Train strikes

[Folkevermore]

That old lie. THe union bosse themselves have disproved that by saying if they increased pay there would be no strike.


That's clearly aimed at me and totally misrepresented what I said. I said the bosses talking smugly about strikes is disgusting. And it is. They love it and the attention and power they get off on. it validates their position. Going on tv and grinning about the misery they will inflict.

That is disgusting. People who are now more likley to die because they missed chemo is disgusting. People more out of pocked and can't afford to eat is disgusting. people who's business will go under is disgusting.it goes on.

And no that Union misinformation you're repeating. journeys are down over 20% since covid. we already have the most expensive railway in europe. what are tickets supposed to go up? or are tax payers going to give more subs. no there isn't the bogey man of railway operators that can give more cash and magically solve it.

Painting a faux narrative that no one said doesn't help you. you are repeating union misinformation without any research. the irony.

Towards the end of May, passenger number in the UK were hovering between 86 and 92 percent of pre-Covid levels. This is information from the department of transport https://www.railtech.com/all/2022/0...rs-recover-to-90-percent-of-pre-covid-levels/. The “down 20%” amount is out of date and from January-February and does not represent current volumes.

The amount of tax payer money that funded furlough for private companies is significantly more than any rail subsidies, and yet those companies aren’t expected to pay the money back.

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

ASLEF called three more strike dates: 12th May, 31st May & 3rd June.

 

[Lonette]

My issue with the drivers is they are never, ever happy. It doesn't matter how many times they are given into, they go off on one again in no time. I'm sick of it, got to admit.

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

There is no way a plan could be reverted at such short notice from the Network Rail strike suspensions. The crew are still on strike those dates.

 

[wideopenspace]

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.

I wonder if they will sell it as floorwalkers but as people leave or retire they won't be replaced so in the end they'll be no one there.

 

[Warpaint]

Going to be another big weekend of strikes with the FA cup final going on.

 

[no-no]

I mean a 0.5% bonus is hardly a crowd winner

Ah, they didn’t elaborate on said ‘pay increase’.

 

[Folkevermore]

Eh? I can't think of a single job that doesn't have transferable skills. Obvs I don't know exactly what planning trains involves but it may include planning and scheduling skills, contingency planning, dealing with emergencies, staff shortages, keeping calm and able to focus when you have conflicting priorities ...

And yet every time I apply for other jobs I never hear back. It’s a difficult one.

 

[Folkevermore]

Busy next week for the Train Planners now.
Should be enough time to revert.

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

 

[Melian]

Due to be in London 24th/25th

Just hoping it doesn’t go ahead because it won’t make for a fun trip.

I have LNER train tickets. Does anyone know what happens if there is a strike and it affects my return journey?

You can claim compensation for affected journeys.

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

LNER call an extra 5 days in February: https://www.archive.is/oldest/https...n/18/lner-train-drivers-strike-february-aslef

 

[Folkevermore]

Why are the public being angry with the wrong people?

The TSSA and ASLEF have both settled and agreed with the latest offer made. It is only RMT who hasn't.

It is now at the stage where your losses from days off through strikes will not be made up with a pay increase.

Why is you think you are entitled to more than everyone else? Most people in the real world will not be getting anywhere near the rise even the TSSA and ASLEF have settled on. So why do the RMT think they are entitled to even more?

Carry on and well likely see 'Beeching II' on the railways. In which some routes and services will be cut. In addition, the passenger numbers are not what they once were - further strengthening any case for cuts. Redundancies will then be compulsory and the RMT won't be able to do a damn thing about it.

I'll also add that there are some truly rude people who work on the railways. If you don't like dealing with the public, then don't work in a job that puts you in contact with them.

I have been nothing but polite and friendly in my dealings with railway staff, however that is not always reciprocal.

I think you’re under the impression that I’m an RMT member or that I’m in a role that comes under RMT - I’m not.

People are happy with the payrise being offered. You keep mentioning the pay but that’s not this main issue at hand and it’s not why the deals are being rejected.
Some of the changes to T&Cs are ridiculous. Yes TSSA have accepted deals (I don’t actually think ASLEF have but train drivers are a different kettle of fish anyway and I think they get pandered to a lot by rail companies) and the changes were minor compared to what they’re proposing for RMT members.

Also TSSA where I worked previously settled on a 4% payrise for us which is actually way below the country average for 2022 (6.4%) and our first payrise in over three years. I left my old role because the salary no longer was enough to cover basic living expenses. When you look at the level of inflation over the last few years my filing job when I left uni was actually better paid in comparison than the pay for the complex work I was doing

As with all industries you have people who are good at and bad at their jobs, but it’s hardly fair to say “someone was rude to me a few times so fuck them”.

 

[wideopenspace]

Tell that to the government who want to get rid of all these jobs because 'no-one uses the train anymore.' Full and standing for 45 minutes into Manchester on the one I caught the other morning.

That government argument always made me laugh, as I likely said somewhere here before they are saying no-one uses the trains now and in the same announcement have the head of the publican and restaurant association saying strikes have cost them a billion in revenue. How does that work if no-one uses the trains now?

I do have commute cross country for work a few times a year. With cancellations and strikes it makes it near impossible. There's constant cancellations on the transpennie route so when they do run they are packed as they're so infrequent which drives people away from using them.

I completely get your point people are using them and strike days do have a negative impact to the wider economy. Unfortunately I choose not to travel and do things vitually now and I know many thers doing the same. Admittedly not everyone has the option so those having to use trains and be crammed in I do sympathise with.

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

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.

 

[PinkandTwinkly]

My grandson works at an airport as an aircraft groomer........

My point is, is that there are lots of people working in jobs that are low paid and they can’t strike.

Why can't he strike?
There have been quite a few airport groudstaff strike.

Is he a member of a union?

 

[PinkandTwinkly]

Services will be very restricted.
The main issues will be signalling staff, as there is little contingency and its not something you can quickly train someone to do.
Liklehood is trains will only run 0700-1900, and you'll only get services in main line routes (branch lines won't run). Priority will be given to freight routes.

There is still time for talks, but honestly it's going to be bloody nightmare so if really avoid travelling on any strike days (the whole week will be slightly altered too, with a number of TOCs running Sunday service levels)

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

This summer I should be planning a trip to London but with rail strikes I can't be bothered. There's too much risk booking hotels, theatre tickets etc and then strikes getting called. They're doing themselves out of a job. Leisure travellers are using other options and I know people changing jobs to avoid the trains.

Tell that to the government who want to get rid of all these jobs because 'no-one uses the train anymore.' Full and standing for 45 minutes into Manchester on the one I caught the other morning.

That government argument always made me laugh, as I likely said somewhere here before they are saying no-one uses the trains now and in the same announcement have the head of the publican and restaurant association saying strikes have cost them a billion in revenue. How does that work if no-one uses the trains now?

 

[Warpaint]

Glad I'm not going anywhere far the rest of the summer.

 

[Nannycaff54]

That's a shame
If he enjoys the job it's always worth talking to his managers and seeing it's there is anything that can be done.

If not I hope he finds something closer to home than he enjoys

Thank you. He’s going in on Sunday with his notice . X

 

[Jmx]

@Jmx i support workers and I genuinely hope you get everything you ask for. The narrative that nurses haven’t had a pay rise either and are on worse money isn’t something this country should be shouting about imo. We need change.

Thank you. To be honest, I’m not overly worried about the pay rise, of course I would love it with the cost of living going up, but I have to admit that I am fortunately in one of the more highly paid jobs and I will get by. The pensions and job loses are definitely a worry.