you couldn't make it up up, the new Blairite leader of the train drivers union: ASLEF is threatening staff at its London headquarters with all sorts of brutal penalties including sick pay being cut, flexitime withdrawn, holidays stopped and childcare vouchers abolished if they go on strike. Worse still, strike-breakers would be recruited on individual contracts.
the real face of the New Unionism
Rail union accused of using 'rogue' tactics against staff
Kevin Maguire
Wednesday January 7, 2004
The Guardian
Train drivers' leaders were likened to "rogue employers" last night after threatening to sack their workers if they went on strike, replacing them with non-union staff on lower wages. The new Blairite general secretary of the rail union Aslef reacted with fury to the prospect of industrial action at the organisation's head office in Hampstead, north London. Shaun Brady wrote to about 40 employees at their home addresses, listing severe penalties, including dismissal, if the result of a strike ballot on Monday produced walkouts. He raised the prospect of a legal challenge to the ballot, sick pay being cut, flexitime withdrawn, holidays stopped and childcare vouchers abolished, and said strike-breakers would be recruited on individual contracts.
The hardline tactics could backfire spectacularly if copied by train operators in disputes with drivers, and threaten to embarrass the TUC hierarchy by opening a public rift between two of its best known affiliates.
Mr Brady threatened to derecognise the large GMB union that represents Aslef staff, setting up a staff association and refusing to employ members.
Paul Kenny, the GMB London secretary, accused him of acting unlawfully in a dispute centred on allegations that the new general secretary is failing to honour existing staff agreements.
"The letter is threatening to use all of the Tory employment legislation, including the pieces Aslef and the TUC oppose," said Mr Kenny.
"He's obviously been getting a lot of advice from rogue employers, attempting to bully staff prior to a ballot. They will have great difficulty saying anything to any employer who issues these threats against train drivers in future."
Mr Brady also threatened to exploit a controversial law that permits employers to sack all strikers after two months. "After eight weeks and one day all staff who have participated in the dispute will be dismissed and during the dispute Aslef will advertise and employ alternative staff to cover the work," the letter said.
"They will not be GMB members and if the ballot goes ahead I will begin this process immediately. Simultaneously I will begin interviewing for replacement staff.
"They will be offered individual contracts, all collective agreements will be rescinded and terms and conditions, including salaries, will be different from those in place now."
Mr Brady said the dispute was the result of a plot involving leftwinger Mick Rix, the "awkward squad" leader he unexpectedly defeated last year. The letters say Mr Rix imposed staff changes during his final days in office in October to frustrate his successor.
Yesterday Mr Brady said: "I believe a small number of supporters of the former general secretary are hell bent on disrupting the work of this union and have seized upon the difficulties I have experienced in trying to keep the office running as an excuse to engineer a strike."
Rail union accused of using 'rogue' tactics against staff
Kevin Maguire
Wednesday January 7, 2004
The Guardian
Train drivers' leaders were likened to "rogue employers" last night after threatening to sack their workers if they went on strike, replacing them with non-union staff on lower wages. The new Blairite general secretary of the rail union Aslef reacted with fury to the prospect of industrial action at the organisation's head office in Hampstead, north London. Shaun Brady wrote to about 40 employees at their home addresses, listing severe penalties, including dismissal, if the result of a strike ballot on Monday produced walkouts. He raised the prospect of a legal challenge to the ballot, sick pay being cut, flexitime withdrawn, holidays stopped and childcare vouchers abolished, and said strike-breakers would be recruited on individual contracts.
The hardline tactics could backfire spectacularly if copied by train operators in disputes with drivers, and threaten to embarrass the TUC hierarchy by opening a public rift between two of its best known affiliates.
Mr Brady threatened to derecognise the large GMB union that represents Aslef staff, setting up a staff association and refusing to employ members.
Paul Kenny, the GMB London secretary, accused him of acting unlawfully in a dispute centred on allegations that the new general secretary is failing to honour existing staff agreements.
"The letter is threatening to use all of the Tory employment legislation, including the pieces Aslef and the TUC oppose," said Mr Kenny.
"He's obviously been getting a lot of advice from rogue employers, attempting to bully staff prior to a ballot. They will have great difficulty saying anything to any employer who issues these threats against train drivers in future."
Mr Brady also threatened to exploit a controversial law that permits employers to sack all strikers after two months. "After eight weeks and one day all staff who have participated in the dispute will be dismissed and during the dispute Aslef will advertise and employ alternative staff to cover the work," the letter said.
"They will not be GMB members and if the ballot goes ahead I will begin this process immediately. Simultaneously I will begin interviewing for replacement staff.
"They will be offered individual contracts, all collective agreements will be rescinded and terms and conditions, including salaries, will be different from those in place now."
Mr Brady said the dispute was the result of a plot involving leftwinger Mick Rix, the "awkward squad" leader he unexpectedly defeated last year. The letters say Mr Rix imposed staff changes during his final days in office in October to frustrate his successor.
Yesterday Mr Brady said: "I believe a small number of supporters of the former general secretary are hell bent on disrupting the work of this union and have seized upon the difficulties I have experienced in trying to keep the office running as an excuse to engineer a strike."
