Arriva Trains Wales drivers vote for strike action

[whole diary]

[anthony215]

Just  read that arriva trains wales drivers are striking  during this month although drivers who are members of the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) have not said whether they are striking yet:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/11/12/train-drivers-announce-wales-strike-dates-91466-27647497/#sitelife-comments-bottom

[SDS]

RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) are balloting which closes on 30th November. So I reckon earliest legally possible date for strike would be 7th December 2010.
Never know ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) and RMT might even co-ordinate strike action.
However based on the Arriva Trains Northern dispute, it will go on for a while.

Publication Date: November 12 2010

RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that it is to ballot drivers on Arriva Trains Wales for strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Negotiations with Arriva Trains Wales have been dragged out by the company and the patience and goodwill of RMT members has been exhausted. Arriva Trains Wales drivers are amongst the lowest paid train drivers in the country and they have tolerated this situation for far too long. RMT union has also put forward proposals to improve train safety by reducing the maximum turn length and to ensure drivers get sufficient breaks

As a result, the union has had no option but to begin balloting for action with the ballot closing on the 30 the November. RMT is campaigning for a massive yes vote for action which will send a clear message to the company.

RMT is the biggest industrial union representing train drivers in Wales and is the lead railway union.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

^RMT has rejected the most recent offer from the company that would have left our members out of pocket and which was loaded with strings. Our members would have ended up with inferior working conditions for a de facto pay cut."

^Arriva Trains Wales have shown us in the clearest possible terms that they have no wish to properly reward the hard work and loyalty to the staff and are motivated solely by the drive for bigger profits to line the pockets of the shareholders and that is why we are now balloting for industrial action.

^RMT is making it clear that real progress must be achieved with Arriva Trains Wales for them to avoid a dispute. Without the hard work and commitment of our members there would be no company profits and it^s high time that Arriva Trains Wales recognised that.

^We are therefore calling on our members for an overwhelming ^YES^ vote for industrial action and industrial action short of a strike bring Arriva Trains Wales management back to the table to seriously negotiate an improvement to the pay offer which improves the work/life balance of the drivers and which properly rewards their staff.^

[JayMac]

RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) is the biggest industrial union representing train drivers in Wales and is the lead railway union.

That's interesting. Do the RMT mean they are the biggest industrial union in Wales and have a few train drivers on their books or that they represent the majority of ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) drivers? I'd've thought the majority of drivers would be ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) members.

[Jez]

I hope they arent going to strike next Saturday - im relying on them for travel!

I heard they might strike on the next 2 Rugby days - next Friday and Saturday 27th November, although this could just speculation in the local press.

[JayMac]

Well, the ballot doesn't close until 30th November, according to the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) press release. And trade union law requires a minimum of 7 days notice of industrial action following the result of the ballot.

[dog box]

ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) Drivers are taking action on 19th whilst RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) are still balloting there Driver Members...understand it over failure to agree a satisfactory pay deal

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Talks due in bid to avoid Arriva Trains Wales strike

Talks will be held later between union officials and Arriva Trains Wales in an attempt to avert strike action.

Members of the rail union Aslef have voted for industrial action in a dispute over pay, with the first 24-hour stoppage due on Friday.

Disruption could increase because that evening the Wales rugby team play Fiji at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)) union is also balloting members with a recommendation for a vote for action.

Further strikes are also scheduled for the following Friday and Saturday, 26 and 27 November.

That Saturday could mean further problems for rugby fans because Wales are again in action at the Millennium Stadium, this time against New Zealand.

Aslef, which has about 500 Arriva Trains Wales members, has described its pay offer as "derisory," and said an "overwhelming majority" backed action.

The RMT is balloting its members at both Arriva Trains in Wales and at Merseyrail over company pay offers.

A spokesman for Arriva said both sides in the dispute were coming to the table for Monday's talks "with hopes of a resolution".

He added: "From our point of view we will do everything we possibly can to avert strike action".

[LiskeardRich]

im off to the wales new zealand game, driving up but no trains will cause more congestion i guess

[SDS]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) not affected - yet.
I suspect the following will happen (NOT CONFIRMED), GroupSave barred, any advance tickets which haven't already been booked will be withdrawn.
Boarding Controls at both ends.


Edit: Seems Groupsave is already barred:
Fri 19-Nov
Cardiff Millennium
Barred for arrival: 1430-1930
Rugby friendly
Wales v Fuji
all

Sat 27-Nov
Cardiff Millennium
Barred for arrival: before 1715
Rugby friendly
Wales v New Zealand
all

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Arriva Trains Wales drivers call off Friday strike

A planned strike on Friday by drivers at Arriva Trains Wales has been called off following an improved pay offer.

The drivers' union Aslef said it would meet on Monday to decide whether to call off two planned further walkouts.

Aslef, which has about 500 Arriva Trains Wales members, had described the initial pay offer as "derisory."

The stoppage planned for Friday would have coincided with the Wales rugby international against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

[Glovidge]

Is this improved pay offer really 6.1%??? Can I become an Arriva Wales train driver. Don't they know there's a recession on?

[JayMac]

Even with that pay offer ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) drivers are earning considerably less than their DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) colleagues at Arriva Cross Country, Chiltern and DB Schenker.

[Toiletdriver]

Is this improved pay offer really 6.1%??? Can I become an Arriva Wales train driver. Don't they know there's a recession on?

It's called market forces, brought on by John Major.
It costs over 1/4 million to train up a driver from scratch, and you don't know how that person will turn out. The easiest way to get drivers is to poach from other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company). From 97 to 2003, Cross Country and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) at Bristol didn't need drivers courses, that'd just take on W+W drivers from Bristol and Cardiff who'd managed 2 years driving with no problems. Just choose anyone who hasn't had a SOL offence. W+W had to pay to replace the drivers who had moved on, otherwise big penalties for not running the minimum service.
Recently ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC)) at Cardiff have lost several drivers to FGW Swansea and Bristol, XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) at Bristol and Freightliner. Even with the cost of using the car to get to Bristol, drivers are still on better money.

[Henry]

http://www.lrd.org.uk/services/payline/rmt/plagree.php?LRDref=AW0002

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Drivers on Arriva Trains Wales have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)) union said 85% of members backed the industrial action

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow described the company's offer as "paltry". He added: "It would have left our members out of pocket and which was loaded with strings.

Arriva Trains Wales (ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)))) said it was "surprised and disappointed".

"Our members would have ended up with inferior working conditions for a de facto pay cut.

"Arriva Trains Wales have shown us in the clearest possible terms that they have no wish to properly reward the hard work and loyalty to the staff and are motivated solely by the drive for bigger profits to line the pockets of the shareholders

"That is why we have balloted for industrial action and why our members have delivered this overwhelming mandate," Mr Crown added.

Last month a planned stoppage at Arriva Trains Wales by members of the drivers' union Aslef was called off.

An ATW spokeswoman said: "We are surprised and disappointed that the RMT has chosen to ballot for industrial action, based on a previous pay offer which has since been superseded by a significantly improved offer."

The spokeswoman added that ATW train drivers were represented by two trade unions, ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) & RMT, and that ASLEF had recommended the latest pay offer to its members for acceptance.