(20 Feb 2025, 12:15 am)Storx wrote The letter isn't pointless though as GoAhead have a duty to train their staff on defects and this agreement is proving they're doing that. Without the letter, the excuses can start coming out and the management have nothing to proove what is and isn't right and it makes the management liable aswell and the fines can be nasty aswell, ie Merlin who got fined £5m and that was just over poor training not corporate manslaughter which is even worse.
From a driver's perspective it's a total different ball game aswell. Going into court knowing you outright ignored company procedure and caused a death is very different to going into court with I didn't know it was a problem, the mechanic said it was alright. Bus drivers are drivers, not mechanics. The sentence between these will be very different.
It's all the same reason why people go on training courses which are mostly pointless, it's just so management can shun any responsibility on anything which they involve because they got training, without the training it's very much you vs them.
OK I get the point you’re making I guess, I just don’t think it really stacks up. You don’t need to be a mechanic to know you shouldn’t drive with a red light on the dash. Not an expert on sentencing but I seriously doubt the “they told me to do it” excuse would carry much sway if you were at the wheel and ignored a warning that resulted in an RTA.
To me your argument supports GNE in pushing the letter if anything by comparing it to mandatory training etc. As an employer they are ensuring and documenting that staff are trained in what to do. Which is no different to any of the stat/mand training we all have to endure in whatever line of work we are in.
And as I said before GNE putting in writing that drivers shouldn’t drive with warning lights on dash leaves them not a leg to stand on if drivers now do the right thing and pull over and await rescue etc. So still don't see why anyone would feel they had no option but to resign because of it. Sign it, then follow it to the letter and wave it under management noses at the tribunal if they try to discipline you for following the instructions in the letter.