Re: 2 EL's on Patrick's

[pcc@ocean.com.au (Les Brown)]

"Rod" <comtrain@mpx.com.au> wrote in aus.rail:

>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withdrawn.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, if I ever get in the postion of being able to thumb my nose at my
boss or my customers, you'll be among first to know. In the meantime,
leaving aside the fact that GSR does not employ drivers, he hasn't
answered my questions such as:

1/ Did he sign the AWA? 

2/ Did his union take a look at it and agree with it? 

3/ If he was required to work an RDO, could he take it again at
another time in lieu? 

4/  Would he buy shares in his company if it were loosing money?

And another question I would like to add:

5/ Does he care if it looses money?

I take on board your comments regarding portability of work skills.
Yes, it isn't always possible to move around without some sacrifice,
but don't you think for a moment that that is what everyone else has
to put up with in the big, wide world that exists beyond the 4 and 5
foot? What sort of a salary is this guy on, including penalties,
compared to everyone else outside your industry that makes him bleat
so much?

The truth of the matter is that Kennet didn't "stab" you in the back
or anyone else, and the highly emotive language you use doesn't make
for a rational discussion. The best decision Kennet ever made was to
remove the railways in this state from government control to private
enterprise "sink-or-swim". And I don't think you would disagree with
this. The management of the company you work for care a damn sight
more about keeping you working than most of the sinecured slack-arsed
pricks that gloried themselves under the title of "management" in the
old V.R./VicRail/V-Line days.

Les Brown