Re: 2 EL's on Patrick's

[gonoNOCRAP@bigpond.com]

On Mon, 22 Nov 1999 22:40:25 +1100, "Rod" <comtrain@mpx.com.au> wrote:

>
>
>When GSR took over they offered their employees a drop in pay, vastly
>reduced conditions, and I have been told by many ANR Drivers, that the
>contracts had to be signed by a certain date, or the offer would be
>withdrawn. Many young blokes worried at the prospect of being on the dole
>and losing their house etc, took the easy option.
>And don't forget that they all had been paid out by ANR, they were all
>unemployed at midnight, and had to start fresh with new owners the next day.
>I am sure that the very generous payout given by the Commonwealth goverment
>[ much better than what Kennett offered us here in Victoria] more than
>coloured many of these Drivers's thinking, and caused them to do something
>they regretted later. If they all had stood shoulder to shoulder GSR would
>have caved in, despite the very big stick Liberal Legislation had given
>them.
>Les, it must be very good to be so well heeled that one can thumb his nose
>at his bosses and just go out and get another job. In the real world, we
>know that the chances of getting another job are very slim indeed, today. A
>locomotive Engineer has but one skill, and usually only one employer in his
>town to apply to! They had no such choice, and in this modern age of Super
>Capitalism, they were down-right exploited, and those bastard people we are
>not allowed to talk about all live very high on the hog whilst we are more
>and more only able to afford the intestines [chitlings?, I believe]
>Victorian Enginemen learnt a very big lesson, from the ANR fiasco, and we
>were able to convince the Government to sell the Railways lock, stock and
>barrel, that is we retained our employment rights long service etc. We were
>very lucky also to keep all our conditions and money. WE now have to trust
>that they don't go broke because Kennett stabbed us in the back again, by
>paying to the New Owners all our Sick Pay, Long Service Leave etc etc, which
>they were not prevented from appyling to normal business operations. We
>wanted it invested, so that our money would be protected...so we won one
>step forward, but could have taken ten steps backward...time will tell
>Rod
Fair enough Speel Rod but one small correction GSR are the operators
of the Overland ,The Ghan and the Indian Pacific and they do not have
any train drivers.I think you are talking about ASR the mob that took
over the AN freight business.
regards
Regards Paul Johnston (MNRC)