Richard is a seasoned industrial relations operator with experience from both sides of the negotiating table in excess of 30 years. He currently works for the train operating company Go Via Thameslink Railway (GTR ) and was previously an Industrial Relations Officer with the transport trade union, Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) working with a range of diverse organisations in both the private and public sector including Thomas Cook , Turkish Airlines , Stena Line , P&O , Transport for London , London Underground and the British Transport Police. He spent 12 years as a Labour Councillor in Bexley and stood for Parliament in 1997 against the former Prime Minister the late Ted Heath.