RMT announce strike dates across range of TOCs and Network Rail

[dk1]

Is the tube and the new Elizabeth line effected by the National Rail strike action on the 23rd and 25th? Or dont National Rail run that network

Yes EL will be affected. NR control signalling.

 

[billio]

Would be quite the statement to make railway employees essential workers, removing the right to strike but then also trying to implement DOO and close ticket offices.
Quite contradictory

I fear this may become the equivalent of the Miners Strike as the Tories seek to show they are tough on a union 'holding the country to ransom'. They need something to present at the next election.
Of course the Tories will keep the few, fast intercity services they might use, but the rest of the network could be in severe danger. The losers will be those out-of-a-job and the traveling public whose options for rail journeys become much more limited.
I hope the union leadership has thought this through.

 

[bobblebob]

Yes EL will be affected.

Thanks. Assume the Tube network isnt affected?

 

[gc4946]

No mention on Cross Country's website about any forthcoming strikes yet.
I've booked journeys on Friday 5th August to Birmingham and return the folowing day.
My biggest concern is that strikes will take place during the Commonwealth Games in and around Birmingham.

I’d imagine that’s a given If this dispute carries on. The RMT will want maximum disruption.

I'm hoping to meet up with an old schoolmate at the Commonwealth Games who I haven't seen for years.
Consequently I'm taking no chances and just booked a return with National Express.
I suspect many will start arranging alternative travel for critical or essential personal situations.

 

[dk1]

Thanks. Assume the Tube network isnt affected?

I’m not sure but I think a tube strike has now been called for the 21st too.

 

[Jan Mayen]

Thanks. Assume the Tube network isnt affected?

Don't NR signal bits of the Underground?

 

[bobblebob]

I’m not sure but I think a tube strike has now been called for the 21st too.

Yea they have for 21st but the other dates they havent (and assume they wont now)

 

[theking]

Thanks. Assume the Tube network isnt affected?

Lines that run on national rail will be, district & bakerloo etc.

 

[kristiang85]

Well I will just work from home that week, and I have a wedding that weekend in Brighton but a mate with a car is going, so we will just hop in that.

That's about £200 that I know would have been spent on the railway that week from my household alone; multiply that across the country then it's only going to reduce the coffers even more and make it even less likely pay rises will happen. Since COVID, the vast majority of passengers will have contingencies. The government knows it can just ride these out until the unions have no options left.

I feel sorry for the Glasto goers though. This is going to make travel there a nightmare.

 

[Saint66]

I’ve seen at least EMR and Avanti already tweet that severe disruption is expected each strike day, and on the days preceding and post action. Also added that timetables for strike days will be posted ASAP.

 

[bobblebob]

Lines that run on national rail will be, district & bakerloo etc.

Im hoping i can get the Piccadilly line to the aiport. But suspect as its overground too that NR will be involved

 

[Iskra]

Overtime is there because services need running and there isn't enough rostered staff to cover. If the TOCs say no more RDW then those services will ultimately end up cancelled. When you have staff willing to cover but you say no and end up with cancellations that is not going to look good for the TOC on twitter or the media.

So the strike could actually mean there are more staff available for the remaining 4 days of said week, so we might actually get an improvement in current service levels on those days? Hallelujah

 

[Towers]

In what sense? To maximise impact and media coverage, perhaps doing it nationwide might be more effective. Although different TOCs doing different days might make a more widespread impact, it might not be as concentrated.

I mean TOCs out one day, NR out another - that's two dates with essentially no railway. TOCs striking on a day when very few signallers are at work seems something of a wasted effort!

 

[Robcuk]

They wouldn't want it during the Commonwealth games...... Edit - Just noticed someone mentioned it. Would be a nightmare if the trains weren't running during the games

 

[Lampshade]

I'm in Birmingham on the 25th, heading to Preston in the evening.

Now I have a coach booked to Manchester and will be getting to Preston by some TBC method, joy!

 

[james4578]

Of course not all passengers. But I was responding more to the poster regarding holidays. Those are a choice and not a necessity and I'm sure most people could find somewhere to holiday, quite near to home.

Some of us are having breaks in the Uk though and reliant on Public Transport. I have not been away for a while and I need to be in London for Wimbledon and a few other things anyway.

 

[Mintona]

Overtime is there because services need running and there isn't enough rostered staff to cover. If the TOCs say no more RDW then those services will ultimately end up cancelled. When you have staff willing to cover but you say no and end up with cancellations that is not going to look good for the TOC on twitter or the media.

Despite how the TOCs put it out publicly, it’ll be saving the government shed loads more money. Why wouldn’t they want it?

 

[Iskra]

I mean TOCs out one day, NR out another - that's two dates with essentially no railway. TOCs striking on a day when very few signallers are at work seems something of a wasted effort!

Yes, but the strikers do actually need to earn some money too. So this way they essentially get paid for 2 days but disrupt 5.

This is going to be a really interesting test of how essential the passenger railway actually is in the post-Covid world.

 

[High Dyke]

Im hoping i can get the Piccadilly line to the aiport. But suspect as its overground too that NR will be involved

I think you'll find the Piccadilly line is completely signalled by LUL. The comment about the Bakerloo and the District lines refers to those sections where they share tracks with national rail services. Merely, the fact that many parts of the tube network run above ground is unconnected.

 

[ComUtoR]

That's about £200 that I know would have been spent on the railway that week from my household alone; multiply that across the country then it's only going to reduce the coffers even more and make it even less likely pay rises will happen.

There will be a lot of money lost in revenue over the strike dates. That revenue was going into the Government coffers and any TOC that will be indirectly affected too. How much is the Government prepared to lose in lost revenue ?

The government knows it can just ride these out until the unions have no options left.

Why are they so willing to lose money in revenue, and the astronomical figures that will inevitably be quoted in the media with lost to local business and cost to the economy etc., but are so ingrained in their position that they cant just allow pay rises and set increased productivity targets.

Lost revenue also affects the passenger. Less money means that ticket prices will have to increase.

'Destroying the Unions' is going to come at a considerable cost. To the workers, the passenegers, and to the Government.

 

[Facing Back]

Overtime is there because services need running and there isn't enough rostered staff to cover. If the TOCs say no more RDW then those services will ultimately end up cancelled. When you have staff willing to cover but you say no and end up with cancellations that is not going to look good for the TOC on twitter or the media.

In the middle of a hugely public national rail strike, I'm not sure the majority of people are going to notice or blame the TOC for pulling rest day working, any consequent disruption would simply be part of the impact of the strike and then blamed on the RMT or the DfT depending on your viewpoint.

 

[ar10642]

A

Yes, but the strikers do actually need to earn some money too. So this way they essentially get paid for 2 days but disrupt 5.

This is going to be a really interesting test of how essential the passenger railway actually is in the post-Covid world.

My guess is that for many lines, especially those where Northern are the sole operator, the answer is "not very" and this will give the government the perfect excuse to start swinging the axe. Slow hand clap for the RMT.

 

[142blue]

What's happening at GTR? And anyone know about TSSA or ASLEF

 

[DannyMich2018]

Well I will just work from home that week, and I have a wedding that weekend in Brighton but a mate with a car is going, so we will just hop in that.

That's about £200 that I know would have been spent on the railway that week from my household alone; multiply that across the country then it's only going to reduce the coffers even more and make it even less likely pay rises will happen. Since COVID, the vast majority of passengers will have contingencies. The government knows it can just ride these out until the unions have no options left.

I feel sorry for the Glasto goers though. This is going to make travel there a nightmare.

Couldn't agree more with your post!

With passenger number not recovered after Covid19 this won't help them at all.

I was made redundant at the end of 2020, managed to get another job though. My mum and partner and many other friends etc haven't had pay rises at all or only small but hey we don't go on strike. Railways not doing themselves any favours. Like you say people can work from home if they can.

 

[Ted633]

I'm booked on the entire journey of the southbound Highland Chieftain on the 24th (Between strike days), 1st time I've ever booked first class as well. That will probably turn into an interesting day now.
Was thinking about booking rail travel to the Yorkshire Dales in October (journey I've done many times) to meet up with some friends, but I'll just drive now.

 

[Smidster]

Well I am absolutely livid and am going to have to try really hard to keep myself together...

I don't think you appreciate the damage and distress (mentally , physically and financially) that you cause to people but I guess as long as they get an extra piece of silver it is worth it.

I will now have to back out of the one thing I enjoy each year (Wimbledon) because of this action

Absolutely pathetic

 

[jamesst]

What does this mean for Merseyrail? I understand the TOC staff themselves are unaffected, however, their signalling systems are NetRail controlled - are those staff walking out also, effectively, shutting down the entire network.

A reduced 7-7 service. Most is covered by Sandhills so they should be able to staff that.
The Hunts Cross, Chester and Ellesmere port lines however aren't so that could be a bigger problem.

 

[Carlisle]

Also enough of the public were appalled at what happened with the airlines, British gas and p&o.

P&O is really comparable with the others as it was simply a mass dismissal with zero negotiations.

 

[Facing Back]

Why are they so willing to lose money in revenue, and the astronomical figures that will inevitably be quoted in the media with lost to local business and cost to the economy etc., but are so ingrained in their position that they cant just allow pay rises and set increased productivity targets.

Lost revenue also affects the passenger. Less money means that ticket prices will have to increase.

'Destroying the Unions' is going to come at a considerable cost. To the workers, the passenegers, and to the Government.

With respect, it seems to me that both sides are ingrained in their opinion, not just the government. Both sides are trying to establish a precedent and because of the publicity, both sides need to be able to publish a "win" at the end of it.

I can't see the RMT simply accepting productive targets and changes to working practices without a lot of aggro, their rhetoric seems to be about a payrise and to protect both jobs and conditions. Their argument about the much publicised 600 job loses, even though they will come through natural wastage, seems to be that lower staffing levels are a de facto change in conditions.

So they have established their baseline. The government has/will establish theirs and then hopefully common sense breaks out and a sensible negotiation - along the terms you suggest perhaps - happens.

I do hope it doesn't come down to an attempt to "destroy the union", as you say the impact would seem to likely be enormous and far reaching. I would assume its a remote possibility - Boris is no Margaret Thatcher, and I didn't mean that as a complement, but it has to be an option otherwise the negotiating position is very much weakened.

 

[Horizon22]

Well I am absolutely livid and am going to have to try really hard to keep myself together...

I don't think you appreciate the damage and distress (mentally , physically and financially) that you cause to people but I guess as long as they get an extra piece of silver it is worth it.

I will now have to back out of the one thing I enjoy each year (Wimbledon) because of this action

Absolutely pathetic

You really have absoutely zero alternative to utilise? Car? Coach? Bus? Not ideal of course, and I too am disappointed about things to come, but I'm sure with enough time there is another way.

If you've done any reading, it's a bit more than "an extra piece of silver"