Railway staff unions industrial and strike action - 2023

[whole diary]

[MVR S&T]

I and most I talk to have lost the trust of the trains to get them to their destinations, let alone get them back, commuting has changed for ever too, wake up industry and unions, please.

[TaplowGreen]

Journeycheck currently shows 20 cancellations and 27 part cancellations, the vast majority are due to ‘industrial action’.

As at 10.50, 38 cancellations related to Industrial action.

Looking at the bigger picture, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) isn’t fairing too badly compared against some of the other operators today. With more drivers currently in training I can only see todays cancellations reducing over the next 6 months.

I got the 1129 from Reading-Plymouth today, despite all the warnings given due to the ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) action it was on time and normally loaded.......notwithstanding the problems  caused by the points issues near Bristol today, the effect of the industrial action on longer distance services seems to be pretty minimal so far and mainly restricted to branch/smaller lines?

[NickB]

1hr 40mins to get from paddington to Maidenhead last night.

Arrived at paddington 17.10
17.20 cancelled at last minute
Waited for 17.50
Platform for 17.50 dangerously overcrowded
17.50 turns engine and lights off. No announcement made about intention to run.
Transfer to Elizabeth Line to catch 18.00
18.00 runs slightly late, arriving at Maidenhead 18.50

I can’t wait to go back tomorrow.

[TaplowGreen]

1hr 40mins to get from paddington to Maidenhead last night.

Arrived at paddington 17.10
17.20 cancelled at last minute
Waited for 17.50
Platform for 17.50 dangerously overcrowded
17.50 turns engine and lights off. No announcement made about intention to run.
Transfer to Elizabeth Line to catch 18.00
18.00 runs slightly late, arriving at Maidenhead 18.50

I can’t wait to go back tomorrow.

Better off sticking to the Elizabeth Line. Unaffected by the Industrial action.

[NickB]

I think that’s a good plan.

[TaplowGreen]

Bruvver Mick's getting the Underground in on the act now.......

https://news.sky.com/story/rmt-announces-strikes-on-london-underground-later-this-month-12916339

[TaplowGreen]

.....more tilting at windmills announced....

https://news.sky.com/story/fresh-overtime-ban-at-height-of-summer-holidays-announced-by-train-drivers-in-aslef-union-12922273

[ChrisB]

Might be slightly more effective what with the holiday season upon us - there may be more drivers off that need cover

[TaplowGreen]

Might be slightly more effective what with the holiday season upon us - there may be more drivers off that need cover

Effective in creating inconvenience for the public, totally ineffective in securing any more for their members.

......and probably more than slightly more effective in making people choose the car rather than the train.

[trainbuff]

The sad fact of that offer is that if they stopped at this:

The proposal comprises a two-year pay offer which provides for a 4% increase in year one (including retrospective pay) and a further increase of 4% in year two

This would have been settled a long time ago.  The changes to the terms and conditions aren’t, in my opinion, going to make any significant cost savings.
Significant cost savings can only be achieved by altering the structure of the franchising system, and that will never happen because that would be accepting privatisation has failed.

The same with RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) too. Its the conditions being ripped up that matter

[PhilWakely]

What I find annoying is the double standards being employed by the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) (or should I say, the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about), or should I say the Tory Government).

The TSSA^» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about) Union voted to accept the pay deal on the condition that the changes to T&Cs would be negotiated in 'Year 2' as suggested by the TOCs. However, because of the collective bargaining agreement, this has not been honoured for non-management grades because the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) rejected the same deal.

Now, despite the fact that the Unions have rejected the changes to T&Cs, the TOCs are still pressing ahead with them.

So, you can't have your pay rise that you accepted because some of your colleagues rejected it, but we are still pressing ahead with changes to the T&Cs even though you rejected it!

Double standards, or what?

[plymothian]

《Was misinformed.》

[TaplowGreen]

Bruvver Lynch currently on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) - refusing to give a figure for what represents an acceptable pay rise and also that the Government are not telling the truth re: Ticket office staff moving from behind the glass to platforms/concourses.

[grahame]

Bruvver Lynch currently on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) - refusing to give a figure for what represents an acceptable pay rise and also that the Government are not telling the truth re: Ticket office staff moving from behind the glass to platforms/concourses.

Is it just me ... or are we getting further from a solution to industrial action on the railways rather than working towards a solution?

Who is thinking for and standing up for those of us who want to travel?

[TaplowGreen]

Bruvver Lynch currently on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) - refusing to give a figure for what represents an acceptable pay rise and also that the Government are not telling the truth re: Ticket office staff moving from behind the glass to platforms/concourses.

Is it just me ... or are we getting further from a solution to industrial action on the railways rather than working towards a solution?

Who is thinking for and standing up for those of us who want to travel?

Couldn't agree more.