I remember the days of over-manning at Longbridge, and elsewhere, and related industrial action. Not so many cars built there today, and so much industry gone because it was uneconomic, and couldn't compete with competitors. 'Striking for jobs' seems to me to be an oxymoron.
If these was less intransigence about the need for fully trained guards on SWR, Merseyside and elsewhere, would this result in a slew of safety incidents? I doubt it, given that DOO's been running for years (decades) elsewhere in the UK and elsewhere without significant safety issues. But it could result in lower fares, in a more robust service (fewer cancellation because of guard not being available), in the British public more inclined to support the railways, and the British government being more inclined to invest in and expand our railways, which would create more jobs in the rail industry.
I feel the current approach from RMT alienates the British public (many of whom have lost jobs, homes, etc because of recent industrial action), antagonises decision makers and those holding the purse strings, and at the end of the day will result in fewer jobs in the rail industry, not more. I sometimes wonder whether it's inspired by some Luddite mania, rather than the desire to see our country have a modern railway. That said, of course I want to see all railway staff properly rewarded - and to that end I'd like to see levelling-out of pay across different railway roles, where it seems to me that operating staff (especially drivers) are rewarded disproportionately more than those who sell tickets and look after passengers. And I don't mean just levelling-up, which will result in higher fares, pricing more people off the railway - it will be a sad day if the railways are just seen to be the play-thing of the rich, and those who have no choice (primarily commuters).
I'm no union-basher, and admire much of the work unions do, particularly in ensuring safe working practices and environments. But I feel that they're not doing their members, the railways, or its passengers any favours in pursuing this cause.
