Rail unions industrial and strike action 2024

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Yes, I was thinking along those lines.  Also, even though they are heading for a big defeat, the less seats they lose the better for them. 

And we should be minded that there are 345 individual Conservative MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament), the majority of whom would love to have another go. and some are ministers. It's not just numbers - it's personal. And there are some very interesting decisions and statements being made at the moment - both in terms of who they will please and what legacy they will leave.

[TaplowGreen]

Mick Whelan is apparently "incredibly upbeat" about his ongoing strike - hard not to be I guess, given all that its achieved 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/rail-union-leader-incredibly-upbeat-ahead-of-next-train-drivers-strikes/ar-AA1o6aLL?ocid=BingNewsSerp

[grahame]

From GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) this morning ...

Dear Graham,

We’re sorry to inform you that strike action will affect GWR, Cross Country, Chiltern Railways and other train operators on Wednesday 8 May 2024.

Service changes and potential disruptions

On Wednesday 8 May, a reduced, revised timetable will operate across several train operators, including GWR. Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all and trains that are running will only be operating for a limited period during the day.

In addition, from Monday 6 to Saturday 11 May, services could also be affected by a limited number of short-notice cancellations and alterations.

What can you do on strike days?

Where trains can operate, they're expected to be very busy. If you're travelling during this period, you should check both outward and return journeys before travelling. Other train operators will also be affected, so onward travel may be impacted as well.

You could also consider travelling on another day. If you've already purchased a ticket for a strike day, you can claim a full refund or change the date and time of your ticket.

And link to https://www.gwr.com/strike

Personally, arriving into Portsmouth at 17:30 on 8th on the ship from Spain.  Booked into a hotel to travel home the next morning.

[TaplowGreen]

Looking at all the delays/cancellations/short running today/this week it would seem that the "action short of a strike" is having more of an impact on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) than previous efforts from ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about)?

[AMLAG]

Recent ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) strike days have seen no gWR special main line contingency TTs, leaving most stations with no services and the major regional hub of Bristol TM^‡(resolve) yesterday with only an hourly shuttle to Cardiff.  Cross Country ran no trains at all anywhere.

Seems that most Driver Managers and others are no longer prepared to drive trains on strike days.

What few local gWR services that ran were possibly worked by staff that could just not afford or find justification to loose even more pay or were non union members.

Train drivers and others who work for Rail Freight Co’s, with resultant less Government interference, have good reasons to be pleased with their employment situations.

[IndustryInsider]

Seems that most Driver Managers and others are no longer prepared to drive trains on strike days.

If it’s a weekday they have no choice in the matter!

[didcotdean]

For the last two strike days the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) announcement has indicated no trains between London & Reading because of engineering work taking place, presumably part of the remedial infrastructure programme. Doesn't explain dropping services that typically ran previously during ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) strikes elsewhere of course.

[Wizard]

I think some of the managers decided it wasn’t worth the hassle after the Ladbroke Grove wire incident last December. They are allowed to refuse.

[IndustryInsider]

I think some of the managers decided it wasn’t worth the hassle after the Ladbroke Grove wire incident last December. They are allowed to refuse.

AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Driver Managers are not allowed to refuse if it is a weekday and they haven't pre-booked leave or anything like that...at least that's what I was told by one of them. 

Happy to be corrected if you can provide some evidence to the contrary?

[Wizard]

I think some of the managers decided it wasn’t worth the hassle after the Ladbroke Grove wire incident last December. They are allowed to refuse.

AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Driver Managers are not allowed to refuse if it is a weekday and they haven't pre-booked leave or anything like that...at least that's what I was told by one of them. 

Happy to be corrected if you can provide some evidence to the contrary?

I have no physical evidence, I was just told by my own that he had refused to work (I think it was the February strike) and so had the other managers at the depot.

[TaplowGreen]

I think some of the managers decided it wasn’t worth the hassle after the Ladbroke Grove wire incident last December. They are allowed to refuse.

AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Driver Managers are not allowed to refuse if it is a weekday and they haven't pre-booked leave or anything like that...at least that's what I was told by one of them. 

Happy to be corrected if you can provide some evidence to the contrary?

I have no physical evidence, I was just told by my own that he had refused to work (I think it was the February strike) and so had the other managers at the depot.

Are driver/managers eligible to join ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about)? If so how could they be stopped from striking if they wanted to?

[IndustryInsider]

Driver Managers?  As far as I know they are not eligible for ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) and are all in the TSSA^» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about).

[TaplowGreen]

Driver Managers?  As far as I know they are not eligible for ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) and are all in the TSSA^» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about).

Takes me back to my Local Government days - most of the admin staff were in UNISON, whereas the managers tended to join GMB

UNISON was at least in part the successor to NALGO, which was always rumoured to have stood for "Not A Lot Going On"! 

[IndustryInsider]

Depending who you speak to about the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) it can also stand for Be There Presently, or, if you’re less enamoured with them, Be There Perhaps!

[Wizard]

Driver Managers?  As far as I know they are not eligible for ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) and are all in the TSSA^» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about).

Mine is still in Aslef, or was when I was speaking to him in February at least. There are no restrictions on being an Aslef member if you still drive trains.