Around 90 Guards/Commercial Guards needed at SWR before December 2022

[WombleGuard]

Good news for those wishing to join SWR. Joint Union/company establishment figures suggest around 90 extra Guards or Commercial Guards will be in place by years end. The exception being Salisbury.which will shrink by one Comm Guard.

 

[MiNi]

Good news for those wishing to join SWR. Joint Union/company establishment figures suggest around 90 extra Guards or Commercial Guards will be in place by years end. The exception being Salisbury.which will shrink by one Comm Guard.

Did Yeovil ever fill all their positions. Or do guards still travel down from Salisbury on the ecs. Will Yeovil depot grow at all ?.

 

[WombleGuard]

MiNi It will grow from 14 to 30 by year end.

 

[MiNi]

MiNi It will grow from 14 to 30 by year end.

Thankyou.

 

[diego1234]

Would more drivers be needed too potentially?

 

[Watershed]

Would more drivers be needed too potentially?

Isn't this related to the guards' agreement which was reached last year, which involved a reduction in the working week (and hence a requirement for more guards)?

 

[Nuttygooner]

I have heard that there was a huge drop out rate from the pool since the new guard T&C's kicked in.

 

[DMckduck97]

I have heard that there was a huge drop out rate from the pool since the new guard T&C's kicked in.

Highly likely based on the salary increments. 75% for first 6 months productive, up to 90% for 6-12 and only finally get the full hit 1 year productive.

 

[Nuttygooner]

Highly likely based on the salary increments. 75% for first 6 months productive, up to 90% for 6-12 and only finally get the full hit 1 year productive.

From what I understand, people who had applied, but had everything on hold due to COVID, before the new T&C's were agreed, once they were advised on the new pay scales, they went "Bye Felicia!".

But to a seasoned recruiter, nothing screams "we are struggling to retain staff" more than a 3 month notice period on an entry level railway job.

 

[Horizon22]

From what I understand, people who had applied, but had everything on hold due to COVID, before the new T&C's were agreed, once they were advised on the new pay scales, they went "Bye Felicia!".

But to a seasoned recruiter, nothing screams "we are struggling to retain staff" more than a 3 month notice period on an entry level railway job.

3 months is pretty standard on the railway - see this discussion. I wouldn't necessarily call guards "entry level" - you can of course join as a guard without any prior industry experience, but the same is true of train drivers and signallers too.

 

[Nuttygooner]

3 months is pretty standard on the railway - see this discussion

Not for a guard on SWR, until very recently, from what I gather.

Less money, more intense work and the Brucie Bonus of more restrictions? I don't blame the talent pool jumping ship, so to speak.

The idea is to elevate working conditions for all railway workers, to match the best, not degrade them and then say "well it's industry standard".

 

[DMckduck97]

From what I understand, people who had applied, but had everything on hold due to COVID, before the new T&C's were agreed, once they were advised on the new pay scales, they went "Bye Felicia!".

But to a seasoned recruiter, nothing screams "we are struggling to retain staff" more than a 3 month notice period on an entry level railway job.

Within the T&C’s was stated that a grace period would apply in regards to applying before the deal and getting full money, how long that grace period was is anyones guess. My best guess is a combo of that and the added revenue duties that some people maybe just didn’t want when applying for the guard job originally.

 

[AgentGemini]

12months before full pay? That is nothing new. Friend joined what was London Midland and had 12 months on probation mid-£20ks salary before getting the full pay. Not sure what legacywise, Abellio WMR do with new guards, but the resentment boils when you find out that other TOCs that run the same route, salarywise get promoted in six months.