Christmas and Boxing Day trains - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

Joke, right?

Who else is offered that sort of remuneration for Boxing Day? Why do you consider yourself different to anyone else?

Double time & a single day off in lieu is the most I've heard being offered, and I feel is ample. I would back the operator in NOT going any higher, and I think there's the reason Boxing Day trains will not happen.

[ChrisB]

That's sheer greed.............I reckon on the longer distance routes you might need boarding controls/reservations only to cope with the numbers?

Glad to see someone else concurs.

Re numbers - on the long distance trains, reservations only - so maybe up the Advance fares to the cheapest walk-on fares available and sell them only as Advances with reservations until each train is full.

[IndustryInsider]

I think double time and a day off in lieu would also be a fair deal.  You can't blame the unions for demanding higher, but I think that is what would eventually be settled upon after all the posturing during any negotiations ends - not that many negotiations are necessary when it's done on a volunteer basis, but it would be better to be an official agreement for continuity and reassurance.

[Super Guard]

I don't see why you would need to involve the unions if was done on a volunteer basis only.  It's then up to the individual wether they chose to accept the terms laid out.

I'm just guessing but I expect that collective bargaining agreement means any sort of remuneration, albeit voluntary would need to be agreed on both sides of the fence.

[Super Guard]

I think double time and a day off in lieu would also be a fair deal.  You can't blame the unions for demanding higher, but I think that is what would eventually be settled upon after all the posturing during any negotiations ends - not that many negotiations are necessary when it's done on a volunteer basis, but it would be better to be an official agreement for continuity and reassurance.

The union is always going to start unreasonably higher in negotiations, as the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) will no doubt start unreasonably low.

Having said that, wasn't there no LU service on the 26th last year because no agreement could be made?  Goes to show TfL^» (Transport for London - about) didn't value the public need at the cost the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) were asking.

Some would say it's greed on the part of retailers to be open on Boxing Day, when not too long ago the 27th was more than sufficient.  Some would say it's greed to offer big discounts the day after kids have opened their presents, rather than before... Welcome to business.

[a-driver]

I don't think that's a joke whatsoever, that's the price I place on quality time with my kids, wife and immediate family.  Triple time OR double time and two days off in lieu, for a single man/woman the price they may place on the day might be significantly less, who knows.  I'm not actively demanding that rate.
If I'm volunteering to work an early turn and I'm having to prepare our trains for service I might be starting at 0300 or 0400 in the morning.  To ensure I'm adequately rested with sufficient sleep will impact on my families enjoyment of the day. Again, it may not affect a single man as much.  It's down to the indiviual to the choice that they make.

As for the remuneration of everyone else working on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, I don't concern myself with that.  However, my eldest daughter was offered triple time to work Christmas Day serving Christmas dinners at the local restaurant (she declined).

[TaplowGreen]

I don't think that's a joke whatsoever, that's the price I place on quality time with my kids, wife and immediate family.  Triple time OR double time and two days off in lieu, for a single man/woman the price they may place on the day might be significantly less, who knows.  I'm not actively demanding that rate.
If I'm volunteering to work an early turn and I'm having to prepare our trains for service I might be starting at 0300 or 0400 in the morning.  To ensure I'm adequately rested with sufficient sleep will impact on my families enjoyment of the day. Again, it may not affect a single man as much.  It's down to the indiviual to the choice that they make.

As for the remuneration of everyone else working on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, I don't concern myself with that.  However, my eldest daughter was offered triple time to work Christmas Day serving Christmas dinners at the local restaurant (she declined).

....and I'm sure you appreciate your great good fortune that you are in a position to be able to make that choice, rather than having to work according to the needs of your employer/customers as most of the rest of us are obliged to..........personally when I've had to work Christmas Day or Boxing Day, we've just arranged to have Christmas lunch /festivities earlier or later, it's really not the end of the World.........I think you'll find many thousands of workers do the same, to maintain the services you and the rest of us rely on.....none of whom value their family time any less than you.

[a-driver]

Ultimately I didn't make that choice.  I signed a contract when I commenced employment.  If that contract I signed stipulated I worked Christmas Day/Boxing Day then I would, no issue, no complaints regardless of the rate of payment. 

I agree to have Christmas festivities earlier or later isn't really the end of the world..... unless you have small children. To them, Christmas Day will always be the 25th December and no parent will want to miss that for the sake of a few extra quid.

[Electric train]

Personally I would like to see the railways shut completely from 23:59 24 Dec to 04:30 2 Jan each year, we can then go about repairing and installing new bits of railway.

[TaplowGreen]

Personally I would like to see the railways shut completely from 23:59 24 Dec to 04:30 2 Jan each year, we can then go about repairing and installing new bits of railway.

I think a week in August would be better as discussed in another thread - summer hols are a moveable feast unlike Christmas, and if it's notified early enough people can make arrangements accordingly......hols, work from home etc - you haven't got everyone trying to travel at once like you do at Christmas.

[ChrisB]

Ultimately I didn't make that choice.  I signed a contract when I commenced employment.  If that contract I signed stipulated I worked Christmas Day/Boxing Day then I would, no issue, no complaints regardless of the rate of payment. 

I agree to have Christmas festivities earlier or later isn't really the end of the world..... unless you have small children. To them, Christmas Day will always be the 25th December and no parent will want to miss that for the sake of a few extra quid.

I think I'd give you a lot more credit for that perfectly reasonsble point of view if you'd saud you'd never be bought off, even for what you indicated

[Electric train]

Personally I would like to see the railways shut completely from 23:59 24 Dec to 04:30 2 Jan each year, we can then go about repairing and installing new bits of railway.

I think a week in August would be better as discussed in another thread - summer hols are a moveable feast unlike Christmas, and if it's notified early enough people can make arrangements accordingly......hols, work from home etc - you haven't got everyone trying to travel at once like you do at Christmas.

At Christmas we could have whole network shut down for 8 days 2 of which currently don't have train services.  problem with August that is mid holiday season when the kids are off school so many of the works needed to do the work will want to be in Spain, Florida etc with their families.

[a-driver]

Ultimately I didn't make that choice.  I signed a contract when I commenced employment.  If that contract I signed stipulated I worked Christmas Day/Boxing Day then I would, no issue, no complaints regardless of the rate of payment. 

I agree to have Christmas festivities earlier or later isn't really the end of the world..... unless you have small children. To them, Christmas Day will always be the 25th December and no parent will want to miss that for the sake of a few extra quid.

I think I'd give you a lot more credit for that perfectly reasonsble point of view if you'd saud you'd never be bought off, even for what you indicated

I knew what I meant!!!!

Words and being able to successfully put my point across are not my strongest areas.  This is why I'm generally kept out of the way and on my own for large parts of my working day with just a few buttons and levers!!!!! 

[Chris from Nailsea]

As a matter of interest:

In early December, I was invited by my employer to sign a letter in which I agreed that I could work additional hours beyond the Working Time Regulations if I agreed, up to the end of January 2015 - but the hourly rate for any such additional work would be just my normal hourly rate.

That offer was a commercial decision made by the company, apparently. 

[TaplowGreen]

Personally I would like to see the railways shut completely from 23:59 24 Dec to 04:30 2 Jan each year, we can then go about repairing and installing new bits of railway.

I think a week in August would be better as discussed in another thread - summer hols are a moveable feast unlike Christmas, and if it's notified early enough people can make arrangements accordingly......hols, work from home etc - you haven't got everyone trying to travel at once like you do at Christmas.

At Christmas we could have whole network shut down for 8 days 2 of which currently don't have train services.  problem with August that is mid holiday season when the kids are off school so many of the works needed to do the work will want to be in Spain, Florida etc with their families.

Blimey what a champagne lifestyle you railworkers have! No working over Christmas, and exotic holidays every summer! Perhaps you could get together and let the rest of us know when you can fit us in, and we'll work around that!!!

A happy New Year to you all.