Page 7 | Christmas train strikes

Darthwazette · 2022-12-05T19:58:19+00:00

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.

EngTech · 05/12/2022 21:41

Network Rail are on the Government books so no shareholders

The TOC’s have shareholders

This will get sorted but at what cost?

Winter of discontent again, just a different Government

KrystynaZ · 05/12/2022 21:41

carefulcalculator · 05/12/2022 20:38

I think you should write to Mick Lynch - when you explain that you had to miss your LUNCH I am sure he will advise the workers to accept a shit pay offer, staff cuts in the near future and worsening job conditions.

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😆But they missed their office lunch!

ilovesooty · 05/12/2022 21:41

user7845209 · 05/12/2022 21:04

There are plenty of other jobs for when they get made redundant

Yes lots of crappy zero hour employment about...

user7845209 · 05/12/2022 21:42

ilovesooty · 05/12/2022 21:41

Yes lots of crappy zero hour employment about...

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That's good enough for them

DrManhattan · 05/12/2022 21:44

100% support for the strikers

carefulcalculator · 05/12/2022 21:44

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!

The latest dates are to do with when the engineering works are done, every year.

The unions deliberately avoided striking the weekend before Christmas.

They cancelled a strike day at the request of the British Legion.

Strikes are inconvenient but they are not deliberately targeting the public. Don;t believe evrything you read in the Daily Mail (better still, don't read it at all, it rots brains).

I'm sorry you work for a shit employer - you sound like you need a union!

youhavenoshameonyourface · 05/12/2022 21:44

Does the strike also include negotiating for cheaper/fairer rail fares for passengers too?

thirstyformore · 05/12/2022 21:45

@EngTech - and some of the TOCs are government owned too....

carefulcalculator · 05/12/2022 21:46

youhavenoshameonyourface · 05/12/2022 21:44

Does the strike also include negotiating for cheaper/fairer rail fares for passengers too?

They are not leaglly allowed to strike for that reason - only for working terms and conditions - but the rail unions have long spoken out against excess shareholder profits in a climate of rising passenger fares, yes.

DdraigGoch · 05/12/2022 21:46

BrookeDavisQueen · 05/12/2022 20:11

One of the 'modernisation' measures is removing staff from stations. Which will in effect make traveling by train impossible for wheelchair users. That's not something any staff with a conscious can willingly sign up to.

It's worthy of note that the last time that a minister in the DfT started asking awkward questions about accessibility, they were promptly reshuffled. The government would love to destaff everything, which makes trains inaccessible for anyone vulnerable - whether that's a wheelchair user who needs a ramp to board, or a lone woman on late night trains who needs the protection that a visible staff presence offers.

KrystynaZ · 05/12/2022 21:46

So OP and others who do not support the strikers — presumably (I hope) you believe that workers have the right to demand a fair wage... or does that principle only apply if it doesn't inconvenience you?

antipodeancanary · 05/12/2022 21:47

hamstersarse · 05/12/2022 21:08

It’s a tough situation, I can see it from both sides.

At my local station, it is a manned ticket office at peak times but no one ever buys their ticket from him, they use their phone or the machine literally next to it. It’s technology making that role redundant as far as I can see? Do we just keep roles for the sake of it?

I have been involved in some strike negotiations and successfully diverted a few. It’s never just about the issues the unions report, there’s always more to it. But my experience is both sides get entrenched in their positions (unions and govt) and they need a third party to start the dialogue again. Same as in many high conflict situations 🤷‍♀️

I don’t think there’s much going on in this situation to actually negotiate and talk with humility and reason so it’ll likely drag on some time

How will a wheelchair user get on or off at your station if unmanned?

DdraigGoch · 05/12/2022 21:48

mangomary · 05/12/2022 20:16

Strikers still get some money from the union fund don't they?

I think rmt are a bunch of twunts

No they don't and no they aren't.

KrystynaZ · 05/12/2022 21:48

youhavenoshameonyourface · 05/12/2022 21:44

Does the strike also include negotiating for cheaper/fairer rail fares for passengers too?

Why don't passengers demand this by witholding their custom.

youhavenoshameonyourface · 05/12/2022 21:50

carefulcalculator · 05/12/2022 21:46

They are not leaglly allowed to strike for that reason - only for working terms and conditions - but the rail unions have long spoken out against excess shareholder profits in a climate of rising passenger fares, yes.

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Ok thanks. I'm asking because it's just so much cheaper to drive everywhere now, even when travelling alone. The prices have got really silly. Last week it was cheaper for colleagues to drive and stay overnight in a hotel rather than take a 1.5 hr train journey, same day return.

ilovesooty · 05/12/2022 21:50

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!

Unless you're in a no strike job like the police, find yourself an employer who understands that withdrawal of labour is a basic human right.

panachronic · 05/12/2022 21:50

WhatsErFace2020 · 05/12/2022 20:33

RMT have been offered what the Gov are saying is a 8% rise - only it’s split out over two years ON THE CONDITION they accept

all ticket offices to close (so thousands of members laid off)
Catering staff to go (again masses of members job losses)
Sundays to be a normal part of their working week
an tricky worded agreement whereby they’re not longer allowed to strike
Plus many other rights taken from them

Don’t listen to what the media and Government are spouting, they are also blaming the train operating companies who have had nothing to do with the talks > this is all the government, once they publicly ‘break’ RMT there is no hope for any sector…

Thanks for breaking down what the Gov are offering - haven't had chance to catch the news this evening. That is a risible offer and I'm glad the RMT have rejected it. The media are playing a dirty game as usual, trying to turn public opinion against the rail workers instead of shareholders and it seems to be working judging by some of the comments on here. There is something bigger game going on here and if the RMT are broken then it doesn't bode well for anyone apart from the very, very well off.

MarshaBradyo · 05/12/2022 21:51

KrystynaZ · 05/12/2022 21:48

Why don't passengers demand this by witholding their custom.

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That’s part of the problem demand is down post pandemic. People find alternatives.

But how do you solve it with tax payer subsidies as during pandemic or higher rail fares?

Parky04 · 05/12/2022 21:51

I fully support the strike, but don't really have skin in the game as I haven't caught a train in 4 years!

youhavenoshameonyourface · 05/12/2022 21:52

KrystynaZ · 05/12/2022 21:48

Why don't passengers demand this by witholding their custom.

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A lot of us are purely because it's cheaper to drive. I very rarely get the train anywhere anymore as it just isn't affordable. My brother and his kids don't have a car and never leave town as it's too expensive to go on a day trip by train. The trains are empty of families nowadays. People must have noticed this?

FleasNavidad · 05/12/2022 21:52

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

🙈 daftest thing I've heard so far. And that's with people talking about "strike pay"

DdraigGoch · 05/12/2022 21:53

Zanatdy · 05/12/2022 20:30

I’m so upset about the strikes, we have had to cancel our office lunch. Just a nice opportunity to get together pre Christmas but they are pretty much striking all week which is so frustrating. Christmas Eve is very unfair for those who have travel plans. Apparently they said they wouldn’t do Christmas so families wouldn’t be stopped from seeing each other. Well they back tracked on that

Signal box late/night shifts won't book on at 1800/1900 on Xmas Eve as usual. Most people will have finished travelling by then. It's to disrupt the engineering works.

ilovesooty · 05/12/2022 21:54

user7845209 · 05/12/2022 21:42

That's good enough for them

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Disgusting.

carefulcalculator · 05/12/2022 21:54

youhavenoshameonyourface · 05/12/2022 21:50

Ok thanks. I'm asking because it's just so much cheaper to drive everywhere now, even when travelling alone. The prices have got really silly. Last week it was cheaper for colleagues to drive and stay overnight in a hotel rather than take a 1.5 hr train journey, same day return.

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Yes, the UK has really shit rail network, and almost all the blame belongs with the Tories.

Nothing galls me more than knowing that many other countries' national railways own and make profit from our rail network - what the fuck is that all about?!

Chesneyhawkes1 · 05/12/2022 21:56

@SueVineer what has a RMT strike got to do with train drivers? Can you explain?