Disruption this summer?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From This is Wiltshire

A TRADE union chief has warned of "widespread disruption" to rail services this summer unless agreement is reached with Network Rail on plans for redundancies.

TSSA^» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about) general secretary, Manuel Cortes, has written to Network Rail amid reports the state-owned company is planning to slash thousands of jobs.

The union is demanding an undertaking that no-one will be forced out of a job.

In his letter to Network Rail's chief executive, Andrew Haines, Mr Cortes says that pressing ahead with current plans for reform is both unnecessary and will be taken as a sign of bad faith by his members.

[broadgage]

I expect SOME disruption, but probably limited.

Any industrial action by the TSSA^» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about) will probably hasten reductions in staff numbers, as ways will be found to manage without them.

Ticket office closed due to strike ? Purchase on line instead and thereby hasten the closure of more ticket offices.

Wages and salaries clerks on strike ? Subcontract the whole operation to India.

Timetable planning department on strike ? accelerate the transfer of same to GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) and close down the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)  planning departments.

Advertising and promotions department on strike ? Close it down, wont be needed under GBR "Famous five face the dole"

This reminds me of a huge planned civil service strike, in the days of Maggie Thatcher, that was to "bring the government to its knees" The PM was asked for Her views on the strike and reportedly said "It is a great idea, we can find out which ones we really need, and get rid of the rest" The strike petered out.

[Lee]

Advertising and promotions department on strike ? Close it down, wont be needed under GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) "Famous five face the dole"

"Five Get Their CV's Together Again"

[Electric train]

I expect SOME disruption, but probably limited.

Any industrial action by the TSSA^» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about) will probably hasten reductions in staff numbers, as ways will be found to manage without them.

Ticket office closed due to strike ? Purchase on line instead and thereby hasten the closure of more ticket offices.

Wages and salaries clerks on strike ? Subcontract the whole operation to India.

Timetable planning department on strike ? accelerate the transfer of same to GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) and close down the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)  planning departments.

Advertising and promotions department on strike ? Close it down, wont be needed under GBR "Famous five face the dole"

This reminds me of a huge planned civil service strike, in the days of Maggie Thatcher, that was to "bring the government to its knees" The PM was asked for Her views on the strike and reportedly said "It is a great idea, we can find out which ones we really need, and get rid of the rest" The strike petered out.

There are staff that are in other Unions who if there duty manager is on strike may decline to do certain tasks that require higher authorisation,

[broadgage]

I agree, and therefore expect some disruption, probably minor.

[broadgage]

I recall a strike by local government workers that will be "remembered forever as the day on which the diversity statements went uncompleted" Apart from that, hardly anyone noticed.

The TSSA^» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about)  should beware.