Train strikes

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

It's only TPE and Northern(North) on strike the day before who will have to recover a service the next day due to unit positions, so the service in the south should be ok (just check what the relevant TOC is saying), action short of a strike is as described above including not coming in for overtime or working over their shift to help out.

I know not everyone was happy with the RMT deal offered but I'm glad their members will be getting the back pay (just) before Christmas.

 

[laughing]

And another 24 hour strike on Wednesday 27 July

 

[no-no]

I seen breaking news before saying they’d get a pay increase now last ditch talks have failed?

 

[PinkandTwinkly]

Not all TOCs have to run 40% of service level as I understand it but I expect that the ones that are being run by the government will try to. Of course I would be surprised if any striking crew turn up for their jobs, I don't think any company would be able to do much about a mass abscence beyond docking them the pay they'd have lost striking anyway.

The 40% is such an arbitrary figure and doesnt seem to consider some TOCs could meet it by running 9 minute shuttle trips they normally run anyway to hit the magic number required of them, leaving anyone trying to travel any distance no better off.

I've read the Aslef brief put out to Drivers and it's a bit vague, but the Drvs are rightly worried about being the ones who have to come in / or not coming in and risking disaplinary and putting jobs at risk.

 

[epl000]

@Warpaint at least you had trains to travel on in between the strikes. They just cancelled trains for the whole week on my line I'm very nervous about the day after the strikes in Birmingham as that is the opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games!

 

[anotheronebitesthedust.1]

I would be bite someone’s hand off for a 4% pay increase haven’t had one for years

We got offered 7.5% pay rise in my sector , currently voting on whether to accept if

 

[Folkevermore]

I seen breaking news before saying they’d get a pay increase now last ditch talks have failed?

I mean a 0.5% bonus is hardly a crowd winner

 

[conrea37]

I’ve never been so glad to have stepped away from short term planning

Where did you move to? We’re not big fans of planners where I work

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

Although I think they will be deploying those staff to move between stations on their shift so I assume it will be 'tough' if they aren't on the station when you are there. Those floor working roles make the least sense about the cost cutting, surely the staff wages are the highest over head in the whole scheme. I know for a fact at least two of the stations earmarked for closure take thousands of pounds a day.

 

[Yel]

I’m a management grade on the railway and they seemed to have no issue finding a payrise for me or all of my other coworkers

They've had no issues with offering pay rises in line with what the average workers in the country are getting apparently, but they've all been rejected. I keep hearing the terms of the pay rises are unreasonable without much meat to justify it. So it's hard to have an opinion either way on that.

shareholder profit is being prioritised at the expense of workers.

I know that's the main line the unions are using and it's instantly alluring. But I remain unconvinced it's an accurate portrayal of a complicated situation such as rail in a post covid world and the subsidies from governments.

So hard to see beyond the spin of all the strikes currently happening in European rail.

Revenue is another case of Schrodinger's trains: no-one travels apparently yet peak trains are still full and standing.

Simon Calder was saying revinue is down 54% on season tickets I'd presume there's hard data to back that up else someone reputable wouldn't say it?

Numbers on commuter trains have definitely never recovered since covid here (SE into London). Most people I know that use to go in daily are 1-2 days a week.

The official line seems to be that the railway is on it's arse and has no money yet I have a few well placed sources that confirm not only is there a lot of money still sloshing around for the 'right' departments to eat free breakfasts etc

can't they both be true? The finances are on its ass and money is still being wasted? Especially on things that represent insignificant amount in the big picture. The national debt is still being racked up every day.

I think the important thing is revenue. Season tickets were very lucrative - one of the big earners and seem to be down massively. Leisure travel has recovered, but this is sold at a far lower price so it does seem likely there's big back holes in the finances.

With this stuff I wish either side would present data to back up their pov and move away from the emotive stuff.

edit this seems legit:

 

[PinkandTwinkly]

They advised for trainees for my TOC/depot this evening on the external website
So many applications it was up for less than a hour. Hopefully once those are sifted it'll go up again

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

To be fair if Mick Lynch hadn't declined to tell which way the RMT members to vote and pointed out accepting the offer would see them paid by Christmas it's unlikely their dispute would have been resolved (for now) and instead more dates would have targeted Christmas week.

 

[Folkevermore]

The commuter aspect only applies to some TOCs, particularly local and some regional operators.
The TOC I work for (not gonna say which) was never heavily reliant on season ticket holders, because it’s intercity. It’s more dominated by business travel (ad-hoc rather than daily) and leisure travel.
I commute on a regional operator into London multiple times a week, and it’s often full and standing

 

[Merpedy]

They are saying that Wednesday, Friday and Sunday will be a mess and not to expect normal service until Monday

According to trainline journeys on the 24th may also be affected - just realised that's a Friday lol. I was looking to move back home during the next week but had to move it back to Monday because of the strikes. Luckily, I planned for possible changes in plans so I could change my collection date for my stuff

 

[Folkevermore]

Where did you move to? We’re not big fans of planners where I work

I’m still a planner, but working on the development of the future timetable possibilities for a huge railway infrastructure project… you can probably guess which
It’s far more interesting

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

I had heard ASLEF were wanting an 8% pay rise.

 

[Folkevermore]

I travelled today, had to drive further as my local station didn’t have trains departing but that was no issue, I support the strikes, the union have successfully negotiated a pay deal for my company, I’m worried about what happens when that comes to an end soon, does anyone see an end to this with the trains?

Discussions seem to have completely broken down at this point, so I have no idea when the end will be.

My fiancé has worked for the same TOC for just under five years now with not one pay rise. trying to help him find a new job because it’s just not feasible for him to work on the railways with the way the cost of living is now.

25k just isn’t enough money for a job with crazy shift work in London

 

[Folkevermore]

If being a Train Driver wasn't such a 'closed shop' occupation, then I'm sure many people would love the opportunity to apply to be one.

I unsuccessfully applied for London Underground many years ago in the very last public advertising for positions (<2010-ish). After that all driver jobs are now filled within existing TfL staff, no one from outside is allowed to apply for the positions. If you wish to be a TfL train driver, you now have to 'rise through the ranks' to be one. I'm pretty sure this is similar for many of the Train Operating Companies, unless you are an existing driver with another Train company.

How is this right, fair and non discriminatory?

The unions like to bleat on about unfairness and discrimination, however many of their enforced practices are just that.

I know my TOC does open advertisements that anyone can apply for. Obviously you’re more likely to get the job if you have front line railway experience though, because you know more about procedures and safety

 

[laughing]

They are saying at the station now, service disrupted until Sunday!

 

[PinkandTwinkly]

Does anyone know if the DLR is affected by the strike on 2nd September?

Its only these TOCs

The DLR is TFL
---

I’m worried about what happens when that comes to an end soon, does anyone see an end to this with the trains?

I don't see an end anytime soon

The strike action isnt disruptive enough to force any action
And I know that sounds crazy to people who have the plans disrupted, the Aslef and overtime bans is just helping the Govt cut services and the the RMT odd Saturdays isn't really having any long term effect

I work for a TOC who's Grds had lots of strike days previously, including every Saturday in the Summer of 2019 and it wasn't until the tool a whole month strike did the get the conversation they wanted