I personally know a lot of full time guards at SW that came in for the strike, some are in the RMT union, some were in the RMT union but defected across to ATCU, and others were in either ASLEF, ATCU or no union at all. Are all these people scabs?
If the rumblings are true and a 4/5 day strike is called in January, a lot more people will be crossing the picket line... are they scabs?
Maybe people are naive to actually believe the DfT/SW/SN propaganda. Some people can’t be bothered with the fight, some people don’t want to lose 6/7 days wages within 3 pay packets.
The majority of RMT members that I know at SW were dismayed when strike action was called, the higher proportion of the bid was for action short, that’s where the RMT should have started, but no they went gung ho into battle trying to bring the country to a halt. Why? Their actions in reporting some of the more trivial things to the ORR will have management watching their members backs like hawks, they’re meant to protect their workforce, not paint a giant **** off target on their back....
I have the upmost respect for Southern Conductors who fought a good fight, but when you’re up against the government, you’re eventually going to lose. A Southern style deal will exist across the country until the next franchises start being let, and after that, who knows?
Scab is an emotive word, but guards who came in last week were wrong in my opinion.
This industrial action was called by a fully democratic ballot which met all the turnout and acceptance requirements of the government's new anti strike laws and the proper notice was given to the emloyer.The ballot was legal and the industrial action that followed was legal industrial action which affords employment protection rights under 'protected' industrial action rules. If you're a guard employed by swr the rmt and swr dispute covers you. It doesn't matter whether you're a member of the rmt or not or any other union or non union, protected industrial rights cover all members in the grade involved with that employer.
Whether action short of a strike should have been a first option is an internal matter for the RMT (who are the recognised union for guards collective bargaining at swr) and it's branches. Talking in the mess room is one thing but everyone should voice their concerns formally to their reps, at branch meetings, to RMT officials. Yes, there is a local and a national picture here which the rmt are trying to achieve to secure the grade nationally. There is certainly room for debate about when it's the right time to take action, and talk of a 4/5 day action in January isn't going to go down too well.
However, whether guards like it or not, and regardless of their union status, the rmt are responsible for guards collective bargaining on SWR and as such guards who are happy to take rmt negotiated pay rises and protection of terms and conditions should also abide by lawful calls for industrial action.
I didn't vote for this government and far less for a small minority party to prop up the government, many of whose polices I abhor. Whether I like it or not, they are a lawfully constituted government and I have to adhere to their laws. if a government puts income tax up to 90% I don't have a option whether to pay or if those taxes are used to maintain nuclear weapons and fight wars we shouldn't be involved in.
On a second note, I struggle to understand the mindset of someone who thinks it's ok to cross a picket line and take a day's pay when their colleagues are going without pay. In my book it's morally unconscionable. At my depot, the few who came in were older with no dependents and walked by their young colleagues who have young families and are probably less able to afford to take a loss of pay, but realise the importance of the sacrifice they are making.