Railway staff unions industrial and strike action - 2023

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

Striking on Cup Final day.......that'll get a lot of public sympathy in Manchester! 

I suspect striking the day before Eurovision isn't going to go down well either, especially given the circumstances that Liverpool are hosting the event is because the winners last year, Ukraine can't.

[infoman]

RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) strike day announced for saturday 13th May.

[TaplowGreen]

RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) strike day announced for saturday 13th May.

The date of Army v Navy at Twickenham. Highlight of many veterans year.....

The ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about)/RMT bruvvers have really thought these dates through haven't they?

[JayMac]

Bullets dodged thus far for my travel to the Isle of Man on 16th/17th May. ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about)'s overtime ban between 15th-20th May will hopefully not affect me. Depot drivers only for SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) and Grand Central aren't affected at all. Enough padding in my schedule from Shipley to Heysham on the 17th if there's service disruption on Northern Trains due to that overtime ban. Push comes to shove I can get a taxi from Lancaster station to the port.

Conceivably, my return journey could be affected if the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) get a renewed six month mandate for strike action from the ballot result due on the 4th May. They do have to give 14 days notice of strike action so my outward travel on 16th/17th May can't be affected. I just hope they don't decide on 22nd May as a strike day if they get another mandate.

[CyclingSid]

I suspect striking the day before Eurovision isn't going to go down well either, especially given the circumstances that Liverpool are hosting the event is because the winners last year, Ukraine can't.

Doesn't look good in comparison with Ukrainian Railways.

[JayMac]

RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) have got another 6 month mandate for continued strike action against 14 TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company).

Ballot results saw 91% vote yes. Average turnout across the TOCs was 70%

From the RMT

4 May 2023

RMT Press Office:

RAIL union RMT announced the results of a re-ballot of members working for 14 train operating companies today which massively re-affirmed a mandate for further strike action.

All the ballots passed the 50 per cent participation threshold imposed by the government’s anti-trade union laws and included massive votes for further strike action.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the overwhelming backing for further strike action across 14 train operating companies was a de-facto referendum on the dispute.

“It is clear from these results that members are not prepared to accept a pay offer based on mass job cuts and major attacks on their terms and conditions.

“This sends a clear message to the employers that the huge anger amongst rail workers is very real and they need to recognise that fact, face reality and make improved proposals.

“They need to get around the table with RMT and negotiate in good faith for a better deal for rail workers,” he said.

The breakdown of the votes at each TOC was:

[Timmer]

That certainly is an overwhelming mandate, not much changed from the previous ballot.

Now we wait to see what the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) Executive do next with regards to industrial action.

[ChrisB]

Wasn’t the previous mandate across 16 TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company), or is my memory faulty?

[JayMac]

Wasn’t the previous mandate across 16 TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company), or is my memory faulty?

Previous mandate in November 2022 was 14 TOCs, but it also included Network Rail. RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) staff at Network Rail settled back in March.
https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-renews-national-rail-strike-mandate-for-another-6-months/

[grahame]

From Left Foot Forward (the name of the publication suggests a particular political position)

The transport secretary Mark Harper has been accused of “muddying the waters” by presenting misleading narratives in the rail dispute, on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Question Time last night.

When answering questions on resolving the rail strikes, Mark Harper attempted to shirk responsibility by referring to train drivers pay and unused ticket offices.

It comes as the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) union smashed their latest mandate for strike action, meaning members working for 14 train operating companies could strike again over the next six months.

It is their third mandate in the National Rail Dispute, with the latest receiving a 91% yes vote.

Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary said the mandate sends a clear message to employers of the “huge anger” amongst rail workers.

Speaking about the rail disputes and supposed job losses of ticket staff, Harper said people do not buy tickets from ticket offices anymore and that they are not needed.

Peter Hitchens, an English conservative author, who has been referred to as an “unlikely union man” since his appearance on the show last night, blasted Harper for deflecting the issue and questioned if this had really been agreed.

I note though

* 91% is a significant vote at a third mandate

* It's very hard for me to buy a ticket from my local ticket office when there isn't one. That's why I don't buy from the ticket office - I can't! People I speak with in my Town Council role tell me that one of the things that puts them off using the train is not understanding the ticketing and fare and car parking payment systems that a real live person could help them resolve.

[TaplowGreen]

From Left Foot Forward (the name of the publication suggests a particular political position)

The transport secretary Mark Harper has been accused of “muddying the waters” by presenting misleading narratives in the rail dispute, on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Question Time last night.

When answering questions on resolving the rail strikes, Mark Harper attempted to shirk responsibility by referring to train drivers pay and unused ticket offices.

It comes as the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) union smashed their latest mandate for strike action, meaning members working for 14 train operating companies could strike again over the next six months.

It is their third mandate in the National Rail Dispute, with the latest receiving a 91% yes vote.

Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary said the mandate sends a clear message to employers of the “huge anger” amongst rail workers.

Speaking about the rail disputes and supposed job losses of ticket staff, Harper said people do not buy tickets from ticket offices anymore and that they are not needed.

Peter Hitchens, an English conservative author, who has been referred to as an “unlikely union man” since his appearance on the show last night, blasted Harper for deflecting the issue and questioned if this had really been agreed.

I note though

* 91% is a significant vote at a third mandate

* It's very hard for me to buy a ticket from my local ticket office when there isn't one. That's why I don't buy from the ticket office - I can't! People I speak with in my Town Council role tell me that one of the things that puts them off using the train is not understanding the ticketing and fare and car parking payment systems that a real live person could help them resolve.

Then the answer is to simplify the ticketing and fare system, not sustain a necessity to employ people to explain it.

Over 80% of tickets are now purchased online, via ticket machines or other means such as tap in/out. We will never return to the previous situation. It is absurd to suggest that the railways should not recognise and act on this.

It isn't right to close every ticket office but neither is it right to insist, as the Trade Unions do, that there must be no change to the status quo.

Provision must be made for those that need help and this can be achieved via getting people out of ticket offices into a wider ranging customer service role, on the platform/concourse/gateline.

I think the Unions are correct on issues like DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) however it is correct to challenge their total intransigence on this one.

(And yes, as you and the name suggest, there are more objective sources than "Left Foot Forward") 

[Fourbee]

Provision must be made for those that need help and this can be achieved via getting people out of ticket offices into a wider ranging customer service role, on the platform/concourse/gateline.

Depending on the station setup, wouldn't another situation to get people out from "behind the glass" be just to remove the glass? That way people can still be served in turn rather than potentially swamping them in a random order on the station?

[Clan Line]

...................... is it right to insist, as the Trade Unions do, that there must be no change to the status quo.

Just how long did it take to get rid of "firemen" (under various other names) on diesel/electric locos.

[TaplowGreen]

...................... is it right to insist, as the Trade Unions do, that there must be no change to the status quo.

Just how long did it take to get rid of "firemen" (under various other names) on diesel/electric locos.

I don't know........years? decades?

[froome]

We were originally planning on travelling on Friday up to mid Wales to a friend's celebration there, and have accommodation booked. With the uncertainty about whether any trains will be running on either Friday or Saturday, we have now decided to travel tomorrow and stay an extra night.

However, my question is about bustitution on strike days, as our journey would have involved using this (between Shrewsbury and Machynlleth). If it isn't known well in advance whether a train service can be run to link with this service, is the bustitution automatically cancelled, or is it retained 'just in case'?