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To: Rt. Hon. Chris Grayling MP, Secretary of State for Transport
Remove DfT Director due to conflict of interest
Remove Department of Transport rail Director, Peter Wilkinson, from his post due to conflict of interest.
Why is this important?
The Department of Transport's Rail Group has a Director of Passenger Services - Peter Wilkinson. He is in charge of a variety of aspects related to but not exclusively the provision of a good service to customers on Britain's railways.
[Ref. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/530525/dft-organisation-chart.pdf]
He is also co-owner and director of Renaissance Trains; a company "established in 1997 to promote the formation of private sector companies operating in the UK rail sector". It is this proposal's belief that the financial benefits of shareholders in private train operators is at odds with the provision of a safe, reliable train service for the benefit of paying customers.
[Ref. http://www.renaissancetrains.com/pete-wilkinson.html]
This conflict of interest could not be more clear when his comments with regard to the ongoing issues with Southern trains. Employees are demoralised and frustrated by mismanagement and threats to their employment. Whilst this proposal is not intended to be for/against the organisation of or industrial relationships with trades unions, a happy and motivated workforce will always provide a better service than the opposite.
Mr. Wilkinson's personal interest in making money out of Britain's transport infrastructure jeopardises the good-running of a service crucial to the nation, threatens the livelihoods and well-being of those employees who have subscribed to join a trades union and places profits ahead of passengers.
Mr. Wilkinson stated on public record;
“We have got to break them [union members]. They have all borrowed money to buy cars and got credit cards. They can’t afford to spend too long on strike and I will push them into that place.”
[Ref. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/19/southern-rail-failure-crush-unions]
