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Jim was born in Springburn, Glasgow, the hub of Scotland’s largest engineering locomotive builders, the Caledonian Railways Company. His vivid memories as a child, growing up in the latter years of the ‘Caley‘, are of the thousands of skilled workers leaving the factories to the sound of the Claxton horn, into what was then, a vibrant community. The company produced and maintained steam engines, then evolving with the introduction of the diesel engine. “It was inevitable that I would eventually join the ranks of the Railway Companies as most families in the area were employed by the railways. It was in 1978 that I signed up as a second man on the footplate at Eastfield Depot Springburn, working heavy freight and mainline passenger train services. I was initiated into this industrial world of powerful unions and management, and became actively involved as a union member in the early part of my employment. I was promoted to Locomotive Driver in 1982 and later moved to Gourock Depot in Greenock. A further transfer brought me into Glasgow Central Depot where I am currently based. I have been actively involved in the union movement, holding various positions, as well as witnessing the constant changes and disputes which have occurred within our industry over the past thirty years of my service. As employees working at all levels of operations, we are at the sharp end of the progression in upgrading our systems. The introduction of new technologies brings further challenges affecting our conditions and working environment. As a union, we must be prepared to challenge management’s interpretations and back door policies under the guise of the Health and Safety banner, which has created a fear culture in our workplace. The constant reviews in Operational Standards throughout the country are being driven to the extreme by management, who seem to have forgotten that we are human. Enter a bothy in any Train Operating Company and the word is always the same: “Did you hear about so and so?” or that “ he/she is off train running “. The frequency of such statements is alarming. It’s always someone else that’s been involved in a operational incident.. Someone else that is taken off their job. Someone else that may find themselves subjected to management’s disciplinary procedures. Don’t be fooled into thinking, “I’m alright. It won’t happen to me”, for you will find, in the long run, that you were wrong to assume that it’s another individuals problem and not yours. We are, after all, only human and not machines. The draconian profit driven monitoring systems currently in use, need only one error to lock you into its system, where you may find it virtually impossible to gain a release date. Due to the pressures of being constantly monitored with the various download methods covering all grades, the probability of being tied into the Discipline and Sickness Procedures is increased. Most members faced with this ‘three pronged attack’, invariably find it difficult to function normally. They tend to feel isolated from their fellow workers, downgraded as a result, or even the worst case scenario, sacked! Furthermore, our members bear the difficult job of collecting revenue and driving to schedules, whilst finding themselves isolated and vulnerable to an ever increasing abusive and violent public. These constantly recurring incidents tend to result in our members being left unaided and exposed whilst awaiting police assistance, which in current practice is neither timely nor reliable. It is at these times you expect support from management is cunningly offered with innuendos with regard to holding up the services. This is totally unacceptable. Many other issues such as unsocial diagram lengths, continuous durations, retention of final salary pension, retention of revenue bonuses, and suitability, are but a few of the issues that must also be addressed NOW. The constant pressures on our members to ensure delay attribution proceeds are awarded to their Train Operating Companies are abhorrent. Whilst the managers play the monopoly game of filling their pockets with the profits, our members are subjected to a hostile environment which we must challenge at every level”. “THE A.T.C.U HAS BEEN FORMED FREE FROM THE SHACKLES OF THE OLD DINOSAURS OF THE PAST, ENABLING YOU, THE FRONTLINE, TO CREATE A VIBRANT TRADE UNION, ABLE TO MEET THE NEW CHALLENGES AND ISSUES WE FACE, NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE. JOIN US IN OUR NEW TRAINCREW UNION”. Positions held ATCU Scotland & North England Regional Organiser |
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