I am starting to get the feeling that the railway strikes are not having the huge effects that the Unions hoped/predicted. The media are trying to hype things up as much as possible (as expected) but the general public doesn't seem that bothered.
Two years of Covid disruption and all that went with it seem to have taught the public/business/industry how to get by reasonably well, with or without a "normal" train service. In fact many people are relishing the opportunity to "work from home" again. Perhaps Arthur Scargill appearing on the picket line was not a good omen for the RMT▸ .......he called an all out strike at completely the wrong time too.
Exactly this.
Business rail travel/commuting is increasingly more of an option than a necessity in the new world of remote/hybrid working, as evidenced by the falling off in numbers, and this considerably reduces the Unions leverage.
In this context, more strikes at the height of the holiday season may well be even less effective from the Union's perspective - not great for leisure/occasional travellers who are probably the future for the railway, but no-one in the rail industry seems too bothered about them anyway.
Quite endearing to see old Arthur out in his baseball cap again though! The Mummy awakens!
It could be that the Government decide to tough it out - for me, I think the Unions should be offered the same deal that was accepted by
ASLEF» in Scotland - I know that some of the issues are subtly different, however it seemed reasonable and if refused, would probably hand the moral high ground back to the employers.
