Losing more Lockkeepers - just in time for the new season

[Appassionata]

"Sensitive information" my backside! It needs to get out there! I spotted a bit on Facebook this evening.

What a total, MONUMENTAL **** up! Waterways 'management' is not fit for purpose. The treatment of the sacked temps and remaining permanent lock and weir keepers is inhumane. The majority are good, kind, hard-working people and weir-keeping is a Dark Art that takes years to get as near right as you can.

My heart goes out to these people who love the river so......

 

[Mushroom2]

Low cost airline crews are severely restricted as to how much of their leave they can take during the busy summer months.

As far as I know permanent lockkeepers have no such restrictions - just to add to boaters misery.

 

[Chris_d]

Low cost airline crews are severely restricted as to how much of their leave they can take during the busy summer months.

As far as I know permanent lockkeepers have no such restrictions - just to add to boaters misery.

Years ago I suspect a Lock keeper wouldn't have dreamed of taking a two week break in the middle of the busy season, however times and the EA have changed. No assistance, militant boaters, poorly maintained infrastructure, I know when I would take all my leave!

 

[Parabordi]

And muppets for managers

 

[billskip]

I lived on the Thames for about 10years had a boat at the bottom of the garden, as with most people free time was weekends and bank holidays...so it was a bit like rush hour every time I wanted to have a weekend away on the boat.
I found that it was far easier travelling outside lock keepers hours as most boaters would be tied up to the bank and too lazy to operate themselves. Lots would tie up in the lock cut and wait for someone like me to come along and open the gate's, they would all castoff and enter the lock, we'll I'd done my bit and just sat there with them all wondering what to do next.
Bit like traffic lights,when they fail there's less congestion.

 

[billskip]

Oldgit, to be fair (for once!) to the EA, the Asda cashier does not get provided with a house to go with the job. And Barge, yes that is true, but looks very much not happening for them this year.

Asda cashier doesn't have to keep the garden and surrounding area clean tidy and presentable, adjust and monitor the wier, clean the public toilets, and get assistance from husband wife or partner (unpaid) during the busy tines,also doesn't need lifesaving and first aid qualification.

 

[oldgit]

Asda cashier doesn't have to keep the garden and surrounding area clean tidy and presentable, adjust and monitor the wier, clean the public toilets, and get assistance from husband wife or partner (unpaid) during the busy tines,also doesn't need lifesaving and first aid qualification.

Wonder why you cannot recruit and retain career lockeepers, on call 24/7 in all weathers but only able to pay a rate that a supermarket can offer somebody after a short morning training on the till.
Whatever the shortcomings of the upper echelons of the EA management , you can no longer expect to provide a 1960s Champagne service on 2024 Beer Money. ?
The navigation needs more money or cut its cloth to suit its current public funding .............just like the rest of UK. PLC ?

 

[billskip]

The navigation needs more money

Initially more efficient use of the money it has....

 

[Outinthedinghy]

I'm always happy to do the locks and have been mistaken for the lock keeper on a number of occasions but the liability thing is interesting.

If there are to be fewer employed lock keepers then more locks will be operated by non trained persons. This does not mean they do not understand what to do. Plenty of Boat owners will be fully au fait with the workings of a lock.

What interests me is the position if a Boat owner (myself as an example) were to be operating the lock with a full chamber and a terrible accident happens resulting in a load of children and a granny falling in and being crushed between Boats and eventually drowning.

How would the inquest view the fact that there was not a trained operative doing the lock controls?

When on public power most of the locks have no emergency override systems and one can not reverse the opening of the sluices.


Hopefully I would be able to point to this as the reason for the granny and kids having their last breaths mostly consisting of water but then why is there no safety override system?

Run around in circles screaming ?

 

[oldgit]

I'm always happy to do the locks and have been mistaken for the lock keeper on a number of occasions but the liability thing is interesting.

If there are to be fewer employed lock keepers then more locks will be operated by non trained persons. This does not mean they do not understand what to do. Plenty of Boat owners will be fully au fait with the workings of a lock.

What interests me is the position if a Boat owner (myself as an example) were to be operating the lock with a full chamber and a terrible accident happens resulting in a load of children and a granny falling in and being crushed between Boats and eventually drowning.

How would the inquest view the fact that there was not a trained operative doing the lock controls?

When on public power most of the locks have no emergency override systems and one can not reverse the opening of the sluices.


Hopefully I would be able to point to this as the reason for the granny and kids having their last breaths mostly consisting of water but then why is there no safety override system?

Run around in circles screaming ?

Simple solution ? everybody elses grannies and kids seem to survive on other navigations using these low energy low tech solutions.






Nobody is wearing those effete little gloves in worrying shades of Puce that are de rigour on old father Thames ?
Yes and you have to get off the boat.....................He who pays the piper.

 

[Barge]

Heard on the grapevine but seems legit...EA are now re-recruiting 10 Relief Lock Keeper to be in situ by the May Bank holiday with contracts till 31st October

Just hope they look after their longstanding reliefs first... One of the newer ones is a right PIA who i try to avoid.

 

[NiceDrHowl]

Does there come a time when the lack of trained staff creates a risk to the river users ? Would the agency or the river 'management' then be liable for accidents ?

In other parts of the tourism industry e.g. beaches, that appears to be the case with beaches and pools closed when lifeguards are not available.

The locks on the Thames are public facilities and can be used by any licensed craft at any time. The job title is Lock and Weir Manager (not Lock Keeper) and the main role is flood risk management. Having said that, they also look after the grounds of the lock a under the command and direction of the Resident Lock and Weir Manager.

It doesn’t take any particular skill to operate a lock. If there is an accident it is usually because a boater has done something stupid or reckless and is maybe inebriated.

Temporary Lock and Weir Managers also help boats through the locks at busy times as required, and can fill and empty locks a lot faster than a boater using ‘public power’. A Temp will typically look after 5 locks, switching between them as required.

Volunteer Lock Assistants also help boats through locks during busy times, but only under the direction and command of either Temporary Lock and Weir Manager or the Resident Lock and Weir Manager..

 

[Big John]

The EA said they would employ 10 but I have been told only 8 so far have been employed. Heard today one of them has dropped out. So only 7 now available. Isn't there a "travelling in the car song" about 10 green bottles sitting on a wall.

 

[NiceDrHowl]

Simple solution ? everybody elses grannies and kids seem to survive on other navigations using these low energy low tech solutions.






Nobody is wearing those effete little gloves in worrying shades of Puce that are de rigour on old father Thames ?
Yes and you have to get off the boat.....................He who pays the piper.

Years ago I suspect a Lock keeper wouldn't have dreamed of taking a two week break in the middle of the busy season, however times and the EA have changed. No assistance, militant boaters, poorly maintained infrastructure, I know when I would take all my leave!

It’s going to be a self service year as the 60 lock staff will be entitled to take their annual leave and with no summer staff to cover and the failure rate of the lock systems I anticipate that hand winding and long queues at some locks will become the norm.

The power will be on. The need for hand winding only arise when an impatient boater trips the power by impatientl

Heard on the grapevine but seems legit...EA are now re-recruiting 10 Relief Lock Keeper to be in situ by the May Bank holiday with contracts till 31st October

Just hope they look after their longstanding reliefs first... One of the newer ones is a right PIA who i try to avoid.

which locks is the pia at?

 

[macnorton]

On the Nene with 38 locks the EA do not provide one lockeeper! even the tidal lock and sluices are not manned, there are two inspectors for the whole river, fees on the Nene are approx double those on the Thames and the river is closed more than 6 months of each year to repair the neglect done to the structures by years of EA failure.

If you change boat during the year there is no refund and you have to pay for a full years licence from March for the new one regardless of when you bought it.
the canals are also used to divert and dump excess water from other areas even if the river is in full flood.

It can and likely will get worse until a navigation authority takes over all EA waters where we will not have to fund ea waste and staffs early retirement on good pay for life and may attract staff that have a clue

When cut backs are announced it wont be retirement age change, company cars, bonuses or pension cuts that are proposed

 

[Gibeltarik]

Avg wage. 1980 £125.00.
Avg wage 2024 £682.00.

EA advert for Lockeeper.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated person to work outside in a customer facing environment. An opportunity has arisen to recruit two resident lock and weir keepers, one at Grafton and one at Rushey Lock, on the River Thames near Bampton. The role requires you to work to a daytime rota, including covering other lock and weir complexes as and when required.

Salary £23,963 PA or £440 per week...... 24/7in all weathers.

ASDA cashier £425.00 40 hours..... in the warm and dry and no doubt a discount or two.
Both get a uniform.

And as a LWK a house..........

 

[Gibeltarik]

I'm always happy to do the locks and have been mistaken for the lock keeper on a number of occasions but the liability thing is interesting.

If there are to be fewer employed lock keepers then more locks will be operated by non trained persons. This does not mean they do not understand what to do. Plenty of Boat owners will be fully au fait with the workings of a lock.

What interests me is the position if a Boat owner (myself as an example) were to be operating the lock with a full chamber and a terrible accident happens resulting in a load of children and a granny falling in and being crushed between Boats and eventually drowning.

How would the inquest view the fact that there was not a trained operative doing the lock controls?

When on public power most of the locks have no emergency override systems and one can not reverse the opening of the sluices.


Hopefully I would be able to point to this as the reason for the granny and kids having their last breaths mostly consisting of water but then why is there no safety override system?

Run around in circles screaming ?

Don't go there - could be an excuse to remove public power........................

 

[Celica]

On the Nene with 38 locks the EA do not provide one lockeeper! even the tidal lock and sluices are not manned, there are two inspectors for the whole river, fees on the Nene are approx double those on the Thames and the river is closed more than 6 months of each year to repair the neglect done to the structures by years of EA failure.

If you change boat during the year there is no refund and you have to pay for a full years licence from March for the new one regardless of when you bought it.
the canals are also used to divert and dump excess water from other areas even if the river is in full flood.

It can and likely will get worse until a navigation authority takes over all EA waters where we will not have to fund ea waste and staffs early retirement on good pay for life and may attract staff that have a clue

When cut backs are announced it wont be retirement age change, company cars, bonuses or pension cuts that are proposed

Not sure where you get your info, but you are wrong. Anglian waterways have over 200 miles of navigable waterways, and are expensive to maintain.
Pay in Ea isn’t fantastic, the days of company cars have well gone. Early retirement? Why can’t people retire if they got their time in or can afford to. Pensions are paid into. It’s not final salary anymore.
Why would you need Lock keepers? You said yourself the Ea are over paid with company cars on good pensions. Do you want 38 more? Entry tidal locks do have lockeepers.
Repairs are expensive due to government frameworks, blame the government not the EA.
What do you expect to do with flood water, you can blame the EA for a lot of things but you can’t blame the weather on them.

 

[Barge]

I have just seen 3 EA bods finish putting to bed a patrol vessel at lunchtime a couple of days ago, they got into three very shiny vehicles to go their separate ways... Not sure what the purpose of their day was but i doubt it was cost efficient.

 

[billskip]

I have just seen 3 EA bods finish putting to bed a patrol vessel at lunchtime a couple of days ago, they got into three very shiny vehicles to go their separate ways... Not sure what the purpose of their day was but i doubt it was cost efficient.

Men in black.....