West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Potentially an interesting case for an Industrial Tribunal

 

For those with the courage, the inclination, the time and the money, maybe. But otherwise it's probably easiest for most just to comply with the bullying and the threats.

 

I really can't get my head around this.

Just when you think things can't get worse, and that perhaps wiser heads were prevailing, along comes another bombshell.

Not only interference in a democratic process, but more bullying to boot.

I despair.

 

Indeed, really quite inexcusable. I wonder if anyone will try nonetheless...

 

The only hope of bringing an end to this is to join the WSSRT and vote for us.

 

Just idly wondering whether this tactic might backfire. There may be people who perhaps don't support the current regime but don't want to get involved and try to stay out of it. Once you've been forced to all the effort of joining the WSSRT, then voting one way is as easy as voting the other, and people are being forced to make a choice. Being forced to join an organisation to vote a specific way is hardly a way to engender support for the actual vote, I wonder if they'll like how many people previously staying out of things turn out to vote? How anonymous is the proxy voting?

 

Is voting at the WSSRT AGM blind?

 

No. All done by voting form returned up to 7 days before a Zoom AGM.

 

So relatively easy to see who voted for whom and to punish those who do not vote as they were told to?

 

So the WSSRT trustees (and if what appears to be happening continues) the plc management will know who voted which way, and be able to remove ID cards etc from those who don't vote "the right way"?

Reminds me of nineteenth century election practices.

 

That is the fear of those who have contacted us.

 

how confident are you that "wrong" votes will not get " lost "as its a postal vote

 

And...

Does this mean that volunteers, who presumably would already be WSSRT members if they were so inclined, are not only being coerced into joining then voting in a way they might not wish to, but are being forced to pay for this privilege?

Or worse, perhaps, is their membership being paid for, aka buying votes?

 

That is a good question, we are relying in good faith upon the honour of the WSSRT Trustees (including the three recently co-opted Trustees) to ensure that all postal voting is carried out fairly.

 

You need election monitors and/or an independent organisation to run the election.

 

There are a number of issues that perplex me, firstly the attitude of the HRA who have a member on the board - in a personal capacity & of course John Bailey who was asked to look at the eviction of the S&DRT. How I wonder do they view things given the latest allegations?

Secondly there are a number of board members who are young enough to have a long career ahead of them who seem to be mute on something that could clearly in terms of a railway career scar them for a long time but still they remain mute.

 

Especially when you remember that the WSR does not appear to have any "anti bullying" procedures in its HR policy!

 

Or more recently the "ex6" situation in the WSRA.

 

There has been a complete loss of trust in the WSSRT and Plc boards. The only way this election can be seen to be carried out fairly is to have a completely independent 'Teller' to whom the votes could be sent in confidence and who will simply supply the final total numbers to the meeting and not any personal details.

The question is "Who is now independent?" I don't think anyone currently involved with the railway would be acceptable - perhaps someone else from the HRA who has had nothing to do with any of this or maybe the local councillor or one of his team might oblige?

The WSSRT Board supplying personal details of voters to the WSR Board would be illegal under data protection and may result in significant fines being applied

 

Just when you think, it can't get any worse, it does, My advise to those who were told in effect vote this way, or lose your plc card, is to call their bluff, and to those others, I ask, do you find this acceptable? perhaps you need to start to hit back. against your management, if they are prepared to treat your fellow members in this way. It's almost as if those in charge actually want to close the line, for what ever reason its like saying, if I can't rule it, then i will destroy it to prevent the others from taking my railway off me.