It's as if some (or many) of these unionists want to see the number of jobs cut. They fail to realise continual strikes drive (poor pun) more locals to travel by road if they have a car or purchase one. Do these rail employees want to see rail travel become less and less important when in a small, congested island group of nations it should be attractive as motorways/freeways/tollways (and local roads) can be very congested?
Every nation is different, but in mine (that I do not claim to be unattainable 'nirvana'), I can't recall strikes or other forms of industrial action ever dragging on for a year plus.
Naively, I thought when in UK in September/October 2022 "return a year later, and the dispute(s) would be long over."
The continuation sends a shocking, most unimpressive message to foreigners that union militancy is alive and well, and b----r the travelling public.
This unwise ongoing action also benefits competitors such as coach lines National Express, Flixbus et al.
Union militancy is the reason this has dragged on for a year plus?
Oh of course it is!
Not the Government refusing the industry talks with the union for the entirety of 2022.
Then the first 'Rail Delivery Group' offer (with loads of strings attached) in January 2023 still with no talks taking place.
Imagine a union wanting discussions? Outragous! The militancy!
Then talks did did place (which were supposedly going well), but then a second offer was made which was worse than the first one.
So just to recap - there's been only two offers during this dispute. The second was worse than the first one, and the first one was made without there being any talks.
ASLEF are so militant aren't they?!
They won't accept changes to working practises because they are so militant!
Oh hang on....
Changes to working practises will be taking place at Transport for Wales, within a negotiated pay deal.
They are so militant and greedy. Oh hang on again...
Below inflation pay deals have taken place at all the Freight Operating Companies, all the Open Access Operators, Merseyrail, London Overground, and Elizabeth Line.
Yes, it must be absolutely ASLEF's fault that for an entire year of the dispute they were being militant by being available for talks.
And it must be ASLEF's fault that they won't accept changes to working practises - except they have; and be ASLEF's fault that they won't accept a below RPI increase because they are greedy - except they have.
Only the government could lump in different companies, with pay anniversaries falling in different months ranging from January to October (so inflation was at different rates in each month), different rates of pay, different terms and conditions, and expect a 'one size fits all' meshing of Terms and conditions and one woeful payrise to accept it.
Drop the strings and I reckon it would go through.
Negotiate over the strings properly, like Transport for Wales did, and the railway can move forwards.
This continued protraction is entirely the government's doing.