Seriously...how can any union voting for strike action be "an excellent result" and for a mod to say that is even worse. Firstly it's hardly shocking as unions almost always support each other and in this case it was just box ticking as a yes vote was a formality as given GTR are trying to erode union power ASLEF members would hardly want that would they. I agree the way GTR are treating staff is shocking but a strike is still not an excellent result and also, as many have said already,members can't afford to strike long term with GTR playing hardball and GTR know that so it's also a pretty hollow vote. Also again the RMT aren't helping themselves with their predictable press release. This is one dispute they would actually get public support from if they approached it the right way and not as dinosaurs as usual. The unions are not helping theirselves or their members with their 1970's rhetoric.
Unions almost always supporting each other? Tell that to those guards who were hung out to dry by ASLEF back when DOO first came in.
Now I agree with you that striking is not a good result, but it is a last ditch measure. Drivers are also being forced into changes they don't want. They are losing guards and having more responsibility placed on them without. They are also being forced into driving longer trains DOO than they agreed to.
Strikes result because of a failure between management and unions to reach a compromise. However from the tone from the GTR letters to staff, this isn't about compromise. It's about forcing their will
I also agree with you that the RMT's PR machine needs serious overhaul. They need to stop with the profits going to France rhetoric. That's spherical and in the plural. GTR gets the same money whether trains run or not. The DfT is the one raking it in in this case.
Instead they need to go into the reasons why DOO is no longer appropriate in today's railway in terms a layman can understand. IE
It's harder for the driver to check it's safe to close the doors than it used to be because.
- Trains are longer
- There are more passengers meaning more crowded platforms
- Timetables are tighter, meaning less time available for station duties
- Old equipment for DOO is not, and never has been up to the job
- Camera equipped trains frequenty have fuzzy images and have problems in low light
Also they should mention that the driver has enough to do with watching the road ahead, and that a guard is invaluable in times of disruption any why.
They then will start to gain more sympathy (as well as retain the existing) with the travelling public. That's essential if they want any chance of winning this.