Network Rail industrial action 2015.

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

No compulsory redundancies before 31 December 2016

No change to that part of the offer - which I reckon'll be the sticking point

[TaplowGreen]

I really find it hard to understand how any business in the real world, especially in the state that Network Rail is, can be expected to make an undertaking like that.....of course I guess that the Unions will count on the taxpayer picking up the tab.

[ray951]

I really find it hard to understand how any business in the real world, especially in the state that Network Rail is, can be expected to make an undertaking like that.....of course I guess that the Unions will count on the taxpayer picking up the tab.

Because it is a meaningless statement, instead of compulsory redundancies people will just be 'volunteered'.
I worked for a bank, many years ago, that was heavily unionised that had the same agreement and lots of people were still made redundant. Of course there will be handful who object but they will be in the minority and everybody else will just take the cash and run.
Also it is very unlikely that Network Rail will go bankrupt so quite easy for NR^» (Network Rail - home page) to guarantee this. 

[ellendune]

I really find it hard to understand how any business in the real world, especially in the state that Network Rail is, can be expected to make an undertaking like that.....of course I guess that the Unions will count on the taxpayer picking up the tab.

A business can make such a statement in good conscience without significant risk if:
a) They have a high staff turnover anyway;
b) They are already having difficulty recruiting or retaining staff;
c) The age profile of its staff leads them to expect more retirements than any possible redundancies (or those nearing retirement who would gladly volunteer if they were given a decent offer);
d) They rely heavily on outside contractors for work that they could bring in house.

What are the big business risks that might cause NR^» (Network Rail - home page) suddenly and unforeseeably to need to loose a lot of staff?

Now there are always risks in business, but many businesses are finding they have cases a) & b) at the moment, particularly for skilled staff and those who work unsocial hours. That must cover the vast majority of NR staff. 

Also December 2016 is not that far off.  A business like NR should be able to see that far ahead. 

The main risk of redundancies in NR going forward must be signallers as the old boxes are transferred to the new signalling centres. However they already know which ones are going to close by December 2016 and in our patch most of those should be in commuting distance of Didcot or Cardiff so they would want to redeploy most of them.

Going forward with a bit of careful workforce planning they may be able to extend that time. 

[ChrisB]

I think the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) is looking for a no redundancy commitment for the full length of the agreement - all four years of it, not just 1 and a half

[ellendune]

I think the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) is looking for a no redundancy commitment for the full length of the agreement - all four years of it, not just 1 and a half

I know.  With a bit of work they might find they are able to give one.  After all they know their investment plans for the next 4 years and the likely impact of that on their workforce.  There might need to be some negotiation on redeployment etc. 

[bobm]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are still going to honour the earlier arrangements for tickets on the planned strike days

If you have a ticket for the 25th or 26th May, you can still travel on Sunday or Wednesday.

^ If you have an Anytime, Off-peak and Super-off Peak ticket, normal time restrictions will still apply on Tuesday and Wednesday.
^If you have an Advance Purchase tickets, you can still travel on alternative days - but should try to make sure this is around the same time as your original booking.
^Full refunds with no admin fee will still be available for unused tickets valid for 25th and 26th May.

[IndustryInsider]

Sensibly handled by FGW^▸ (First Great Western), and I assume the other operators are doing the same?

[bobm]

That is from their website, I haven't checked other operators.  FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are also accepting tickets dated yesterday today following the incident at Twyford.

[TaplowGreen]

I really find it hard to understand how any business in the real world, especially in the state that Network Rail is, can be expected to make an undertaking like that.....of course I guess that the Unions will count on the taxpayer picking up the tab.

What are the big business risks that might cause NR^» (Network Rail - home page) suddenly and unforeseeably to need to loose a lot of staff?


 

........how about a ^1 billion overspend on a Capex project?

How many Businesses in that position would be able to offer a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies?

It's the sort of ridiculous sense of entitlement irrespective of performance that enabled powerful trade unions to destroy our competitiveness and knacker the economy in the 1960s & 1970s, the rail unions are pretty much the only TU that have any power left (mainly because they can bring London to a halt), their days are numbered.

[ellendune]

What are the big business risks that might cause NR^» (Network Rail - home page) suddenly and unforeseeably to need to loose a lot of staff?

........how about a ^1 billion overspend on a Capex project?

That is more likely to affect future Capex than Opex which might delay future investment and therefore lead to retention of staff.  Except perhaps those running the Investment programme - but the majority of those involved in investment are consultants. 

NR is not in a position to cut day to day operational without reducing the number of trains, unless it is as a result of investment, either to reduce the need for maintenance or reduce the number of staff needed to operate the railway.  After all part of the problems with the reliability of today's railway is the shortage of skilled staff. 

[IndustryInsider]

the rail unions are pretty much the only TU that have any power left (mainly because they can bring London to a halt), their days are numbered.

How about teachers, firefighters, ambulance crews, pilots, air traffic controllers?  Are you saying they have no 'power' anymore?

[ChrisB]

Teachers....a few days off for the kids & parents a touch annoyed, but no power, no

[IndustryInsider]

I suppose parents a touch annoyed (having to arrange child care/take time off work etc.) is much the same as commuters a touch annoyed depending on whether you are directly affected by any action.

I wonder how each would compare in terms of impact on the economy?

[ChrisB]

I think you've just made my point.