(02 Sep 2022, 9:22 pm)Dan wrote I don’t think there was a defence of Go North East in my previous post, rather an explanation. I don’t think it is possible to defend the situation at the moment, which is why I haven’t.
It has previously been stated that Go North East is fully staffed. That remains the case from 3 September, due to the temporary service reductions. There is clearly an absence issue - the reasons for this can be debated among those on this forum not employed by GNE.
Clearly there’s industrial relations issues at the moment which isn’t helping matters, and Stagecoach in Sunderland are suffering a similar fate at the moment with more lost mileage there than other areas.
Likewise I expect Arriva will have greater challenges with coverage over the next month or so due to the closure of Jesmond, especially if the rumour is true that there is very little in the way of compensation offered to those employed at the depot.
It seems like Go North East are trying to address the issues with retention and recruitment by offering drivers the largest pay increase ever previously offered (upping top hourly rates to the highest out of the three big operators in the region), achievable within a year’s service or immediately when joining the company with a PCV licence. Let’s hope it’s voted through as it should result in improved service delivery.
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No arguments for most of that to be fair. To be honest it's not an issue unique to Go Ahead really where they've (let's be honest) have treat their worker's as a number and nothing more and never really paid that much respect and it's been thrown back with lack of loyalty. I don't want to turn it too political but it's noticeable by the sector's which are struggling, pubs being similar. Chains like Wetherspoon's surprise surprise struggling whereas the local community pub where they're treat with respect aren't having issues at all.
Be interesting to see how many bus companies get involved in the national strikes which are coming in; Stagecoach at Sunderland are pretty much certain to be part of it now. Be interesting to see if anyone else joins in as I wouldn't be surprised.
(02 Sep 2022, 9:23 pm)mb134 wrote There's not too much management can realistically do about unwillingness to work overtime. Drivers, across all companies, have been working insane amounts of overtime for months on end to put out the limited service there has been - there comes a point where no amount of incentive will get the (majority of) drivers in for their 'n'th 6 day week in a row! Obviously management can do things to enhance driver recruitment, but like all things that takes time and you will also have a steady flow of folk retiring, moving to other careers, or progressing within the company. It's a vicious circle really, not helped by the fact that the entire situation will be putting some drivers onto the sick with work related stress - which makes it worse for those remaining, who are more likely to leave/get sick etc.....
In terms of route learning, I'm not sure how GNE have done it, but I know that when the 1/2 moved to Ashington ANE had arranged a few Sundays where Ashington drivers went to learn the 1/2. When the services and drivers came across, there was a pool of "light duties" drivers tasked with going to route learn the Blyth drivers on the Ashington services, and Ashington drivers who didn't make a Sunday on the 1/2. Obviously this required drivers being willing to come in on a RD to learn routes (taking into account that, in Feb, Ashington weren't hugely short of drivers so this wasn't as much of an issue as with the GNE situation), a pool of drivers on the sick who were able to come in for light duties, and was helped by the bulk of drivers involved only needing to learn 2 relatively simple routes.
Aye no arguments about most of that but I do believe that there has been some form of an unofficial overtime ban in some places because of the industrial relations, whether that's still ongoing I'm not 100% sure but I know CLS were at one point and I believe there was been mentions of it elsewhere aswell. Definitely agreed with the vicious circle mind not to mention the poor driver's remaining on the front line are getting the crap in their face by the public and being honest even I couldn't be arsed with that for the pretty poor pay really.
Interesting on how Blyth/Ashington worked on the driver training, was wondering actually.