Railway staff unions industrial and strike action - 2023

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I was seemingly too optimistic when I changed the thread title to include 2023.

Yep. Looks like 2024 is almost a cert now. Action will most likely continue until the General Election.

Legally that could be January 2025!

After yesterday's by-elections, could the Conservatives wish to hang on as long as possible?

[old original]

Plan to run 40% of services during strikes by Christmas with new law.....
will be interesting how this works out....


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67333310

[ChrisB]

I was seemingly too optimistic when I changed the thread title to include 2023.

Yep. Looks like 2024 is almost a cert now. Action will most likely continue until the General Election.

Legally that could be January 2025!

Ballots for strikes only last 6 months, then they need another. Not sure how you reached January 2025?

[grahame]

Plan to run 40% of services during strikes by Christmas with new law.....
will be interesting how this works out....


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67333310

Under the rules for train operators, the government said the equivalent of 40% of normal timetables should operate during strike action, allowing priority routes to stay open.

First and second class lines? People getting so used to travelling to a railhead that they do so all the time and, oh look, we can implement Serpell.

[ChrisB]

The "equivalent of" reads to me that major arteries will be kept running while rural/branch lines may get zero service.

[grahame]

From The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) members are to vote on a pay deal that could end the union's ongoing wave of industrial action against train companies.

Operators have put forward an offer that proposes backdated pay rises for staff and job security guarantees.

RMT boss Mick Lynch said he supported the deal, calling it a "welcome development".

The transport department called it "a positive step towards resolving this dispute".

and from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)

Dear Graham
 
We promised to keep you updated on the national dispute with the Rail Maritime Trade Union (RMT) - on board and station staff. The Rail Delivery Group and the RMT have just issued the statement below and we thought you would want to see it as soon as possible.
 
Following further negotiations between RDG^‡(resolve) and RMT, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the current dispute has been developed which sets out a process for a mutually agreed way forward, including a backdated 2022 pay rise for staff and job security guarantees. This will now be put to RMT members in each of the Train Operating Companies in a referendum vote. If accepted, this MOU will terminate the national dispute mandate, creating a pause and respite from industrial action over the Christmas period and into Spring next year, while allowing for these important negotiations on proposed reforms to take place at local train operating company level, through the established collective bargaining structures. These discussions would be aimed at addressing the companies' proposals on the changing needs and expectations of passengers as well as unlocking further increases for staff, in order to help to secure a sustainable, long-term future for the railway and all those who work on it.
 
This is a clear step forward and will be welcome news for customers and colleagues.  We will of course continue to keep you updated as things progress.
 
I should also note that this covers the RMT and not ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) (train drivers) and the RDG continues to work with them.
 
As ever if you have any questions do let me know.
 
Best wishes

[ChrisB]

Now the station TOs have been kicked into the longer grass, there’s little that the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)/Treasury can argue for & need to sort this prior to the election in the mistaken belief it may win them more votes

[TaplowGreen]

Now the station TOs have been kicked into the longer grass, there’s little that the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)/Treasury can argue for & need to sort this prior to the election in the mistaken belief it may win them more votes

I think it's a mistaken belief that there are many votes at stake in respect of this issue one way or the other.

[grahame]

From the Mail Online

Thousands of striking rail workers have lost far more in wages than they will get from a pay deal accepted by union barons.

Train guards have on average lost £3,600 since the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) union began striking last June, figures shared with the Mail show.

And on-board catering staff and station ticket sellers are out of pocket by £2,990.

In contrast, the lowest paid will get a lump sum of £1,750 as part of a deal accepted by RMT leaders this week in a bid to bring the union's 18-month strike campaign to an end.

The deal is subject to 20,000 train guards, catering staff and ticket sellers accepting it in a ballot. The union will not advise them to reject it, raising hopes it will be accepted.

And yet for ticket selling staff, HAVE they lost far more than they have gained?   Have they gained, with the help of thousands upon thousands of thousands of rail users, a continuation of their employment?   I know the statement that ticket office staff would continue to employed but for some the move away from a fixed location would have been unwelcome or impractical.

[IndustryInsider]

Now the station TOs have been kicked into the longer grass, there’s little that the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)/Treasury can argue for & need to sort this prior to the election in the mistaken belief it may win them more votes

I think it's a mistaken belief that there are many votes at stake in respect of this issue one way or the other.

And yet for ticket selling staff, HAVE they lost far more than they have gained?   Have they gained, with the help of thousands upon thousands of thousands of rail users, a continuation of their employment?   I know the statement that ticket office staff would continue to employed but for some the move away from a fixed location would have been unwelcome or impractical.

However you look at it, it's clear that the surprising complete u-turn by the DfT on ticket office closures has released the main log jam in the dispute and that should be welcomed by all.

[old original]

With ticket office staff, I know that several staff had already applied for, been interviewed and offered other positions, mainly on board. If they wanted to return to their original posts would they be allowed to? If not or if they didn't want to, will management fill the vacancies?
Don't forget this proposal only kicks the can down the road.
This years pay award, of which talks start in February, will be subject to the same changes to conditions that have been talked about for the past 18 months but done locally i.e. by individual TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) (allegedly(!))
I expect the subject closure of ticket offices WILL raise it's head again by the end of next year when the security of no job losses disappears.

[TaplowGreen]

With ticket office staff, I know that several staff had already applied for, been interviewed and offered other positions, mainly on board. If they wanted to return to their original posts would they be allowed to? If not or if they didn't want to, will management fill the vacancies?
Don't forget this proposal only kicks the can down the road.
This years pay award, of which talks start in February, will be subject to the same changes to conditions that have been talked about for the past 18 months but done locally i.e. by individual TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) (allegedly(!))
I expect the subject closure of ticket offices WILL raise it's head again by the end of next year when the security of no job losses disappears.

As you say the can has been kicked down the road.

I suspect that ticket office closures will now happen on an individual, "creeping death" basis, retaining those which are more commercially viable whilst letting go those at the other end - especially where the space can be exploited more lucratively.

[bradshaw]

I think the key is ticket reform, reducing the complexity of that system. Once that is done, and passengers are comfortable with it, the ticket office dilemma will be revisited. However, I feel this ticket office future needs to be done following negotiation.

[IndustryInsider]

I suspect that ticket office closures will now happen on an individual, "creeping death" basis, retaining those which are more commercially viable whilst letting go those at the other end - especially where the space can be exploited more lucratively.

I also think that will be the case.  But it’s a much better way of doing it than the ridiculously rushed and ill thought out ‘you must close them all’ directive.

[broadgage]

I think the key is ticket reform, reducing the complexity of that system. Once that is done, and passengers are comfortable with it, the ticket office dilemma will be revisited. However, I feel this ticket office future needs to be done following negotiation.

I have long suggested a very considerable simplification of rail fares, with only three different fares for each journey and preferably colour coded.
If such a scheme was adopted, then closing less used ticket offices would be reasonable.
the three fares to be known as peak, off peak and super bargain.