November strike action on National Rail suspended - impact on next week's service

[Iskra]

Agreed, this isn’t calling off the action, it’s still performing it whilst receiving full pay and minimising consequences for doing so, it ought to be banned.

While I agree, if it were banned, what would happen if strikes were genuinely called off at the last hour due to a deal being agreed?

 

[Watershed]

Reasons that could, if push came to shove, be overcome…

Not really. You can't just wave a magic wand and reintroduce all of the booked services at 15 hours' notice. I'm by no means hesitant to criticise the railway where it's justified, but in this case I can't see any other organisation with as complex a degree of plans, rosters etc. managing to restore services much quicker.

In many cases you couldn't reinstate the normal timetable even with all the resources in the world, because of the notice period required for changes to the roster.

Stunts like this won't win the RMT any friends.

 

[Failed Unit]

There is still a dispute. Just no RMT strikes for at least the next 4 weeks.

Lets hope in the next 4 weeks a suitable compromise can be made

 

[Huntergreed]

While I agree, if it were banned, what would happen if strikes were genuinely called off at the last hour due to a deal being agreed?

I imagine if this was banned - an actual deal being struck would be a (rightful!) exemption

 

[Bald Rick]

However, as @Bald Rick has said, the other unions also seem to have reached agreement, so I'm optimistic.

There isn’t an agreement, just a suspension of the action.

 

[WatcherZero]

Network Rail have said they have no idea why the strikes called off as they have made no new offers.

 

[Bald Rick]

Agreed, this isn’t calling off the action, it’s still performing it whilst receiving full pay and minimising consequences for doing so, it ought to be banned.

It’s possible that the new Government legislation will require a minimum notice period to call off strikes.

 

[yorksrob]

There isn’t an agreement, just a suspension of the action.

Well, it's definite progress anyway.

 

[Huntergreed]

There isn’t an agreement, just a suspension of lack of union member payment for the action.

Fixed that for you!

It’s still a strike, just by stealth

 

[dk1]

I've already been taken off my job to cover a strike day turn so difficult to see how it could return to a normal timetable. Good news hopefully with the suspension. I've just bought extra Lotto tickets.

 

[Bald Rick]

Network Rail have said they have no idea why the strikes called off as they have made no new offers.

Well the second half is true!

 

[Huntergreed]

It’s possible that the new Government legislation will require a minimum notice period to call off strikes.

And rightly so.

If the RMT think people are going to view them positively as a result of this decision they need to think again. No regard for how the public perceive them but maximum regard for themselves, as usual.

 

[danielcanning]

Not really. You can't just wave a magic wand and reintroduce all of the booked services at 15 hours' notice. I'm by no means hesitant to criticise the railway where it's justified, but in this case I can't see any other organisation with as complex a degree of plans, rosters etc. managing to restore services much quicker.

In many cases you couldn't reinstate the normal timetable even with all the resources in the world, because of the notice period required for changes to the roster.

Stunts like this won't win the RMT any friends.

Sometimes I have to wonder whether the RMT are in the pay of the Tories, because they’re rapidly striking themselves out of existence.

 

[JonathanH]

That's why this is a union masterstroke, plus the staff not losing out on pay too.

Totally agree. A masterstroke and means that as soon as the 'intense negotiations' fall down without resolution in two weeks time new strikes can be called.

 

[cambsy]

I think calling off strike is stunt and swindle, and if DFT, I’d look to bite back and make sure not happen again, I’m pleased though that strikes off for month or so, just too late call off strikes and have normal service before mid week next week. which is bad.

 

[Bald Rick]

A masterstroke and mean that as soon as the 'intense negotiations' fall down without resolution in two weeks time new strikes can be called.

Only if the new ballot is in their favour, of course.

 

[Watershed]

While I agree, if it were banned, what would happen if strikes were genuinely called off at the last hour due to a deal being agreed?

Given the 14 day notice period for strikes, I think it would be reasonable to change the law so that employers aren't obliged to pay staff if a strike is cancelled with less than 7 days' notice.

To make this work, you would of course have to introduce a requirement that those intending to strike would have to register their intention at least 7 days in advance, or else lose the protections afforded to a lawful strike.

It would remain open to employers to agree with unions that staff can come in and be paid. After all, in other industries, things can return to normal very quickly.

 

[43096]

I'd love to see your reaction if your boss told you late on a friday afternoon you'd be staying late into the night processing all the changes. Especially if you'd been coming in for the last few weekends to help out on other projects.

In any other industry, you'd move heaven and earth to provide a service to customers. You know, the people who are paying the staff's salaries (along with taxpayers, of course).

 

[Bald Rick]

Totally agree. A masterstroke

I don’t know about that. They might think it’s a masterstroke, but many people have seen through it for what it is, which is not helping the Union cause.

 

[JonathanH]

Only if the new ballot is in their favour, of course.

Indeed, but the new ballot will almost certainly be in favour of strike action because there is no offer on the table.

 

[johncrossley]

Would it be better if there were no more strike timetables in future? Plan on the basis of normal timetable, and if there is a strike, treat it like a disruption.

 

[Iskra]

I don’t know about that. They might think it’s a masterstroke, but many people have seen through it for what it is, which is not helping the Union cause.

A Pyrrhic Victory then perhaps?

Would it be better if there were no more strike timetables in future? Plan on the basis of normal timetable, and if there is a strike, treat it like a disruption.

That's an interesting idea, but not sure it would work in practice.

 

[BPN2022]

I’d say tough, there is literally no reason whatsoever now that a full Saturday service can’t run tomorrow, pay them extra if you have to, just get those services moving…

You wouldn’t last long as a manager with that attitude to your team on a Friday afternoon.

 

[JonathanH]

Would it be better if there were no more strike timetables in future? Plan on the basis of normal timetable, and if there is a strike, treat it like a disruption.

That isn't going to work though. People need to be able to plan around the advertised timetable. You couldn't have an unserved station showing trains running when none are expected at all.

 

[Bald Rick]

Indeed, but the new ballot will almost certainly be in favour of strike action because there is no offer on the table.

There is for Network Rail and has been for months.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Network Rail have said they have no idea why the strikes called off as they have made no new offers.

But apparently the TOCs are now ready to make an offer (there was none before).
The RMT will also have some regard for the results of the ballot now in progress.
It's certainly possible that the new DfT team is more constructive than the old.

 

[subk2010]

Any TOCs confirmed their final timetable tomorrow?

SE said they were still working on it.

 

[Thirteen]

Given the 14 day notice period for strikes, I think it would be reasonable to change the law so that employers aren't obliged to pay staff if a strike is cancelled with less than 7 days' notice.

To make this work, you would of course have to introduce a requirement that those intending to strike would have to register their intention at least 7 days in advance, or else lose the protections afforded to a lawful strike.

It would remain open to employers to agree with unions that staff can come in and be paid. After all, in other industries, things can return to normal very quickly.

There are plans for changes for strike actions in the works.

 

[gazzaa2]

Totally agree. A masterstroke and means that as soon as the 'intense negotiations' fall down without resolution in two weeks time new strikes can be called.

And without losing members support (ahead of next ballot) who have been spared losing 4 days pay over the next week.

 

[Snow1964]

This late in the day literally 000s of trains would have to be manually diagramed, entered into the systems, crewed. We’re talking about an hour per train to manually do it all as well. There is no flick of a switch.

I’m also hearing of blanket emergency speed restrictions on Sunday and Tuesday as it’s unlikely the MPVs will be able to treat the lines in time and the weather forecast is looking grotty.

Why do they have to be manually entered

prior to the strike date being announced, they were in the system. The change to a strike might mean manual changes, but surely the change back to normal just needs someone to do a roll back to what was there 3 or 4 weeks ago

It is not hard in computing world to do a data restore using the database saved 3-4 weeks ago to overwrite the strike timetable, and replace it with the original timetable.

As the old saying goes, where there’s a will there is a way. Seems there is nobody prepared to show goodwill here.