TSSA now in dispute with Network Rail

[Goldfish62]

Don't worry, it's coming. Why there's an expectation that the unions should shy away from resisting it, I don't know. People in this country have evidently been conditioned by most industries having largely worthless/pointless unions, where they still exist.

I'd hardly call unions such as Unite, Unison and GMB worthless or pointless. TSSA, ASLEF and RMT are small fry in comparison.

 

[flitwickbeds]

Nah. Many of us who were 5 days-a-week commuters just couldn't give a stuff if the staff have a self destructive streak. Having spent the last 18 months working from home, any strike is an utter irrelevance. Whilst no doubt there will be a gradual return of commuting, there's a huge difference: if the trains aren't running we now know we have a viable alternative.

Aren't you the lucky one. You do you, while critical workers suffer.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Why have TSSA gone to defcon 2 when NR have yet to declare what they are proposing.

Mtce can't really be adjusted downwards just because the rush traffic has reduced the number of trains for a few hours of the day. I would also observe that much has been done to tighten mtce standards over the last decade to reduce costs already. Also with Red Zone Working now banned this will force more work into nights and probably see a greater need for longer mtce possessions so there will be a need to match T&C's to that requirement but teams know this a night and weekend operation so as long as overall earnings don't get lowered they will be supportive.

Likewise how can ops side be reduced just because less trains are running boxes and controls need manning.

Where there is likely to be alot of low hanging fruits is the former projects organisation and scheme development teams with the enhancement plan all but on stop currently. Again though until there is clarity from the Autumn spending review NR isn't in a position to do more then play at the margins.

Of course come GBR areas of overlap will lead to consolidation but that is at least 12-18months away from being crystallised and even that is probably optimistic. So unless Treasury refuse to top up the inevitable extra costs that the industry will still be incurring above the additional £2.1B granted to D of T there is no pressure on the industry to act prematurely as long as they have switched off all unnecessary spend with the pay freeze being the biggest contributor.