Michel Flor-Henry's Page

Something like that ........

Whether it's deserved or not Ian Coucher for one, though he is stepping down when someone has been found to replaces him. After that it's probably Steve Featherstone, he's in charge of the maintainance arm of the company.
So much anger is felt towards these two probably because they are well known.
As to my analysis, I expect it would be more likely to get me agravation than for anyone to listen.

Bad idea, I may fire it at hate figures in the indurty *coughs* ;-)

Sorry about the repetition. Trying to do too many things at the same time in an unfamiliar situation!
Over the next few weeks I will introduce each of the main issues in MDW on my home page so your offer to mention this to friends is very much appreciated.
Best wishes
John

That's a tough one, not a simple fix.

To start with you need to stick to the principle of keeping it govt owned as it's not for profit and no cash leaks out to shareholders.
Sell it off again and you go back to purely profit motivated ownership, and with 20+ billion in debts who would buy it?

You also need new management that understands the complexity of the engineering works that goes on and the people that do it.
Business managers only seam to understand statistics and figures and they can be misleading.
The management also needs to be able to work with the unions and staff, not treat them as an enemy.

We also need to look at cutting back the sheer bloody paperwork to what's strictly necessary.
We have about 3 or 4 layers of paperwork that can waste hours of time we could be working and causes a lot of unnecessary stress.
Realistically I think we could do with a major IT review and investment .
I used to work for The Halifax years ago and they achieved virtually paperless offices back in the 90's.
When I see the piles of paperwork at Network Rail it just makes me glad I no longer work in the office like I used too.

You also need to separate the HMRI (her majesties Railway Inspectorate) from the money making as it is now.
They should also be directly responsible for the inspection of assets to remove any chance of cover up.

And finally you need a Govt. and Treasury Department that looks at proper investment rather than looking to cut back year after year.
If we were to properly invest in our own technology needs we could probably save a fortune.
For example, most rail is joined together using a time consuming Thermit process which costs us a fortune in equipment and supplies.
If we owned our own flash butt welding technologies and machines I think we would save a fortune and massively cut down on the amount of time it takes to replace rail, one of our biggest work loads.

I realy think this is the kind of thinking that needs to come in.

As you know, I have made my monograph, Make Democracy Work, available as a free download at http://www.scribd.com/doc/34419223/A-MDW-July-2010. I am now trying to find some effective way of getting this discussed by activists in the party who realise that good intentions and pragmatic politics lead only in one direction, who want to establish sound theoretical foundations for Liberal Democracy, and who are prepared to think through the practical implications - however challenging they may be.
If you are interested I would very much welcome your support - and any suggestions you may have on how to make significant progress in getting the dialogue started.
John

I am now trying to find some effective way of provoking serious discussion of the issues raised in Make Democracy Work (http://www.scribd.com/doc/34419223/A-MDW-July-2010) among activists in the party who realise that good intentions and pragmatic politics lead only in one direction, who want to establish sound theoretical foundations for Liberal Democracy, and who are prepared to think through the practical implications - however challenging they may be.
If you are interested I would very much welcome your support - and any suggestions you may have on how to make significant progress in getting the dialogue started.

Well no derailments yet as far as I know but Network rail cutting back on maintainance checks does worry some of us.
On the plus side negotiations between the company and unions are continuing so no sign of strikes.
I'm not sure how I feel about how things are going as if we accept what the company proposes I face being transfered to renewals works where we would have to compeate with contractors. Also it would mean far more unsociable shifts.
As ever the penny pinching goes on with no sign of letting up.
Probably a bit more info than you wanted. ;-)

Hi! thanks for the adding.