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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Christmas train strikes

449 replies

Darthwazette · 05/12/2022 19:58

AIBU to wish the train strike situation could just be sorted out?

Theyve just announced strikes right over Christmas. My family were coming to stay with me and now they can’t. I’ve had to cancel so many visits and trips since these strikes began. I wish they’d just reach an agreement already.

OP posts:
user7845209 · 05/12/2022 21:15

So are they going to picket Christmas Day, there will be no one there to see them

carefulcalculator · 05/12/2022 21:17

snoodles · 05/12/2022 21:13

@carefulcalculator shit jobs?
They are jobs, and they pay the bills. What is a shit job? Who should do the 'shit jobs'? You're being quite aggressive, I know you're passionate about this topic but there is a way to engage with people that isn't being horrible.

A shit job is one where a worker has no rights, has low pay, is not in secure employment. Millions of people in this country are trappend in jobs like that and if that is all you want, that's fine, but I think a lot of workers deserve better.

There are times when casual work is great - I was a happy casual worker in my younger days but would I swap my pension, employment rights, security for an insecure job now? No I would not.

Do I think more people should have what I have? Yes I do.

I do not mean a shit job in terms of what people do in their work I mean shit as in how they are treated by their employer. You can have a shit delivery job or a good delivery job - it depends on your working conditions mostly.

MarshaBradyo · 05/12/2022 21:18

Hattie72 · 05/12/2022 21:09

I think the majority of people don’t care. Personally I can wfh. I just schedule my wfh for when the trains strike. They are hitting other low earners who cannot work from home. The high earner wfh and don’t really care.

Same here we are fine as wfh, it doesn’t impact at all - unlike pre Covid when a strike would happen.

Although Ds has had to get an Uber home after work a couple of times which is £20 plus. He / we can afford it as he is just a student at home but others will be finding it hard.

But agree on who it’s impacting.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 05/12/2022 21:18

I support the right to strike but I’m personally devastated that a terminally ill close family member might not be able to spend Christmas with us as a result. After missing to Christmases thanks to the pandemic it’s really upsetting.

user7845209 · 05/12/2022 21:18

We had already made other arrangements to drive on Christmas Eve because of the strikes, didn't want to rely on the trains

Daisy03 · 05/12/2022 21:19

lookersnoopy · 05/12/2022 21:07

They get strike pay from the unions

No they fucking don't

They really don't.
How would the union afford that?

carefulcalculator · 05/12/2022 21:20

Bubbinsmakesthree · 05/12/2022 21:18

I support the right to strike but I’m personally devastated that a terminally ill close family member might not be able to spend Christmas with us as a result. After missing to Christmases thanks to the pandemic it’s really upsetting.

Well clearly that is deeply upsetting Flowers

I know I am very political but this is why I am so cross that the government won't work to resolve things - workers and passengers actually want the same bloody thing - the railway open!

donttellmehesalive · 05/12/2022 21:20

Some of the responses on here are shocking. They've been offered 8%, over two years, but had nothing in the preceding two years. The strikes are inconveniencing my family too but we still support them. So many people saying they're getting more than they are but it's not a race to the bottom. If you're not paid fairly, do something about it.

Mantisdrax · 05/12/2022 21:23

They are striking when universities break up and need to travel, people having Xmas parties and needing to travel. They choose the dates deliberately to cause as much chaos as possible.
If we decided to strike at work, we’d be sacked!

hamstersarse · 05/12/2022 21:23

The union leaders still get paid on these strike days….just saying

user7845209 · 05/12/2022 21:24

Trains don't run Christmas Day and Boxing Day anyway, we always have had to drive so it must be the engineers striking

FleasNavidad · 05/12/2022 21:25

@hamstersarse so? Probably be one of the busiest work days they've had. Why wouldn't they be paid?

user7845209 · 05/12/2022 21:27

They will have their bit of strike pay then do overtime to make up the rest

hamstersarse · 05/12/2022 21:27

FleasNavidad · 05/12/2022 21:25

@hamstersarse so? Probably be one of the busiest work days they've had. Why wouldn't they be paid?

Some might say they have no real incentive to sort out the dispute

donttellmehesalive · 05/12/2022 21:28

Mantisdrax · 05/12/2022 21:23

They are striking when universities break up and need to travel, people having Xmas parties and needing to travel. They choose the dates deliberately to cause as much chaos as possible.
If we decided to strike at work, we’d be sacked!

Of course they want maximum disruption. They want everyone to understand how much we need them. And if we need them, pay them fairly.

I'm a teacher and have voted to strike. There comes a point where you have to stop worrying about what everyone will think, or what the impact will be, and just defend yourself.

donttellmehesalive · 05/12/2022 21:30

"Some might say they have no real incentive to sort out the dispute."

The support of their members depends on them fairly representing them and negotiating a fair deal.

panachronic · 05/12/2022 21:30

Zone2NorthLondon · 05/12/2022 20:04

Sort it by agreeing to the union demands.I support the strikes
point of a strike is stop demonstrate the value of the labour, strikes are meant to cause inconvenience

In complete agreement with this.

donttellmehesalive · 05/12/2022 21:30

user7845209 · 05/12/2022 21:27

They will have their bit of strike pay then do overtime to make up the rest

They don't get strike pay.

Sheedde · 05/12/2022 21:30

Trains are a shitshow in this country. I’d be embarrassed working for any of them.

lookersnoopy · 05/12/2022 21:31

user7845209 · 05/12/2022 21:27

They will have their bit of strike pay then do overtime to make up the rest

No strike pay. Also what do you think the available overtime to overall staff ratio is?

donttellmehesalive · 05/12/2022 21:31

Sheedde · 05/12/2022 21:30

Trains are a shitshow in this country. I’d be embarrassed working for any of them.

Luckily it's not compulsory. I don't suppose you'll want to say where you work but I expect people would have an opinion if you did.

SueVineer · 05/12/2022 21:35

Train drivers are already overpaid for what they do sue to militant unions. I don’t take the train anymore as it’s just too unreliable. They will eventually do themselves out of a job.

Metabigot · 05/12/2022 21:35

Zanatdy · 05/12/2022 20:33

My brother works for Royal Mail, he’s having to do overtime to try and get his normal pay. His wife is on Mat leave and only on the stat mat pay now. This has been going on for some time, some weeks there are 2 strikes. It’s going to be very difficult Christmas for many of their members when they are bringing home a lot less money. I doubt many companies have union funds helping out. Ours certainly don’t

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It's not really overtime when you haven't worked your time originally.

More like replacement time.

So he doesn't work some days, due to striking, but is lucky enough to be able to work those hours back to maintain full psy.

Hmm not much sympathy from me I'm afraid

Zone2NorthLondon · 05/12/2022 21:37

SueVineer · 05/12/2022 21:35

Train drivers are already overpaid for what they do sue to militant unions. I don’t take the train anymore as it’s just too unreliable. They will eventually do themselves out of a job.

House! militant unions
ahhh the tired old tropes they just get recycled on and on

Rowthe · 05/12/2022 21:38

AutumnCrow · 05/12/2022 21:12

Yes, absolutely. It has been explained over and over on the main news bulletins when the workers and their union officials get any air time.

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This is what I dont understand.

They want to improve the service for the passengers. Why are people so against it?