Been contacted by Wirral Globe newspaper

[First Class]

RE: Been contacted by Wirral Globe newspaper

(06/03/2013 17:05)mbonwick Wrote:  I fail to see what the issue is?

Staff passes are issued as an act of goodwill from the company to their employees. Why should other companies lose money by carrying someone elses staff for free?

Similarly, the 4-week passes issue has been discussed elsewhere, and brings the ex-First QBPs into line with the others which Stagecoach are involved with.

Some staff passes are issued as they form a part of the employee contract, and within the terms and conditions. They are not always "goodwill", especially if an employee's contract terms have been protected through TUPE. Sometimes they contractually MUST provide staff travel facilities.

If an agreement exists, on QBP routes, that ALL tickets, except m-tickets, are interchangeable between operators, then until that agreement is terminated, staff passes, annual, 4-weekly etc passes continue to be valid on both companies.

I am aware that the OFT are considering a number of responses received in relation to the Wirral takeover, concerning ticketing arrangements and the adverse affect on competition that will result if Stagecoach make changes to the partnership, especially on the 1/2/X2. It will be interesting to see whether it is referred to the competition commissioner.