Promotion and Seniority of Drivers, Firemen and Cleaners

RAILWAYS STAFF CONFERENCE MINUTE NO.35, OCTOBER 17th, 1923

The following National arrangements with regards to promotion have been agreed between 
the Railways Staff Conference and the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and 
Firemen and the National Union of Railwaymen:-

1. The principles of the National Agreements, and of the agreed interpretations, as to 
seniority and promotion to continue; and the date of entry into the line of promotion on any 
railway within a group to be the date on which a man’s seniority in the service of the 
Amalgamated Railway is determined.

2. Each Amalgamated Railway to be divided into a suitable number of promotion areas, and 
those areas to be the basis adopted for all purposes of promotion - Cleaners to Firemen, and 
Firemen to Drivers.

3. Acceptance of any promotion involving removal from one depot to another within the same promotional area to be options on the part of the man concerned.

4. no man occupying a position to which his seniority would not entitle him under this 
arrangement is to be put back. Necessary adjustments in the seniority lists to be made only in connection with future promotions.

5. In the event of it being found necessary for men to be put back to firing or cleaners duties, 
such putting back to be applied to juniors in the service in the promotional area despite the 
fact that such men may have been permanently appointed in the higher grade for a longer 
period than others senior to them in length of service.

Following upon Clause 2 above, it has been agreed by Minute No.2 of the Railway Staff 
Conference meeting of April 24th, 1924, that the Southern Railway shall be regarded as one 
promotional area under the new scheme. 

Medical Examination of Drivers, Firemen and Motormen after Sickness

MINUTE NO.3, SECTIONAL COUNCIL NO.2 MEETING, 

DECEMBER 10th, 1924.

The following proposed arrangements for the medical examination of Drivers, Firemen, and 
Motormen were discussed and accepted:-

(a) Men to be examined after an absence from duty of four weeks, and in addition -

(b) If absence is less than four weeks in the undermentioned circumstances:

1. If illness is such as might impair a man’s sight or otherwise affect his ability to 
satisfactorily discharge his duties.

2. After an operation.

3. If illness is due to an infection or contagious disease.

4. Men taken suddenly ill from causes which include the loss of consciousness.

Medical Examination.

MINUTE NO.18 OF SECTIONAL COUNCIL NO.2, MEETING,

JANUARY 13th, 14th, 19th and 20th, 1926.

ITEM

General - Request that men having been passed to qualify as Drivers should not be required 
to submit to another examination when promoted.

MINUTE

It was agreed that Drivers, Firemen and Motormen shall, in future, be examined by the 
Company’s Medical Officers as follows:-

(a) On promotion from Cleaner to Fireman.

(b) On promotion from Fireman to Driver or Motorman.

(c) On reaching age 60, and annually thereafter.

 Transfer of Staff.

MINUTE NO.6, SECTIONAL COUNCIL NO.2, MEETING, 

JULY 30th and AUGUST 7th 1925

ITEM
To consider the question of an agreed allowance being paid to all men transferred to other 
Depots for the Company’s convenience.

MINUTE
In cases where men have to remove their residence for the Company’s convenience an 
allowance of 2s. per day and night will be given to married men up to a period of three 
months. If accommodation has not been obtained during the stipulated time a review of each 
case will take place. Special consideration will be given to single men living with and entirely supporting a parent.  

Period of Notice Require on Leaving Company’s Service.

MINUTE NO.20 OF SECTIONAL COUNCIL NO.2 MEETING,

JANUARY 13th, 14th, 19th and 20th, 1926

ITEM
Period of notice requires on leaving Company’s Service.

MINUTE
It was agreed that the period should be one week.

Substitution of Electric Traction for Steam

MINUTE NO.2 OF SECTIONAL COUNCIL NO.2 MEETING

DECEMBER 10th, 1924

ITEM
Substitution of electric traction for steam. (Deferred from last meeting).

MINUTE
The report of the Sub-Committee (see Appendix “A”) was considered and confirmed.

REPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE, NOVEMBER 12th, 1924
(APPENDIX “A”)

ITEM
1. That as far as possible at Depots where electricity supersedes steam as a means of traction 
all Drivers displaced shall have prior claim to positions of Motormen, or the option of 
remaining on steam work.

MINUTE
Agreed that in the first place the position of Motorman shall be offered to Steam Drivers in 
order of seniority at each depot affected by the substitution of electricity for steam traction.

In the event of an insufficient number of Steam Drivers offering themselves for Motormen’s 
posts at these particular Depots the offer shall be extended to other Steam Drivers on a Line 
basis of seniority.

Failing a sufficient number of Steam Drivers being available by foregoing means Junior 
Drivers on a Line basis to be allotted to the vacant Motormen’s positions.

ITEM
2. The following the filling of vacancies as in the preceding clause all subsequent vacancies 
be filled by locomotive men employed on the Southern Railway who are in the line of 
promotion in order of seniority as laid down in the National Agreements of August, 1919, and the subsequent Agreement of April 24th, 1924, relating of Line Promotion on the Southern Railway. Agreed 

 3. That qualified Motormen regraded as above shall in the following circumstance be 
permitted to return to the Locomotive Department:-