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Author Topic: Rail unions strike action 2022/2023/2024  (Read 81786 times)
JayMac
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« Reply #435 on: January 04, 2023, 11:48:24 »

From RAIL magazine's Philp Haigh on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/philatrail/status/1610584623209119749
Quote
NR» (Network Rail - home page) signallers in RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) union at Thames Valley signalling centre have voted against further strikes in a dispute over a colleague's dismissal. 48 voted from 138 eligible, 25 against and 23 for strikes. Ballot failed to meet legal thresholds as did one for action short of strikes.

There's solidarity, then there's paying the bills...
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« Reply #436 on: January 04, 2023, 12:21:43 »


Not only the number of Signallers who operated the mechanical boxes there were a lot of S&T (Signalling and Telegraph) staff to maintain the equipment, PWay there are no longer "lengthmen" and local gangs.  Shunters, fright guards, second men, station porters, parcel office staff, traction & rolling stock maintainers, Railway Works

A grahame'ism slipping in!
Lovely explanation, thank you ET
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #437 on: January 04, 2023, 18:00:56 »

From RAIL magazine's Philp Haigh on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/philatrail/status/1610584623209119749
Quote
NR» (Network Rail - home page) signallers in RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) union at Thames Valley signalling centre have voted against further strikes in a dispute over a colleague's dismissal. 48 voted from 138 eligible, 25 against and 23 for strikes. Ballot failed to meet legal thresholds as did one for action short of strikes.

There's solidarity, then there's paying the bills...

As I understand it, signallers aren't particularly keen on the overall strike action but they are linked in the RMT with maintenance workers who massively outnumber them when it comes to a vote so are stuck with it.
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PhilWakely
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« Reply #438 on: January 04, 2023, 19:26:33 »

One of the 'modernisation' pre-conditions that the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) objects to is the wholesale closure of ticket offices. A petition had been set up on the Government petitions website.... 'Require train operators maintain ticket offices at railway stations'.

This is the Government response....
Quote
Ticket office usage has reduced substantially in the last decade. The Plan for Rail White Paper outlines the modernisation needed to improve the passenger experience and to ensure the railways are financially sustainable. Together with industry we want to move staff out from ticket offices and into the wider station where they can provide more face-to-face help and assistance to passengers.

The Government recognises the multiple functions that the ticket offices around the country provide, including enabling passengers to purchase tickets, providing help and advice, and carrying out seat and cycle reservations. Where a train company does suggest a ticket office closure, we expect train operators to consider how these functions will continue to be provided as part of the proposal they put forward under the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA (Ticketing and Settlement Agreement.)) process. Section 6-18 of the TSA sets out the process that train companies must follow to make such proposals and is publicly available on the Rail Delivery Group’s website (https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/our-services/rdg-accreditation/ticketing-settlement.html).

Alternative retail options are now available in most cases, including ticket vending machines, pay as you go ticketing and online retailing and digital tickets. We recognise that not everyone has access to these retail facilities or is able to use them, and we expect train operators to take this into account when making a proposal.

With staff in more mobile roles they can provide additional support to those who cannot or do not want to use alternative retailing options. They will be able to advise on journeys and timetables as well as help customers to buy tickets or access other services. The passenger assistance scheme will continue to be in place to help passengers with additional needs use the rail network with confidence and in safety.
To propose any changes to the opening hours or the closure of ticket offices, train operators must follow the process set out in section 6-18 of the TSA. This will involve a public engagement, with train operators required to put notices at stations advising passengers of proposals and what any changes could mean for them. Train operators are also required to contact other operators and the passenger bodies directly under 6-18 of the TSA. If passengers have objections, these can be raised via the passenger bodies (Transport Focus and London TravelWatch) for consideration within 21 days of the notice being posted. The passenger bodies will then determine based on all the evidence if they approve or object to the proposed change. Should the Passenger Bodies object to the proposal it could be referred to the Secretary of State for Transport for a decision. A decision will be made based on the requirements in 6-18 (1) of the TSA and the relevant guidance.

As part of this process, train operators are specifically required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of passengers who are disabled and include this in their notice of the proposal sent to other operators and passenger groups. We would also expect operators to consider other equality related needs and make this clear in their public engagement.

Department for Transport
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« Reply #439 on: January 05, 2023, 06:37:15 »

From RAIL magazine's Philp Haigh on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/philatrail/status/1610584623209119749
Quote
NR» (Network Rail - home page) signallers in RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) union at Thames Valley signalling centre have voted against further strikes in a dispute over a colleague's dismissal. 48 voted from 138 eligible, 25 against and 23 for strikes. Ballot failed to meet legal thresholds as did one for action short of strikes.

There's solidarity, then there's paying the bills...

As I understand it, signallers aren't particularly keen on the overall strike action but they are linked in the RMT with maintenance workers who massively outnumber them when it comes to a vote so are stuck with it.

I do not know the details of why the Signallers at Didcot voted for industrial action regarding the dismissal of a colleague, this was / is a local dispute ie between the Signallers and their local Network Rail management, it is unrelated to the National dispute the RMT has with Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd..
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Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
IndustryInsider
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« Reply #440 on: January 07, 2023, 10:05:04 »

Finally, an offer (still technically ‘unofficial’ I believe), has been made to the driving grade.

https://media.raildeliverygroup.com/news/the-rail-industry-makes-offer-to-aslef-to-drive-up-performance-for-passengers#

As a first offer I doubt it will be offered to the membership or accepted but it is something at least.  And it probably won’t take too much more as quite cleverly it doesn’t add Sunday’s into the working week and with GWR (Great Western Railway) at least that means the Sunday situation only really affects HSS (High Speed Services) drivers who are outnumbered by GWR grade ones.  Not sure what the picture is nationally though?
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« Reply #441 on: January 07, 2023, 10:37:55 »

Lovely article by Roger French today -
https://busandtrainuser.com/2023/01/07/whos-running-the-railway/
Listening to Mark Harper, Secretary of State for Transport and Mick Lynch, General Secretary of the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) doing the media rounds during this week’s strikes brought home the dysfunctional state of Britain’s railways. There seems no hope of an early resolution to the current industrial disputes while a state of paralysis continues with no one admitting to being in charge of the railway and taking responsibility.
(Continues).........

{Edit to correct Rogers surname - apologies}
[/size][/size]
« Last Edit: January 07, 2023, 10:54:24 by GBM » Logged

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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #442 on: January 07, 2023, 10:46:34 »

Finally, an offer (still technically ‘unofficial’ I believe), has been made to the driving grade.

https://media.raildeliverygroup.com/news/the-rail-industry-makes-offer-to-aslef-to-drive-up-performance-for-passengers#

As a first offer I doubt it will be offered to the membership or accepted but it is something at least.  And it probably won’t take too much more as quite cleverly it doesn’t add Sunday’s into the working week and with GWR (Great Western Railway) at least that means the Sunday situation only really affects HSS (High Speed Services) drivers who are outnumbered by GWR grade ones.  Not sure what the picture is nationally though?

In other words then, Sunday will remain an unreliable lottery for customers on GWR?
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« Reply #443 on: January 07, 2023, 11:01:20 »

Why do you think that, TG?
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Electric train
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« Reply #444 on: January 07, 2023, 12:45:27 »

Finally, an offer (still technically ‘unofficial’ I believe), has been made to the driving grade.

https://media.raildeliverygroup.com/news/the-rail-industry-makes-offer-to-aslef-to-drive-up-performance-for-passengers#

As a first offer I doubt it will be offered to the membership or accepted but it is something at least.  And it probably won’t take too much more as quite cleverly it doesn’t add Sunday’s into the working week and with GWR (Great Western Railway) at least that means the Sunday situation only really affects HSS (High Speed Services) drivers who are outnumbered by GWR grade ones.  Not sure what the picture is nationally though?

In other words then, Sunday will remain an unreliable lottery for customers on GWR?

The Railways have been working a 6 day rostered week of decades, just so happens we are rostered for duty 5 out of the 6 which often means  a rest day mid week.   

Going to rostered 5 out of 7 will still mean overtime working but now it would be for 2 rest days midweek instead of it being a Sunday the risk of midweek services being cancelled due to lack of staff would be hight

Rr are you advocating that Rail workers should work a mandated 7 day working week when the norm in all other sectors private or public is a 5 day working week Monday to Friday

I cannot see what the obsession is with adding Sunday in as a "normal working week day" Overtime will always have to be paid at enhanced rates of pay to make working it attractive, after all overtime is voluntary
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Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
Mark A
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« Reply #445 on: January 07, 2023, 14:54:04 »

A twitter thread from a driver that's gone down well so far, here:

https://twitter.com/toptraindriver/status/1611452290598043655

Mark
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grahame
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« Reply #446 on: January 08, 2023, 04:51:42 »

Resumption of nearer to normal services - 8th Jan 2023

Quote
Alterations to services on all routes

Due to industrial action:
Train services running across the whole Great Western Railway network will be revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 08/01/23.

Customer Advice
-
Following industrial action which took place between 3-7 January, trains will continue to be disrupted on Sunday 8 January.
-
There will be a reduced level of service throughout the day; a later start to services in the morning and some late-night services may be cancelled.
-
Trains that are operating will be extremely busy. Please check before you travel, GWR (Great Western Railway).com/check
-
The Night Riviera sleeper service will resume.
-
Due to planned engineering work, no trains will run between Didcot Parkway and Bristol Parkway or Bath Spa.
-
Trains between London and Bristol or South Wales will use a different route not stopping at Didcot Parkway, Swindon or Chippenham. Buses will replace trains for stations between Reading and Bath Spa, and between Didcot Parkway and Bristol Parkway.
-
Shuttle trains will run between Swindon and Cheltenham Spa.
-
To help customers who have been affected by the recent industrial action, tickets dated for travel on 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 January can be used up to and including Tuesday 10 January.
-
For the latest information and FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), visit our dedicated strike webpage; GWR.com/strike

A shuttle service is also scheduled to run between Westbury and Chippenham, with rail replacement buses on to Swindon, but that hasn't made the JourneyCheck headlines.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #447 on: January 08, 2023, 08:59:19 »

Finally, an offer (still technically ‘unofficial’ I believe), has been made to the driving grade.

https://media.raildeliverygroup.com/news/the-rail-industry-makes-offer-to-aslef-to-drive-up-performance-for-passengers#

As a first offer I doubt it will be offered to the membership or accepted but it is something at least.  And it probably won’t take too much more as quite cleverly it doesn’t add Sunday’s into the working week and with GWR (Great Western Railway) at least that means the Sunday situation only really affects HSS (High Speed Services) drivers who are outnumbered by GWR grade ones.  Not sure what the picture is nationally though?

In other words then, Sunday will remain an unreliable lottery for customers on GWR?

The Railways have been working a 6 day rostered week of decades, just so happens we are rostered for duty 5 out of the 6 which often means  a rest day mid week.   

Going to rostered 5 out of 7 will still mean overtime working but now it would be for 2 rest days midweek instead of it being a Sunday the risk of midweek services being cancelled due to lack of staff would be hight

Rr are you advocating that Rail workers should work a mandated 7 day working week when the norm in all other sectors private or public is a 5 day working week Monday to Friday

I cannot see what the obsession is with adding Sunday in as a "normal working week day" Overtime will always have to be paid at enhanced rates of pay to make working it attractive, after all overtime is voluntary

When you say "the norm in all other sectors private or public is a 5 day working week Monday to Friday", who do you think is serving you at the weekends and in the evenings in supermarkets, pubs, cinemas, hotels, hospitals etc?

Terms of employment should reflect the fact that the railways are a 7 day operation AND this should be reflected in the number of people employed, not totally relying on overtime which have we have seen in recent years has resulted in regular carnage and mass cancellations on GWR on Sundays.
« Last Edit: January 08, 2023, 11:24:49 by TaplowGreen » Logged
Bob_Blakey
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« Reply #448 on: January 08, 2023, 09:46:58 »

I am obviously missing, or misunderstanding, something here; surely moving to a 5 in 7 or 6 in 7 working week, committing people to work Saturdays and/or Sundays on a rota basis, with sufficient staff employed to cover the service schedule across the whole week and with the same rate of pay for each day of the week has to be more reliable and, possibly more importantly, cheaper than sticking with either a 5 or 6 day contractual working week and thus forking out large amounts of money in, presumably very generous, overtime payments to those staff willing or ?forced to work Saturdays and/or Sundays.

I was employed on such a basis, in the private sector, 35 years ago. Why does UK (United Kingdom) public sector workforce management seemingly have to be so disorganised?
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« Reply #449 on: January 08, 2023, 20:33:19 »

I am obviously missing, or misunderstanding, something here; surely moving to a 5 in 7 or 6 in 7 working week, committing people to work Saturdays and/or Sundays on a rota basis, with sufficient staff employed to cover the service schedule across the whole week and with the same rate of pay for each day of the week has to be more reliable and, possibly more importantly, cheaper than sticking with either a 5 or 6 day contractual working week and thus forking out large amounts of money in, presumably very generous, overtime payments to those staff willing or ?forced to work Saturdays and/or Sundays.

I was employed on such a basis, in the private sector, 35 years ago. Why does UK (United Kingdom) public sector workforce management seemingly have to be so disorganised?

Train operators and the government do NOT want Sundays in the working week. This would mean employing considerably more staff and with that the associated contributions the employer would be required to make.
It is far cheaper to rely on overtime, which I hasten to add, isn’t as generous as you think. 1 and 1/4 I believe.

Having said all that, GWR (Great Western Railway) on the driver side of things I understand are well over staffed at some locations. It may be possible that GWR could have the numbers to bring Sundays inside the working week with the alternative being redundancies
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