Trade unions are also a fat lot of use and are as bad as the bosses and MPs and councillors

31 May 2023 

WHO WILL RESPOND? WHO WILL SORT ME OUT?!

I am challenging trade union members in this group to explain themselves:

1. It is ten years since I retired (at 65.5 yrs) and have been working more intensively to expose the scandal of Black Country and Brum railway lines destroyed by buildings and roads and immorally expensive trams. In that time, one member of ASLEF has helped me.
2. That man is a quite magnificent train driver from Rowley Regis, Dave Parsons who eventually resigned from ASLEF in disgust at their support for railway destruction - sometimes to get trams.
3. Simon Weller of national ASLEF, whom I heard interviewed on Radio 4, sent my lengthy, detailed evidence of wrongdoing, collusion and acquiescence - quite apart from plain negligence - to the library at his national London HQ, as if that would make a fat lot of difference!
4. The Midlands TUC and Rob Johnston, Regional policy & campaigns officer and his boss, Lee Barron, have both failed to answer one email or to see me to arrange an appointment when I called, in person, at their Summer Lane HQ (now 24 Livery Street).
5. When I tried to doorstep Rob as he hurriedly disappeared down the steps after a WMCA Board meeting of which he is a member, even then he refused to speak or listen to me, the rude man.
6. This was in stark contrast to Tory Mayor Andy Street who has seen me in his office for 30 min.  In addition, as with other members of the public who approach him, he always gives his time and attention to everyone at the end of his public meetings.
7. This is also in stark contrast to the top people at TfWM/WMCA HQ down the road at 16 Summer Lane who have engaged with me and, even replied to emails.
8. Because every trade union member and union has sided with the transport bosses, we have this sorry story of idiocy and incompetence, of negligence and folly:-

• I have listed 7 Dudley railway lines, all destroyed, as part of about 100 Kms in total that have gone forever in the West Midlands. Yet, in their guilty silence, not a whisper is heard from a single trade union, let alone a railway union, because they all collude with the bosses, over the wipe out of their own workplace!!
• After the completion of Dudley Tram Phase One, there are still 100 Kms awaiting passenger trains and stations in the region.
• Phase One was put on the UK's very last, completed but never used, over 56 Kms out of 120 Kms, principal mainline railway!
• But never a dicky bird is heard from any trade unionist, apart from magnificent Dave Parsons who resigned from ASLEF in protest at his union's collusion and complicity in stupidity and financial scandal!

WHAT A DISGRACE!