I don’t think the debates in this area are remotely constructive. The threads always follow the same pattern of people arguing from entrenched positions, going around in circles until they’re eventually shut down. Overall they tend to be incredibly toxic and divisive which is why many have said they won’t take part in them.
I realise the forum can’t avoid discussing the subject of IA at all, so I don’t know what the solution is, really.
Why? There’s clearly no shortage of people wanting to join the railway. I also don’t think this idea that unions and the associated attitudes are somehow not “modern” stands up to scrutiny when the vast majority of those joining up today, even from non unionised industries, still choose to join the main railway unions because they can clearly see the benefits of doing so. It’s notable that OA operators such as LUMO who (from what I’ve read on here) try to dissuade staff from joining have quite a few members now in ASLEF and the RMT.
It’s rare today for industries to be as heavily unionised as the railway which is the main reason why attitudes such as people being anti strike breaking aren’t encountered. In those industries which are unionised and in which collective bargaining exists, these attitudes are just as prevalent in 2022 as they were in the 1970s.
You might think the demise of unions is a good thing of course. I’m not so sure I’d agree when you look at the current state of Ts and Cs for many workers in this country.
I for one don't think the demise is a good thing, but why do you suppose that demise came about? Many of the reasons why so many unions are less able to use industrial action as effectively is because of action taken in the past, which has seen governments crack down on it through legislation & some instances attrition. Also society is changing, many younger people are far less inclined to join unions, or at least take part in action every time a rep cries "everybody out!". Unions have to evolve to survive.
Again that’s you’re view and you’re entitled to it. But, as someone who works on the railway, rest assured isn’t only “militant” types who feel like this - many people are relatively indifferent to the union in normal times but strikebreaking is still generally viewed as beyond the pale.
We are constantly reminded on these discussions that this dispute isn't just about relatively well paid drivers. There will be plenty of people being pressured into striking, and thus losing pay, even though they might find themselves further in debt. Its probably about the right time to remind everyone that everything is getting more expensive, and that some people will simply not be able to afford to strike. They might even quietly think that being told by much better off colleagues that not striking could lead them to being seen in a bad light as "beyond the pale".
The last time I took my turn on a picket line, my union gave very specific instructions that we were to try and persuade would-be strike breakers not to. And any form of coercion or treating colleagues differently during or after a dispute was heavily frowned upon. Sadly some reps continued to behave like they were still stuck in the 1970s, and for these reasons I felt I could no longer be a rep.
That is a widespread attitude on the railway and I would note you’re therefore describing a large number of the colleagues and friends I like and respect as “dinosaurs” and “dubious characters”. I cannot agree with that when I personally know them to be anything but! I’m afraid that’s the kind of statement that really doesn’t do much to make staff feel welcome on here.
I’d also observe that throwing around terms like “dinosaur” and “dubious characters” doesn’t add any more to constructive debate than terms like “scab”.
Nothing that is said on here will change the practical reality of what I’ve said in terms of advice. If people can’t afford to take part in action where it’s voted for I’d urge them to speak to their reps and do anything possible to avoid strike breaking.
If it is still widespread in your industry, then I'm sorry to say but that saddens me. It also makes me wonder if rail workers feel so strongly about strike breakers, what they feel abut us punters. It really doesn't give off a good image. I realise that you are not concerned about that because the industry is bullet proof, and that no matter how crap the coming weeks will be for us punters, we'll just slavishly come back when its over. Or will we? You and your colleagues might just want to give that more than a brief thought when considering future industrial action. I know in my part of the public sector, a vote on the principle of industrial action over pay returned a 70% or in favour result, but with less than 45% of the membership actually voting. And talking to many colleagues about it, the general consensus is given the current administration's desire to cut budgets deeply, going on strike would be an act of masochism.