If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2015
    Messages:
    9,185
    Likes Received:
    7,226
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Thorn in my managers side
    Location:
    72
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Potentially an interesting case for an Industrial Tribunal
     
  2. WSSRTcandidates

    WSSRTcandidates New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2020
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    484
    Location:
    All over the country
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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.
     
  3. staffordian

    staffordian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    Messages:
    1,501
    Likes Received:
    2,134
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    The Potteries
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
  4. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,437
    Likes Received:
    17,937
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Indeed, really quite inexcusable. I wonder if anyone will try nonetheless...
     
  5. WSSRTcandidates

    WSSRTcandidates New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2020
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    484
    Location:
    All over the country
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The only hope of bringing an end to this is to join the WSSRT and vote for us.
     
    Bionic_Woman likes this.
  6. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,437
    Likes Received:
    17,937
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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?
     
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2020
    jnc likes this.
  7. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2018
    Messages:
    3,498
    Likes Received:
    6,845
    Location:
    Here, there, everywhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Is voting at the WSSRT AGM blind?
     
    Paulthehitch likes this.
  8. No. All done by voting form returned up to 7 days before a Zoom AGM.
     
  9. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2018
    Messages:
    3,498
    Likes Received:
    6,845
    Location:
    Here, there, everywhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    So relatively easy to see who voted for whom and to punish those who do not vote as they were told to?
     
    Bionic_Woman and Paulthehitch like this.
  10. staffordian

    staffordian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    Messages:
    1,501
    Likes Received:
    2,134
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    The Potteries
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
  11. WSSRTcandidates

    WSSRTcandidates New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2020
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    484
    Location:
    All over the country
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    That is the fear of those who have contacted us.
     
  12. billbedford

    billbedford Member Friend

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2015
    Messages:
    287
    Likes Received:
    326
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    retired
    Location:
    bedford
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    how confident are you that "wrong" votes will not get " lost "as its a postal vote
     
  13. staffordian

    staffordian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    Messages:
    1,501
    Likes Received:
    2,134
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    The Potteries
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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?
     
  14. WSSRTcandidates

    WSSRTcandidates New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2020
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    484
    Location:
    All over the country
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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.
     
  15. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2018
    Messages:
    3,498
    Likes Received:
    6,845
    Location:
    Here, there, everywhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    You need election monitors and/or an independent organisation to run the election.
     
  16. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2015
    Messages:
    9,185
    Likes Received:
    7,226
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Thorn in my managers side
    Location:
    72
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
    dhpaul likes this.
  17. Keith Sims

    Keith Sims Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2015
    Messages:
    224
    Likes Received:
    684
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    retired from volunteering
    Location:
    Somerset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Especially when you remember that the WSR does not appear to have any "anti bullying" procedures in its HR policy!
     
    RailWest, Dennis John Brooks and 35B like this.
  18. Keith Sims

    Keith Sims Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2015
    Messages:
    224
    Likes Received:
    684
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    retired from volunteering
    Location:
    Somerset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Or more recently the "ex6" situation in the WSRA.
     
    Dennis John Brooks likes this.
  19. gwilialan

    gwilialan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2012
    Messages:
    1,658
    Likes Received:
    3,891
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Out there somewhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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
     
  20. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,608
    Likes Received:
    11,222
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
    MellishR, ross, jnc and 2 others like this.

Share This Page