RMT announce strike dates across range of TOCs and Network Rail

[HSTEd]

I'm not sure. They'll be disrupting the first day of the Cheshire Show. But do the RMT office even realise that? If they want nationwide strikes in the summer, they'll be disrupting a lot of events, whether they intend to or not.

Disrupting events is the point.

They are hoping to force the government into capitulation.
I think its a terrible plan but that appears to be the plan

 

[High Dyke]

Because rail workers don't suffer that either.

Seemingly not. I must remember that next time someone reminds me about a signaller colleague of mine who took his own.life a couple of years ago.

One thing that is overlooked, certainly by media / general masses is the reduction.of maintenance staff at Network Rail. Less staff to safely maintain the track and signalling; therefore increasing the risk to the travelling public.

 

[scrapy]

What sort of shift patterns do signallers work that might come in to play? Presumably a nightshift of 2200 to 0600 or even a 12 hr shift, so nothing moving till at least 0600 the next day?

Many depot drivers are also RMT. If the night shift hasn't booked on, expect very little to move in the morning.

 

[cactustwirly]

Managers in Boxes yes and Managers on Trains and ahem "contingency" Conductors but Non Union Members still have the option of not crossing a picket line.

Which would be illegal, as the managers haven't been balloted for a strike

 

[nedchester]

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.

I have long thought this may well be the case.

 

[bleeder4]

I'm on an LSL charter to Penzance on 25th June, so it will be interesting to see what happens with it. LSL obviously won't be striking, so I guess it all depends on whether NR signallers in the South West will be striking or not.

 

[ar10642]

It's their choice to do this.

Yes, but they can ride it out indefinitely and also cut jobs and services afterwards.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Last time we had a big signallers strike a lot of routes were able to run reduced services by leaving jcns in straight line or set for one route only. So any operator that is largely DOO should be able to run some sort of service.

 

[ComUtoR]

Yes, but they can ride it out indefinitely and also cut jobs and services afterwards.

1. how long do you genuinely believe the Gov will hold out for before public pressure and pressure from business will be too much ? How much is the city prepared to lose before a few phone calls are made to Number 11

2. I could do with the redundancy money. I'm broke from having no pay rise for the past couple of years and now being offered nothing.

3. I'm not affected by service cuts. Thats the passengers problem, not mine. I have a sports car.

 

[Towers]

Last time we had a big signallers strike a lot of routes were able to run reduced services by leaving jcns in straight line or set for one route only. So any operator that is largely DOO should be able to run some sort of service.

Surely each signaller position still needs to be staffed?!

 

[dk1]

Last time we had a big signallers strike a lot of routes were able to run reduced services by leaving jcns in straight line or set for one route only. So any operator that is largely DOO should be able to run some sort of service.

Who told you that?

 

[mmh]

Which would be illegal, as the managers haven't been balloted for a strike

This is not true.

 

[The Planner]

Surely each signaller position still needs to be staffed?!

Depends, if it reduces the workload of the panel then you leave certain routes set. Still allows trains to run but at a reduced level.

 

[Class 170101]

Surely each signaller position still needs to be staffed?!

Further to above some panels, workstations and signal boxes can be closed and 'switched out of use'

 

[winks]

what figure in (percentage rise) do the RMT want? Most unions will set out their pay claims and publicise them.

 

[Fokx]

Depends, if it reduces the workload of the panel then you leave certain routes set. Still allows trains to run but at a reduced level.

But surely they would still be required to be manned by someone in instances such as urgent calls on the GSMR or the use of a SPT, no?

 

[ar10642]

1. how long do you genuinely believe the Gov will hold out for before public pressure and pressure from business will be too much ? How much is the city prepared to lose before a few phone calls are made to Number 11

2. I could do with the redundancy money. I'm broke from having no pay rise for the past couple of years and now being offered nothing.

3. I'm not affected by service cuts. Thats the passengers problem, not mine. I have a sports car.

1. "The city" isn't served by vast swathes of the railway. It also has the most remote workers, people will just go other places in cars. To quote Lynch, "a very, very long time".

2. I don't care.

3. I don't care.

 

[pemma]

2. I could do with the redundancy money. I'm broke from having no pay rise for the past couple of years and now being offered nothing.

I was in a similar position to you a few years back. Fed up of being unappreciated in my role (that I'd been in for a long time) and when the company started consulting on redundancies, I wanted to be made redundant. However, I struggled to get a new role elsewhere as I was considered too experienced for some roles and not having the right experience for others. It took me around 2 years to get a new full time job and I ended up taking an easier role in a different sector where the pay was over 15% lower.

If you want both the redundancy money and a better paid role where you'll more appreciated, then you may have to settle for just one.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The lost revenue figure will be dwarfed by the savings made by not paying staff. The government will be delighted.

Staff costs are only a third of the overall railway cost.
Leasing and maintenance payments continue and all the other fixed overheads.
Many drivers will still be paid but not able to go anywhere.
Ticket offices manned but no custom.
Engineering works planned but no supporting trains.
Etc Etc

 

[centraltrains]

Are engineers due to strike? Two of the strike dates coincide with closures around Tyseley so wonder if these are likely go ahead/take longer etc.?

 

[dk1]

But surely they would still be required to be manned by someone in instances such as urgent calls on the GSMR or the use of a SPT, no?

Yes. There can be no part of the network that isn’t being managed at any one time whilst train services are in operation.

 

[pemma]

Which would be illegal, as the managers haven't been balloted for a strike

This is not true.

I was going to reply and say it's not illegal to not turn up for work but then I thought illegal industrial action isn't the same as an employee breaking the law.

 

[Leisurefirst]

Are Scotrail services affected on the strike days please can somebody advise?

 

[pemma]

Ticket offices manned but no custom.

I think manned ticket offices will be very useful for some passengers on strike days. Someone to provide advise about what's operating (or not) and to arrange exchanges of tickets for alternative trains or dates!

 

[The Planner]

But surely they would still be required to be manned by someone in instances such as urgent calls on the GSMR or the use of a SPT, no?

Yes they would be manned, but the workload would be reduced.

Are engineers due to strike? Two of the strike dates coincide with closures around Tyseley so wonder if these are likely go ahead/take longer etc.?

Any big blocks like that will get canned I suspect as you won't be able to signal any engineers trains in and out of possessions outside of working hours.

 

[Facing Back]

Which would be illegal, as the managers haven't been balloted for a strike

You don't have to cross a picket line at your place of work even if you are not in a/the union or you are and have not been balloted. You are considered to be on strike and don't get paid and you might not benefit from whatever the strike is about but you can't be immediately disciplined or dismissed for it.

 

[C96]

Sauce?

Relish, Mayonnaise, Tomato

 

[duncanp]

I'd wager good money that XR (not Crossrail) will be planning on making the most of this as well. Expect bedlam.

...probably planning to block Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham (on the strike days) as we speak.

Perhaps I shouldn't give them ideas.

 

[Bald Rick]

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

the strikes don’t cover the period of Wimbledon.

 

[Towers]

They'll be on strike, surely?!