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Author Topic: Rail unions strike action 2022/2023/2024  (Read 81848 times)
ChrisB
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« Reply #45 on: June 14, 2022, 13:52:31 »

And the BBCs» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) take on this new threat...

Quote
Thousands more railway workers will vote on whether to go on strikes which threaten travel chaos this summer.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about)) plans to ballot more than 6,000 staff at Network Rail (NR» (Network Rail - home page)).

It is part of a dispute over pay, conditions and job security. Other rail unions will strike next week in what is the biggest walkout in three decades.

A Department for Transport spokesman said strikes should be a last resort and urged TSSA to reconsider.

Network Rail said: "Now is not for time for the TSSA to be jumping on the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) strike bandwagon."

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at NR and 13 train operators will go on strike for three days from 21 June.

The RMT and Unite are also holding a one-day strike on the London Underground on the same day as the first rail strike, in a separate row over jobs and pay.

Travel misery

Train strikes, cancelled flights and record-breaking petrol prices have thrown getaway plans into disarray and threaten a summer of travel misery.

The TSSA has previously announced strike ballots among its members at four rail companies - Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands and West Midlands Trains.

Meanwhile, members of the drivers union Aslef are also striking later this month at Hull Trains, Greater Anglia and Croydon Tramlink.

TSSA members at NR work in operational, control, management and safety critical roles on rail services across Britain.

They are being asked to cast two votes - one on strike action and another on action short of a strike. The ballot opens on 20 June and closes on 11 July.

In the event of a yes vote, strike action could be held from 25 July.

'Summer of discontent'

The TSSA is demanding a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for 2022, no unagreed changes to terms and conditions, and a pay increase which reflects the rising cost of living.

It said NR staff last had a pay rise between two and three years ago, although it varies between grades, and also worked throughout the coronavirus pandemic as key workers.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: "We could be seeing a summer of discontent across our railways if Network Rail don't see sense and come to the table to face the concerns of their staff."

He added Network Rail only responded to the union's requests for pay talks, made before Christmas, when it moved the issue to dispute in April.

'No-strings pay offer'

But a spokesman for Network Rail said positive pay talks were in full swing with a 'no-strings' pay offer of 2.5% on the table with the potential for more if targets were hit.

A Department for Transport spokesman said it was "hugely disappointing and premature that the TSSA is balloting for industrial action when talks have only just begun".

He added: "Train travel for millions more people is now a choice, not a necessity. Strikes stop our customers choosing rail, and they might never return.

He urged the TSSA to reconsider and go to industry talks in a bid to find a solution for workers, passengers and taxpayers.
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ellendune
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« Reply #46 on: June 14, 2022, 18:12:46 »

I am sorry but I nearly fell off my perch when I read this

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But a spokesman for Network Rail said positive pay talks were in full swing with a 'no-strings' pay offer of 2.5% on the table with the potential for more if targets were hit.

Inflation at least 10% offer 2.5%!
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ray951
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« Reply #47 on: June 15, 2022, 11:23:34 »

Maps now available of where trains will run on strike day and the day's in between
https://www.gwr.com/strike

I doesn't look to me like timetables, at least those linked to from that page, have been updated yet.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #48 on: June 15, 2022, 11:52:49 »

Hmmm....that page does tell you that they haven't, and when they will be available!
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grahame
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« Reply #49 on: June 15, 2022, 12:59:46 »

Update from GWR (Great Western Railway) ... I am dashing between meetings and will come back and fill this in further / move post if necessary

Quote
We promised to update you further on the impact of the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) strike action, and you may well have seen the national update at 1030 this morning by Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group.
 
Network Rail has been working hard to cover signal boxes to keep as many routes open as possible on the strike days (Tuesday 21 June, Thursday 23 June and Saturday 25 June). 
 
This is not possible in all areas and there are some routes where rail services will not operate, in other areas a limited service will run, but will start later and finish much earlier.   There will also be a reduced service on the days between and after the strike, Wednesday 22 June, Friday 24 June and Sunday 26 June. 
 
Our dedicated web page www.gwr.com/strike now has an overview of the timetable for each region and clear maps showing where services are operational.  This is a dedicated web page which we will keep updated throughout the week.   In addition, Network Rail are now entering timetable changes into the national timetable database, and detailed changes to weekday services will be available in online journey planners from Friday 17 June, and for weekend services from Saturday 18 June.
 
We are recommending that even where services are possible customers should only travel if absolutely necessary, services will be busy, and there will not be any replacement road transport.   It is also important to note that there could be further changes, even on the day, particularly if cover cannot be maintained for signal boxes, where routes will need to stop operating.
 
We understand the impact that these changes will have on customer journeys, and we know it will mean making alternative plans for many.  We will therefore be doing all we can to alert customers to the changes, so they have time to plan. Any help you can give us with that would be very gratefully received.
 
Please signpost anyone to the webpage for more information -  www.gwr.com/strike - and do email us if you need any clarification, have any questions or any queries.
 
This is going to be a very difficult week for our customers, we will do all we can to help, but the impact will be significant.
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ray951
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« Reply #50 on: June 15, 2022, 13:01:32 »

Hmmm....that page does tell you that they haven't, and when they will be available!
So what I said was correct  Wink of course you are correct as well  Wink

Of course I could say it is poor design, and it probably is, but it was also user error (I didn't scroll down to bottom of the page).
A rhetorical question, but why provide a link to timetables if the timetables aren't available?
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ChrisB
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« Reply #51 on: June 15, 2022, 13:26:22 »

Where’s the link to specifically timetables? There’s that page you did link fo that gives the overall view, but nowhere does ot say it’s specifically timetables. Indeed, the accomoanying blurb only mentions that timetables *wil be* (i.e. not yet) uploaded to journeyplanners. Then that link tells you when each days timetable will be available.
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Timmer
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« Reply #52 on: June 15, 2022, 13:47:33 »

Other TOCs (Train Operating Company) have published actual timetables to view but GWR (Great Western Railway) never does that, and hasn't for a very long time, instead directing everyone to journeyplanner.
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stuving
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« Reply #53 on: June 15, 2022, 15:34:06 »

Network Rail have produced this map showing the lines they will be able to open, presumably using the few non-striking staff capable of working as signallers.

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ChrisB
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« Reply #54 on: June 15, 2022, 15:55:16 »

From The Telegraph via MSN

Quote
Commuters will be told not to travel by train next week as the entire network is set to be crippled by the largest strike in more than 30 years.

In a major announcement on Wednesday, train operating companies are expected to urge people to avoid all travel on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday as services will be drastically reduced.

Network Rail is set to lay out a new schedule, with services cut by 80 per cent, and to announce that all journeys will have to be completed by 6.30pm.

Southeastern, one of Britain’s biggest rail operators, has already written to passengers asking them to avoid travelling on strike days because most of its routes and stations will be closed, while c2c rail will advise passengers to “only travel if necessary”.

Bosses at South Western Railway were still having “live conversations” about their plans on Tuesday night, but will most likely ask passengers to avoid travelling. Other operators are expected to make similar announcements.

It will force schools and hospitals to urgently assess how they can continue to operate, with the risk of a return to online lessons and the cancellation of non-emergency medical appointments.

Industry sources said on Tuesday night that train companies were coming under substantial pressure from ministers to avoid putting out “do not travel” notices because Grant Shapps, the transport minister, “doesn’t want to give in to the unions”.

They are being urged to keep services running wherever possible. However, sources said: “We will have to tell them not to travel because if we have people turning up as normal to stations expecting to get on a train we will have a major problem.”

‘Completely unsafe to run any trains during strike’

Union sources said that the entire network would have to be shut down during the strike for safety reasons. They described suggestions of even a 20 per cent service as “optimistic” and said that it was “completely unsafe to run any trains” because of the sheer number of safety critical staff going on strike. 

It comes as thousands more railway workers are to be balloted for strikes which could hit in July.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about)) has served notice to ballot more than 6,000 staff at Network Rail in a dispute over pay, conditions and job security. In the event of a yes vote, strike action could be held from July 25.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #55 on: June 15, 2022, 16:06:58 »

And now The BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

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Passengers have been advised not to travel on trains unless necessary during strikes next week, with only a fifth of services due to run.

Network Rail said about half of all rail lines will be closed when thousands of workers walk out across Britain on 21, 23 and 25 June.

The services that run will start and finish earlier, from 07:30 to 18:30.

There will be no trains at all in many places including north from Glasgow or Edinburgh and to Penzance in Cornwall.

Network Rail, which owns and maintains the country's railways, said there would also be no passenger services to locations including Bournemouth in Dorset, Swansea in south Wales, Holyhead in north Wales, Chester in Cheshire and Blackpool in Lancashire.

Open lines include the West Coast Main Line from London to Scotland via locations such as Birmingham and Manchester.

However, with trains running for shorter hours on strike days, final departures will be much earlier than usual. For example, the last train from Manchester to London will leave at 14:47 and the last from Norwich to London at 16:00, with the last train from London to Edinburgh at 15:00.

Rural and district lines will be most affected by the action.

The timetable from 20 June to 26 June is still being finalised, but the number of services is expected to be around 4,500 compared with 20,000 normally, Network Rail said.

Disruption is also expected to carry over into non-strike days during the week, when only about 60% of services are expected to run.

This is due to not enough staff being on shift overnight to get services ready for the following day.

Several train operators including Southeastern, TransPennine and Avanti West Coast have urged passengers to only travel by rail if necessary, while Northern has asked people "not to travel" on trains between Tuesday and Sunday.

Several large events could be affected by the strikes, ranging from Glastonbury Festival, which runs from 22 to 26 June, to a cricket Test match between England and New Zealand taking place from 23 to 27 June.

Pensioner Linda is supposed to be travelling by train from Great Yarmouth to London for a Rolling Stones concert on 25 June.

She paid £100 per ticket, and there are four people due to go. However, she is not sure if there is any way for her to get there now.

"If I was to book a coach, it would cost a lot more - plus increase the travel time; two-and-a-half hours on the train becomes five to six hours on a coach," she told the BBC. "And there's no way we'd get to the concert in time."

She is still hoping she will be able to travel - the train company issued her a notification that an emergency timetable would be released on Friday.

More than 40,000 RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) union members from Network Rail and 13 train firms plan to walk out. The industrial action, which has been described as the "biggest rail strike in modern history", involves union members which include railway staff such as guards and signalling operators.

RMT announced the strike action last week after talks over pay and redundancies fell through.

On the first day of the planned strike on 21 June, London Underground RMT workers plan to walk out in a separate dispute over pensions and job losses.

Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said talks with the union had "not progressed as far as I had hoped" and so preparations had begun for a strike.

He called the action "needless" and said it would have a "damaging impact".

"Make no mistake, the level of service we will be able to offer will be significantly compromised and passengers need to take that into account and to plan ahead and only travel if it's really necessary to do so," he said.

The strikes may be less disruptive for commuters, with more people now able to work from home since the pandemic.

But the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, said "millions of people", including those who cannot work remotely, students sitting exams and others travelling for summer events, would still be affected.
_____________________________________________________

Analysis by Katy Austin

The mood music right now is that not enough progress has been made in negotiations to stop next week's walkouts.

Assuming they go ahead, there will be disruption across the whole week.

The involvement of Network Rail signalling staff means the number of trains that can run is particularly limited.

On strike days, the signallers' replacements can only cover 12 hours, hence services will start late and finish early - where they run at all.

Busy, key routes have been prioritised, meaning vast swathes of the country will be left with no services at all.

Network Rail says next week's action will cost up to £150m in lost revenue and aborted work.
_______________________________________________________________________

The RMT union has claimed Network Rail plans to cut up to 2,500 jobs as part of a £2bn reduction in spending, with the proposed job cuts including workers who maintain tracks, signals and overhead lines.

It also said train operators had been subject to pay freezes and changes to their terms and conditions.

On Tuesday, RMT called for a meeting with the transport secretary and chancellor, saying it had become clear that the Treasury was "calling the shots and not allowing rail employers to reach a negotiated settlement".

But a deal is "unlikely at the moment", said RMT's Eddie Dempsey, who accused the government of "relishing the thought of having a dispute to distract from some other issues".

Downing Street has previously branded the action selfish and said the union's move was "thoroughly irresponsible".

The rail industry is under pressure to save money due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic and Network Rail has said it wants to modernise working practices.

It estimated between 1,500 and 2,000 fewer staff would be needed, but insists this could be achieved through voluntary means.

As part of a separate strike, Aslef, a union representing train drivers, has announced walkouts at three companies in rows over pay on 26 June at Hull Trains, at Greater Anglia on 23 June, and on Croydon Tramlink on 28, 29 June and 13 and 14 July.
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grahame
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« Reply #56 on: June 15, 2022, 18:06:48 »

Network Rail have produced this map showing the lines they will be able to open, presumably using the few non-striking staff capable of working as signallers.

I have mirrored the map at
http://www.wellho.net/pix/Map-showing-open-lines-during-strike-days-June-2022.jpg
in case Network Rail take it down at some point in the future
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« Reply #57 on: June 15, 2022, 18:12:45 »

Various TOCs (Train Operating Company) that do in-house servicing, rather than contracting out will obviously also have maintenance issues across the strike days, meaning stock unable to be used on the shoulder, non-strike days too as safety checks, refuelling of diesel units etc won't have been done - so are only offering service on shoulder days the same as strike days.

WMR & Chiltern at least two TOCs affected in this way. I'm unsure about GWR (Great Western Railway).
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« Reply #58 on: June 16, 2022, 06:30:04 »


I know of someone who left the railway and now works in a power station. The PERMANENT night shifts rather than an endlessly changing shift pattern was the main reason for the change.

A bit more detail re this particular case.
The man in question USED to work at Hither Green railway depot, south east London. Various positions but all maintenance related and all requiring ever changing shift patterns.

They NOW work at the Isle of Grain power station, on permanent night shifts. The wages are a bit less but this is considered a price worth paying for stability.
They do not speak well of the railway as an employer, despite attractive sounding wages. At the power station they feel a "valued and useful member of the team" Whereas on the railway they felt that "management were always trying trying to catch you out in the hope of starting a disciplinary case"

They also state that co-workers at the power station are in general happier at work than railway staff were.

One particular difference is in uniform/overalls/workwear. On the railway they were required to wear "multiple layers of thick, hot, heavy polyester" and that the detailed requirements kept changing.
At the power station, simple overalls are provided and worn and LAUNDERED BY THE EMPLOYER.

They recently suffered a minor industrial accident, the enquiry into which was brief and simple and not a blame game.
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It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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« Reply #59 on: June 16, 2022, 06:33:16 »

Network Rail have produced this map showing the lines they will be able to open, presumably using the few non-striking staff capable of working as signallers.

Also, a reliance on managers who hold relevant competencies for Signalling, Electrical Control Rooms and in a limited way dealing with critical faults. these managers can only be rostered 37 hours in a week (basically 3 12 shifts) unless the individual agrees to longer, however there is a reluctance to grant time off in lieu or pay for additional shifts  

This cover could come to an end if the TSSA» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about) ballot call for industrial action.
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