How ironic to see all their friendly Labour MPs voting on clearly a major social matter so that me and a few million other OAPs may well freeze this winter.
I am sure the train drivers will enjoy their newly negotiated wage increase of £5000pa while I have had no say in losing my WFA of £300. I'm am encouraged to use my travel pass to get on a train this winter for several hours a day so I can keep moderately warm. How ironic to see all their friendly Labour MPs voting on clearly a major social matter so that me and a few million other OAPs may well freeze this winter.
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