Rail unions strike action 2022/2023

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, the 19th would fall rather short of the 14 day notice period.

[IndustryInsider]

ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about)’s justification for the new action:

https://aslef.org.uk/publications/aslef-train-drivers-union-announces-industrial-action-and-asks-wheres-wally

[TaplowGreen]

Two more dates of ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) strike action, and further periods of a ban on non-contractual overtime have been announced:

Strike Dates
Saturday 30th September 2023
Members should not sign on for duty between 00:01 and 23:59. This will also apply to any duties commencing on Saturday 30th September that run into Sunday 1st October.

Wednesday 4th October 2023
Members should not sign on for duty between 00:01 and 23:59. This will also apply to any duties commencing on Wednesday 4th October that run into Thursday 5th October.

Overtime Withdrawal
Friday 29th September 2023
Members should withdraw from all non-contractual overtime starting from 00:01 until 23:59 on Friday 29th September.

Monday 2nd October to Friday 6th October 2023
Members should withdraw from all non-contractual overtime starting from 00:01 on Monday 2nd October until 23:59 on Friday 6th October

Coincides with the Tory party conference - so they can't complain if Rishi uses his helicopter!

[Phantom]

Two more dates of ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) strike action, and further periods of a ban on non-contractual overtime have been announced:

Strike Dates
Saturday 30th September 2023
Members should not sign on for duty between 00:01 and 23:59. This will also apply to any duties commencing on Saturday 30th September that run into Sunday 1st October.

Wednesday 4th October 2023
Members should not sign on for duty between 00:01 and 23:59. This will also apply to any duties commencing on Wednesday 4th October that run into Thursday 5th October.

Overtime Withdrawal
Friday 29th September 2023
Members should withdraw from all non-contractual overtime starting from 00:01 until 23:59 on Friday 29th September.

Monday 2nd October to Friday 6th October 2023
Members should withdraw from all non-contractual overtime starting from 00:01 on Monday 2nd October until 23:59 on Friday 6th October

Does anyone know what sort of impact the overtime ban will have (29/09)?
I am giving a presentation in London that day, I wonder whether I should be looking to reschedule?
(Travelling from WSM to Paddington)

[IndustryInsider]

The overtime ban days probably won’t have much of an effect outside of summer.  It does disrupt some behind-the-scenes training and cause a few additional cancellations, but not at a level that makes too much difference.

[IndustryInsider]

This time last year I listed the current driver numbers at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) with the main intention to see the split between HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) grade drivers and GWR grade drivers.  The former can withdraw from their rostered Sundays, with 5 days notice, the latter have 'commited' Sundays they are obliged to work if they don't want to work, but no cover can be found.

The implication being the more GWR drivers, the less of an issue Sunday coverage should become, especially over the summer.

Just to give an idea of driver numbers at each depot:

Bristol - HSS 66   GWR 118
Bristol Parkway - HSS 41  GWR 6
Cardiff - GWR 15
Exeter - HSS 43   GWR 150
Fratton - GWR 34
Gloucester - GWR 60
Oxford - GWR 83
Paddington - HSS 78   GWR 73   
Par - GWR 33
Penzance - HSS 30   GWR 47
Plymouth - HSS 55   GWR 30
Reading - GWR 220
Swansea - HSS 65   GWR 5
Westbury - GWR 65
Worcester - HSS 25   GWR 14

Totals:  HSS 403    GWR 953    TOTAL 1356

So, 30% HSS and 70% GWR - a little more biased towards GWR than I was expecting, but they can have a disproportionate affect on the longer distance routes that seem to struggle the most on Sundays.  You can't cover much of a Paddington<>Penzance service with crews from the GWR exclusive deports of Oxford, Reading, Fratton or Gloucester for example.

So, there's last years totals, and here are this years:

Bristol - HSS 60  GWR 127
Bristol Parkway - HSS 41  GWR 20
Cardiff - GWR 18
Exeter - HSS 41  GWR 160
Fratton - GWR 31
Gloucester - GWR 66
Oxford - GWR 86
Paddington - HSS 74  GWR 85   
Par - GWR 34
Penzance - HSS 29   GWR 56
Plymouth - HSS 54   GWR 57
Reading - GWR 237
Swansea - HSS 64   GWR 5
Westbury - GWR 67
Worcester - HSS 23   GWR 15

Totals:  HSS 386    GWR 1064    TOTAL 1450

So, that's now a 27% HSS and 73% GWR split (from 30/70 last year), but also 94 more qualified drivers in total.

[Phantom]

Excuse my ignorance, what does HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) stand for?

[IndustryInsider]

High Speed Services.  In this context it’s the drivers who used to be based at First Great Western drivers’ depots.  As of about five years ago, a restructuring deal meant all new drivers would be classed as GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) regardless of depot, so the HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) drivers (who have certain extra conditions, such as the Sunday working one, ‘ring fenced’) are slowly dying out.

[TaplowGreen]

This time last year I listed the current driver numbers at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) with the main intention to see the split between HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) grade drivers and GWR grade drivers.  The former can withdraw from their rostered Sundays, with 5 days notice, the latter have 'commited' Sundays they are obliged to work if they don't want to work, but no cover can be found.

The implication being the more GWR drivers, the less of an issue Sunday coverage should become, especially over the summer.

Just to give an idea of driver numbers at each depot:

Bristol - HSS 66   GWR 118
Bristol Parkway - HSS 41  GWR 6
Cardiff - GWR 15
Exeter - HSS 43   GWR 150
Fratton - GWR 34
Gloucester - GWR 60
Oxford - GWR 83
Paddington - HSS 78   GWR 73   
Par - GWR 33
Penzance - HSS 30   GWR 47
Plymouth - HSS 55   GWR 30
Reading - GWR 220
Swansea - HSS 65   GWR 5
Westbury - GWR 65
Worcester - HSS 25   GWR 14

Totals:  HSS 403    GWR 953    TOTAL 1356

So, 30% HSS and 70% GWR - a little more biased towards GWR than I was expecting, but they can have a disproportionate affect on the longer distance routes that seem to struggle the most on Sundays.  You can't cover much of a Paddington<>Penzance service with crews from the GWR exclusive deports of Oxford, Reading, Fratton or Gloucester for example.

So, there's last years totals, and here are this years:

Bristol - HSS 60  GWR 127
Bristol Parkway - HSS 41  GWR 20
Cardiff - GWR 18
Exeter - HSS 41  GWR 160
Fratton - GWR 31
Gloucester - GWR 66
Oxford - GWR 86
Paddington - HSS 74  GWR 85   
Par - GWR 34
Penzance - HSS 29   GWR 56
Plymouth - HSS 54   GWR 57
Reading - GWR 237
Swansea - HSS 64   GWR 5
Westbury - GWR 67
Worcester - HSS 23   GWR 15

Totals:  HSS 386    GWR 1064    TOTAL 1450

So, that's now a 27% HSS and 73% GWR split (from 30/70 last year), but also 94 more qualified drivers in total.

Looking at the number of cancellations and short runnings listed today (and today is not untypical), attributed to "shortage of train crew", you could be forgiven for thinking that there's a lot less drivers around, not almost 100 more than last year.

[ellendune]

Looking at the number of cancellations and short runnings listed today (and today is not untypical), attributed to "shortage of train crew", you could be forgiven for thinking that there's a lot less drivers around, not almost 100 more than last year.

A few points:

1) Train Crew includes drivers, but other staff as well.
2) From my own experience at work I know there is a lot of Covid around at the moment with quite a few people off sick. Working on crowded trains may increase this for train crew.
3) It is holiday season for those who do not need to take holidays out of school term time.
4) Given the prolonged disputes and government cuts, there may well be a lot less good-will so less people willing to do voluntary overtime.

[grahame]

Looking at the number of cancellations and short runnings listed today (and today is not untypical), attributed to "shortage of train crew", you could be forgiven for thinking that there's a lot less drivers around, not almost 100 more than last year.

A few points:

1) Train Crew includes drivers, but other staff as well.
2) From my own experience at work I know there is a lot of Covid around at the moment with quite a few people off sick. Working on crowded trains may increase this for train crew.
3) It is holiday season for those who do not need to take holidays out of school term time.
4) Given the prolonged disputes and government cuts, there may well be a lot less good-will so less people willing to do voluntary overtime.

5) There are a lot more trains around in the wider Bristol area (not carriages - 5 and 4 cars running around now as 2+3 and 2+2) and each needs crewing.

[JayMac]

ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) picket line outside Oxford station. I took a look at their 'Show your support' signing sheet. Four signatures by 2pm. They've been there since 8 30am. I don't think they're winning over the public. Nice banner though.

[nickswift99]

ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) picket line outside Oxford station. I took a look at their 'Show your support' signing sheet. Four signatures by 2pm. They've been there since 8 30am. I don't think they're winning over the public. Nice banner though.

I'd be surprised if many (any?) travellers would sign the sheet given that they probably wouldn't have gone to the station today to catch a non-existent train. If ASLEF want to get written support, they'd be better doing it on days when the public were actually using the station.

[ChrisB]

There appeared to be two or three trains each way this morning to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) fast, but nothing after that. God knows how they got home tonight

[TaplowGreen]

The RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) have some odd allegiances amongst their senior leadership.

There's Dempsey's well documented affection for Putin,  and now the Union's President  is apparently aligning his members with Hamas terrorists too......

https://twitter.com/habibi_uk/status/1713838531167088959?t=eIDkLgk0upnysp4nIhtJjQ&s=19