(02 Sep 2022, 9:09 pm)Storx wrote Surely there has to be a point where you can't keep mindlessly defending GNE, even known you work for them. Lack of desire (refusal) to work overtime is a management problem, shutting a depot is a management decision which has been clearly been mishandled, not route training driver's before moving depots is a management issue, high levels of sickness / lack of drivers is management issue since loads of driver's have left.
I feel sorry for people who actually have to rely on GNE to actually commute as it's completely useless for the best part of year now with permanent service reductions as a sucker punch more than once some rather drastic, it's been going on for too long.
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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