East Lancs Railway

Has the discussion about today's sacking announcement of a volunteer been banned on this forum. I am surprised nobody else has mentioned it.

Twitter is alive, with the exception of all the blocking Mike Kelly is currently undertaking of all persons trying to get a response.

 

https://twitter.com/JoanneMCrompton/status/1643878780409110533?t=JcNV0ejoiW1M40siNrffwg&s=19

What a mess. And like you say, the chairman is not doing himself any favours with blocking of various accounts querying it.

Edit - chairman not GM, sorry for the mistake.

 

Thanks for posting the link, I wanted to but genuinely surprised this was not in the thread so wondered if I had missed a moderators warning! That's why my post was a little coy!

 

Was also referenced tangentially in this thread, which appears to have some overlap of themes: https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/the-wsr-a-personal-view.1422129/

Tom

 

ELR general manager is female. Mike Kelly is Chairman.

 

What is going on, in the board rooms of heritage Railways, ? theres the long standing problems, of the WSR PLC, then recently issues with the GM at MHR, who has decided to stand down,
Now its the ELR's turn, there seems to be problems don't the people on boards have the skill set to deescalate situations, sacking people should only ever be the last resort, after all avenues have been explored, and there is no other option, I realise our hobby has to become more business-like, and that has to include having decent standards of disciplinary rules, that are understood, and followed, rather than kick out dissenting voices, its far better to approach them, head on, hear what their concerns are, and explain your position , find a common approach, and if its not possible, you have to agree to disagree, but take their concerns seriously. and try to find a working compromise.

 

Correct.

This has blown up for Mike because he started blocking people on Twitter who were simply following Joanne. I notice he has now stopped doing it, cannot imagine why.
As he is their charity governance director I have written officially to him and their GM for an official response. I am not stupid, I accept they will almost certainly not give me a response. If Mike does not then the Charity Commission is next.

Thier GM is also connected to the HRA. She has no discernable social media presence so is not contactable very easily like Mike was, which I suspect is why Mike is getting the barrage.

 

From the railway just boasting about an all female crew for Flying Scotsman and the WSR thread from Robin, the best thing for the ELR to do now is fess up and make amends. Doesn't mean Joanne has to go back (I know I wouldn't) but the fact this has blown up since this morning shows how deeply this situation runs. I don't know Joanne personally but know people who do and not one of them would have a bad thing to say about her. ELR have sh*t the bed here.

 

What is Joanne supposed to have done? I cannot see it mentioned anywhere.

 

I do not know any of the individuals or organisations in this matter but would simply comment that any occurrence like this is a very sad matter indeed because invariably of the harm and personal suffering not only to and of the individuals and organisations involved but also the damage done to the wider movements. There are no winners in situations such as this only losers.

Debating the instant case on a forum such as this is not appropriate.

 

Seemingly she brought a grievance about treatment and "unacceptable behaviour" which was upheld.

Maybe don't fire a volunteer for an upheld grievance. We'd never have known about it if Joanne wasn't let go. RIP Bozo to the ELR, sucks to suck.

 

From a wider perspective, the thing that concerns me is that Volunteers don't have many 'rights' as fellow employees might? What effect this has on encouraging and developing those individuals who we should cherish as giving their time as volunteers?

 

This a really interesting point. I've been on the opposite end and had to discipline a volunteer which there was little guidance or rights etc to the matter. Standard employment law doesn't really cut here. The organisation was also poorly run which was probably a wider problem.

 

Try this...

 

This stems from the fact that many employee rights are based on the legal framework of contracts of employment and the responsibilities of both contracting parties and the payment of monies for the performance of work.

 

That is very sobering, that video needs to be played to every active operational grade member of every preserved railway,

 

As I understood the situation, the MHR GM stood down to look after her husband who is ill.
Are you telling us that there's more to it?

 

that is the official reason, but there has been disquiet over some management issues recently,

 

Yep, sorry, post now amended.

 

That was several years ago and so presumably not directly related.

Personally I am reserving any sort of judgment until the ELR makes a response.