Information Received (My points of view)
I have so much information sent to me from disgruntled train crew, most of which is still to be published. This latest 11 pages however really stood out, because there is no way that I could have fabricated this information, having had it verified from sources within TPE it paints exactly the same picture that I had to put up with, yet here we are nearly 4 years later. That in itself is beyond words, the IGNORANCE to me displayed by TPE Management in this information has gone to a new and higher level, a major incident that results in death is not far away!
The "Railways", where once there was a "Pride", throughout the whole railway network, not that long ago, because I can remember that "Pride", however since 2004 that "Pride" suddenly became one sided. This is the year a new era in the lack of railway knowledge and safety started. TransPennine Express had arrived, there was the false smiles and promises and after that work became a struggle for survival, especially if you had a passion to do things the right way, especially if you dared to challenge TPE management authority, or even report issues of safety related matters, if you were slightly eccentric or outspoken, your days were numbered. Most people would associate this type of behaviour with Nazi Germany, but this is the 21st century and a supposed workplace that I am talking about, not a concentration camp!
The "Railways", where once there was a "Pride", throughout the whole railway network, not that long ago, because I can remember that "Pride", however since 2004 that "Pride" suddenly became one sided. This is the year a new era in the lack of railway knowledge and safety started. TransPennine Express had arrived, there was the false smiles and promises and after that work became a struggle for survival, especially if you had a passion to do things the right way, especially if you dared to challenge TPE management authority, or even report issues of safety related matters, if you were slightly eccentric or outspoken, your days were numbered. Most people would associate this type of behaviour with Nazi Germany, but this is the 21st century and a supposed workplace that I am talking about, not a concentration camp!
Like I have just said, this is the 21st century, yet here we have a driver, who quite clearly takes pride in their work but who has to make apologies that they have to be anonymous because they are going to explain in detail issues that should never have happened, issues that rip at the heart of safety on the railway, the way managers within TPE twist rules to suit themselves, in general the way this management compromise the safety of the whole railway system. I admire this person for having the "guts" to speak out, because it is a brave person to speak out against this bunch of so called managers.
My website screams this person's sentiment in every section. Glossing over the cracks is a sure fire way to calamity or as this person points out, "it will end in a serious incident of tragic proportions". Never forget, "Summit Tunnel", only LUCK saved the day and the deaths of many individuals, BUT WHY IN THE YEAR 2013 SHOULD WE HAVE TO TRUST TO LUCK? (First Group Board Members, stop burying your heads in the sand, WAKE UP and do so NOW before its too late).
The "environment of fear and intimidation" is the TPE management weapon of choice. I personally witnessed this so many times. It was brought in by Barry Cook the chief bully, its his shield to hide behind so that his inadequacies are covered up. The only managers to stand up to this were Naz Chikhalia and Darren Waters and we all know what happened to them. This I would like to think is the only reason Steele and Percival behave in the way they do, through fear of dismissal, whereas Atkinson & Watson thrive in this atmosphere. Turpin, Higgins & Mayne (Pears) were just lapdogs, who were frightened to speak out. You do have to seriously give some credit to the men and women that drive TPE trains because the tightrope they walk is getting thinner by the week.
"Its more like a regime than a management", for once not my words, but 100% correct and happening now. "When the amount of operational incidents which have occurred in the last 2 years under their leadership are scrutinised", sadly they never will be scrutinised, nor will senior management review their competencies, because after Watson there is only Donovan and neither of these individuals can see reality or care, they are part of this machine of IGNORANCE (but make no mistake, they will eventually be held accountable along with others).
"Replacing a driver standards manager whom was removed from his position last year and demoted to a driver", the manager is a man we all know and actually had time for, because this man was a manager. I have pointed out in other sections what actually happened and this is now verified by this new information. Naz Chikhalia did the right thing, he reported driver manager Andrew Steele for lewd, sexist, derogatory remarks towards and about a young lady. He also deeply insulted Mr Chikhalia by insinuating that the young lady would get the drivers job for sex. What would happen if any driver or indeed conductor had done the same?
But then add to this equation manager Barry Cook 's involvement with Naz Chikhalia which apparently involved issues of a racist nature, which again is something that if a driver or conductor was guilty of would result in dismissal.
But then add to this equation manager Barry Cook 's involvement with Naz Chikhalia which apparently involved issues of a racist nature, which again is something that if a driver or conductor was guilty of would result in dismissal.
"Openly stated his deep hatred for drivers", "openly accusing a Newcastle driver of lying about an incident", "getting involved in an argument with a Rail Incident Officer", "taking them off Siemens York Depot without carrying out the necessary safety checks". As I have always pointed out and always with evidence, this management couldn't give a damn about rules or health & safety, they do as they please because the system this country has in place to prevent this from happening is corrupt.
"and therefore losing money is more important to First TPE than the overall safety of the travelling public". Manager Ged Higgins, puts his foot in it every time he is spoken with (interviewed) digging himself a larger hole each time as I have proved on this website, the man is a perpetual liar, however, in his defence just like above when he drove trains out of his remit, he knows that unless he jumps when Cook shouts he has to go along with what they want or he will join Naz Chikhalia and Darren Waters down the proverbial road because they know that Ged is one of their weak links!
"It is also alleged that DM Steele covered up a speeding incident of his own", this is hardly surprising, the lesson to him there should have been that this is how easy it can be to "speed", no driver wilfully speeds, it just happens now and again, in truth, probably every driver every day, again not done purposely, Andrew Steele of all people should realise this.
How sad and frightening that drivers cannot confide in their managers, if any industry required a working relationship between staff and management this is definitely the one. SCENARIO: A driver has a major incident and states in his / her report that they were under pressure from an outside influence but couldn't speak to their manager about it ! Nobody would believe this.
I know of and have proof of Steele`s attitude to driver`s who have had "personal and traumatic issues" in their lives, believe me when I say it is disgraceful with no sympathy whatsoever. At the right time I will show this proof on this website. I cannot show this now because the driver(s) will be persecuted.
I also personally witnessed Steele and Percival speak about other drivers problems in front of a full mess room.
I know of and have proof of Steele`s attitude to driver`s who have had "personal and traumatic issues" in their lives, believe me when I say it is disgraceful with no sympathy whatsoever. At the right time I will show this proof on this website. I cannot show this now because the driver(s) will be persecuted.
I also personally witnessed Steele and Percival speak about other drivers problems in front of a full mess room.
Make your own mind up about the above paragraphs.
"If they want rid of somebody, there is no stone they will leave unturned", there are so many individuals that have been discarded by these individuals as if they were a piece of dirt. "The problem is their behaviour is never kept in check", this has to be from the very top of First Group, or so you would think, but what if it wasn`t and First Group knew nothing about this behaviour?As I have witnessed, this behaviour is what was displayed by the Third Reich many years ago, but this group of individuals need to remember that some people have extremely long memories.
Stephen Percival and Andrew Steele have a history of informing drivers that their absence from work "is not a justifiable reason".
Stephen Percival and Andrew Steele have a history of informing drivers that their absence from work "is not a justifiable reason".
What is there left to say about this drivers description of these managers and how he perceives they manage?
Such a small paragraph with such truthful meaning in many ways. Sadly in this country earning a decent wage is so important, it helps create the standard of life that you need for a happier lifestyle. I fully understand why you all behave as individuals and act in accordance with your own belief, which is quite simply, self preservation. I was the idiot who tried to make a stand against this vile regime and acted many times upon your complaints, I found it really hard at first that none of you had the decency to try and back me up. Yet after going through hell and losing virtually everything I can understand why you all kept quiet, but now there are quite a few individuals who can see that sitting back will get you nowhere. All you have to do, is what this person and others have done, send me your concerns, I will highlight them for you, I don`t care who you are, that to me is irrelevant, give me the information in total anonymity.
The above is an example of the bully boy behaviour, is this what First Group want? The wrath of Mark Atkinson is something I witnessed first hand, you only have to read the minutes from my hearing (interrogation) with him to realise this. His behaviour and attitude was unwarranted and caused myself immense distress, especially as he IGNORED my representations on the fact that my warning horn only had a partial failure.
I really do find the above unbelievably hard to believe. How and why did the unions allow this to happen? On first reading this I thought the author must have got mixed up with North Korea. This again is reason enough for you all to take an anonymous stand, give me any information you want to see published, I don't want lies, just the truth and I will post it on this website. If EQUITY was promoted within TransPennine Express then this driver would have been dismissed, because according to TPE (Mark Atkinson) failing to report any incident is a dismissal offence.
Surely the behaviour of a senior manager, Mark Atkinson has to be investigated, should any manager be allowed to humiliate a driver into writing an apology for his actions and then posting it for everyone to see? Is this not an example of bullying at the highest level?
Surely the behaviour of a senior manager, Mark Atkinson has to be investigated, should any manager be allowed to humiliate a driver into writing an apology for his actions and then posting it for everyone to see? Is this not an example of bullying at the highest level?
"and showing her a complete lack of respect", I have shown how this management behave towards women, they are degrading, insulting, sexist and this in general is blatant discrimination. "falsifying daily appearance sheets", remember the driver who apparently falsified his route learning?
If driver Cath Carroll does have documents that prove driver manager Oates under the guidance of Mark Atkinson deliberately engineers a situation which Oates and Atkinson would have used as their weapon of dismissal then higher management should act on this, the unions should act on this.
I would call for an outside organisation to investigate this claim, TPE in - house investigations as I have proved on this site (with more evidence to come) are totally flawed. I don`t know this lady driver, but I do know that she will never feel comfortable at TPE, Atkinson as shown throughout my site will definitely hold a grudge and use any anything he can to cause the demise of this driver.
If driver Cath Carroll does have documents that prove driver manager Oates under the guidance of Mark Atkinson deliberately engineers a situation which Oates and Atkinson would have used as their weapon of dismissal then higher management should act on this, the unions should act on this.
I would call for an outside organisation to investigate this claim, TPE in - house investigations as I have proved on this site (with more evidence to come) are totally flawed. I don`t know this lady driver, but I do know that she will never feel comfortable at TPE, Atkinson as shown throughout my site will definitely hold a grudge and use any anything he can to cause the demise of this driver.
"Serious conduct issues, including falsifying documentation", so let me ask the question, one person is a driver and the other person is a TPE manager, both commit the same offence, shouldn't the charges and outcome be the same? Below is what Vernon Barker thinks.
But as is always the case and highlighted many times (with further proof to come) that EQUITY means absolutely nothing, this management do as they please, what I fail to understand is why the unions sit back and do absolutely nothing, but then with the evidence that I retain it is hardly surprising.
CONTINUED IN PART 2:
CONTINUED IN PART 2: