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Original poster

Tube strikes during GCSE and A levels exams.

89 replies

Shoola · 13/05/2026 17:00

Striking during GCSE and A level exams when so many young people use the tube to get to school and college seems really harsh. Long and uncertain journey times will cause way more stress at an already stressful time. I think they could have supported young people a bit more and picked a different time.

OP posts:
EmpressaurusKitty · 13/05/2026 18:23

SunnyAfternoonToday · 13/05/2026 18:22

Only £70K a year?! Are you having a laugh? Yes they should just accept it. Most of the people using the tube earn far, far less than that.

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I thought @Ablondiebutagoody was being sarcastic.

ASLEF seem to think they have a good deal. I think RMT should read the room. The more they strike, the more they’re making an argument for driverless trains so people who earn much less than they do can get to work.

SunnyAfternoonToday · 13/05/2026 18:22

Ablondiebutagoody · 13/05/2026 18:06

But they only make about £70k per year. What are they supposed to do, just accept it?

Only £70K a year?! Are you having a laugh? Yes they should just accept it. Most of the people using the tube earn far, far less than that.

PropertyD · 13/05/2026 18:19

Don’t strike. Their jobs are completely out of sinc with what they actually do.

SarahAndQuack · 13/05/2026 18:16

Shoola · 13/05/2026 17:59

Of course they know it is meant to be disruptive! It is disrupting the wrong people though. Anyone with any power to make decisions can probably work from home.

They are happening next week, so your niece won't have been affected by them yet.

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What do you suggest they do, though? A totally non-disruptive strike?

You said in your OP you were concerned for A Level and GCSE students, and now you're saying my niece isn't affected yet so her ability to take things in her stride somehow doesn't count?

Does it occur to you that maybe some schools have prepared students for this, told them not to worry too much, and gone over how they can cope?

PropertyD · 13/05/2026 18:10

It’s more. Every scrap of overtime is charged. Ticket Offices are kept open despite the fact that everyone uses tap and go. I live at the end of a tube line. The guy in the ticket office is on his phone every single time I use it.

For those who remember Bob Crow. He refused to leave his council house despite earning a very large salary and wanted the underground resourced up all in the time in case of a terrorist attack.

Ablondiebutagoody · 13/05/2026 18:06

But they only make about £70k per year. What are they supposed to do, just accept it?

BillieWiper · 13/05/2026 18:04

If I was your kids I'd try and organise sleepovers for next week, like three of them sleep at one's house (if not living close) and share a taxi/uber.

Or just do three stops on an Uber if they live on the way kind of thing?

And get up early. Then split the cost. Not great but they need to find a way round it. As they would if they were going to work.

StarlingWaters · 13/05/2026 18:02

Shoola · 13/05/2026 17:59

Of course they know it is meant to be disruptive! It is disrupting the wrong people though. Anyone with any power to make decisions can probably work from home.

They are happening next week, so your niece won't have been affected by them yet.

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it is disrupting the people who usually use it, which is the point. This has knock on impacts that will be considered by the people making decisions from home.

EmpressaurusKitty · 13/05/2026 18:02

I hadn’t thought of how it would affect them to be honest, but you’re right.

I was feeling sorry for all the workers who don’t have the option to WFH during tube strikes, & have a choice between struggling in somehow or not getting paid.

Original poster
Shoola · 13/05/2026 17:59

SarahAndQuack · 13/05/2026 17:45

Yes, of course, and that's very natural, but it's like anything else - it looms large for them but the point of a strike is to cause disruption. Surely you and they do know that? If not, whoever teaches them economics and history really needs to crack on!

My niece is in London doing her GCSEs and she and her friends all seem to be being fairly grown-up about it all.

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Of course they know it is meant to be disruptive! It is disrupting the wrong people though. Anyone with any power to make decisions can probably work from home.

They are happening next week, so your niece won't have been affected by them yet.

OP posts:
PropertyD · 13/05/2026 17:47

I had a relative who worked for London Underground. He has long retired. Some of his stories will make your hair curl.

They don’t care who they mess around

SarahAndQuack · 13/05/2026 17:45

Shoola · 13/05/2026 17:33

All the young londoners that I teach are thinking about them at the moment. It is a really important time in their lives.

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Yes, of course, and that's very natural, but it's like anything else - it looms large for them but the point of a strike is to cause disruption. Surely you and they do know that? If not, whoever teaches them economics and history really needs to crack on!

My niece is in London doing her GCSEs and she and her friends all seem to be being fairly grown-up about it all.

Original poster
Shoola · 13/05/2026 17:33

SarahAndQuack · 13/05/2026 17:04

The point of a strike is to cause disruption, isn't it? I shouldn't think anyone was thinking much about exams.

All the young londoners that I teach are thinking about them at the moment. It is a really important time in their lives.

OP posts:
SarahAndQuack · 13/05/2026 17:04

The point of a strike is to cause disruption, isn't it? I shouldn't think anyone was thinking much about exams.