Planned Industrial Action

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Send in Mark Hopwood...   

[Timmer]

Can Mark bring anything different to the negotiating table that his predecessor couldn’t if the same rules laid down by the Dft still apply?

Maybe a different less hostile approach to the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)?

[SandTEngineer]

From the TIMES:

The new boss of South Western Railway has told The Times that he won't give in to the demands of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union even though almost half the company's weekend trains were cancelled last month because of a strike.

Mark Hopwood, who takes up his new job today, says that caving in over the role of guards on trains would sacrifice the company's ability to improve punctuality.

[broadgage]

The main challenge will presumably be the long running dispute over DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)). Most industrial disputes can be solved by compromise, but this one looks different.
Trains are either DOO or they are not, compromises are not easy in a yes/no situation like this.

Meanwhile, I hope that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will not be neglected. Whilst I am not entirely in agreement with Mr. Hopwood, he is undoubtedly a man of wide experience who understands railways. And has had the courage to engage with this forum.

[JayMac]

Trains are either DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) or they are not, compromises are not easy in a yes/no situation like this.

Or they're DCO^▸ (Driver Controlled Operation), or DOO(P), or Driver and OBS.

[johngreg]

interesting article discussing this issue at:

https://www.londonreconnections.com/2020/guards-in-name-only-dwell-times-and-the-swr-guards-dispute/

[Timmer]

More good news for SWR^» (South Western Railway - about):
https://twitter.com/PaulCliftonBBC/status/1220358867047145472

[rogerw]

It is interesting to note that just less than half of those entitled to vote actually voted to strike with slightly more in favour of action short of strike.  It almost suggests that those not in favour didn't bother to vote.  I am sure that Boris will use this should he propose any new anti-union legislation.

[IndustryInsider]

I am sure that Boris will use this should he propose any new anti-union legislation.

That will certainly encourage more people to use their vote.  Either for or against.

[Timmer]

Can Mark bring anything different to the negotiating table that his predecessor couldn’t if the same rules laid down by the Dft still apply?

Maybe a different less hostile approach to the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)?

Simple answer...no. But to be fair was he ever going to?

New dates:

1000 Mon 9 March to 1000 Tue 10 and 1000 Thu 12 to 1000 Fri 13 March

[bobm]

According to Twitter next week’s strikes have been suspended. 

[bradshaw]

RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) website confirms the suspension of strikes to allow further talks on Friday

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/swr-strike-action-suspended-to-allow-for-further-talks/

[Clan Line]

Who blinked ??

[stuving]

At last! From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

South Western Railway train guard dispute finally ends

A long-running dispute over the role of train guards which caused widespread passenger disruption on South Western Railway (SWR^» (South Western Railway - about)) has ended.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)) union held 74 days of strikes between 2017 and 2020.

Its members had fought plans for drivers to operate the doors on new trains, instead of guards.

But it has now accepted the change after SWR guaranteed a guard would still be put on every passenger train.

Disruption caused by industrial action typically resulted in 800 trains being cancelled on every strike day, affecting tens of thousands of passengers each time.

The last strike came in January last year, but the dispute was still unresolved when the pandemic struck.

[grahame]

From Rail Technology Magazine

South Western Railway finds common ground to end guard dispute



Three years and 74 days of strike action it has taken for the South Western Railway company and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)) to come to an agreement.

Causing overall a total of 800 trains being cancelled affecting tens of thousands of passengers.

The issue and area of disagreement concerned plans for drivers to operate the doors on new trains, instead of guards.

However there has been common ground found after this ongoing and ‘tug of war’ which raged through the pandemic with the latest strike being in January.

I find myself wondering

1. Why common ground could not be found three years and seventy FIVE days ago before any of the damaging strikes

2. When Waterloo was remodelled to look like King's Cross - as per the illustration above