Chatt3nden
Member
So now that there has been a general election called how likely is it that any rail strikes will be suspended until after the result of the election?
It depends on whether a point can be made by having strikes. That is a matter for union strategists to decide upon.So now that there has been a general election called how likely is it that any rail strikes will be suspended until after the result of the election?
So now that there has been a general election called how likely is it that any rail strikes will be suspended until after the result of the election?
I'm now wondering if the recent RDG approach to ASLEF for talks was only made to stall industrial action in the run up to the election.
It does seem rather coincidental.I'm now wondering if the recent RDG approach to ASLEF for talks was only made to stall industrial action in the run up to the election.
I'm now wondering if the recent RDG approach to ASLEF for talks was only made to stall industrial action in the run up to the election.
I think your significantly over estimating how far in advance this decision was made. The furthest in advance I've heard is that Sunak met with his core advisors last week to pick a date. It seems clear that, even if a decision was made last week, the final call was made potentially as late as yesterday morning.It does seem rather coincidental.
Indeed.I think your significantly over estimating how far in advance this decision was made. The furthest in advance I've heard is that Sunak met with his core advisors last week to pick a date. It seems clear that, even if a decision was made last week, the final call was made potentially as late as yesterday morning.
For instance David Cameron was supposed to be on a visit in Albania yesterday afternoon. Instead he landed in Tirana and got straight back on the plane to come home. If the decision had been made and communicated so far down the chain this the RDG knew they needed to stall there's no way Cameron gets in the flight.
I also think it may well overestimate how much importance the Government put on the railways...
The tories could settle this now.
It would also be a gift to the Tories - it would be spun as out of control unions trying to disrupt the election campaign, with the implication that it’ll happen all the time under Labour. Not to mention that the unions probably want a change of government as much as anybody.My hunch is no strikes this side of the election. Why? Because whilst not good for the Government it puts pressure on Labour to actually come out with a postion.
"So what will you do?" is now the question every Labour Shadow Minister will be getting asked. Given most people expect a Labour Ministerial team to be in place w/c 8 July just saying "we're not the Tories" won't cut it.
So unless the Unions want to force some answers out of Labour why would they strike in the next six weeks?
The first thing Labour will have to shell out for when they get into Government is the 10 billion compensation bill for the victims of the infected blood. The Tories have played a bit of a blinder here managing to hold this payment off until now, to a point it won't be them having to pay it. The concern is, how much impact could this potentially have on Labour being able to afford to settle the rail disputes? May the money for that have to be diverted to pay out blood compensation?
Is it the case that the executive of ASLEF do not have the same deeply-held left-wing political beliefs as that of the RMT executive, who have displayed in the past by their support for a specific political party that is not the Labour Party?
The first thing Labour will have to shell out for when they get into Government is the 10 billion compensation bill for the victims of the infected blood. The Tories have played a bit of a blinder here managing to hold this payment off until now, to a point it won't be them having to pay it. The concern is, how much impact could this potentially have on Labour being able to afford to settle the rail disputes? May the money for that have to be diverted to pay out blood compensation?
That may pay for the 2022 claim. At some point the 2023 and 2024 claims are going to have to be met as well.Getting back to the subject of rail strikes, an incoming Labour Government can fund the pay rises from the existing rail budget by the savings it will make from taking the TOCs into OLR, OLR being a cheaper form of funding and control than the NRC arrangement with the private sector.
I suspect the dispute will get resolved rather quickly, once the new Minister gets her feet under the ministerial desk.
In recent times, has anyone asked them what their party would do, if in office?Surely Labour can offer a 5-6% no strings and it'll be sorted? That's similar to what the likes of ARL offered to settle the strikes two year ago.
What about the 2023 and 2024 increases?Surely Labour can offer a 5-6% no strings and it'll be sorted? That's similar to what the likes of ARL offered to settle the strikes two year ago.
What about the 2023 and 2024 increases?