RMT announce Rail strikes are on for this week

https://news.sky.com/story/biggest-r...-fail-12637442

The biggest rail strike in three decades is expected go ahead after last-ditch talks failed, the RMT union said.

A walkout by 40,000 workers on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday will cause "total misery", according to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

Mr Shapps said the strike was "totally wrong" and would inconvenience millions - including those like his own daughter who are taking exams.

I could not tell you what year I last used a train, far too expensive.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by Mick

https://news.sky.com/story/biggest-r...-fail-12637442

The Government want this strike, anything in the news to divert attention from the shambles they've made of the country.
Nurses and Teachers will be the next targets. Anyone providing public services is the enemy of State Boris.

Originally Posted by Mr K

The Government want this strike, anything in the news to divert attention from the shambles they've made of the country.
Nurses and Teachers will be the next targets. Anyone providing public services is the enemy of State Boris.

So you don’t think £59,000 per year is a good salary for rail workers?

Any increase would put costs back on to the commuter and as Paul highlighted above, it’s already expensive.

[nomadking]

The alternative is that the Government gives in to every set of demands. Just think what the demands would be, if that happened?

It seems absurd that a Union can call a strike, simply because they have built up a strike fund. There is little financial penalty for the strikers.

[GrimUpNorth]

Originally Posted by Mick

So you don’t think £59,000 per year is a good salary for rail workers?

Any increase would put costs back on to the commuter and as Paul highlighted above, it’s already expensive.

I'm sure the thousands of rail workers who earn considerably less than £59,000 will agree with you.

Originally Posted by Mick

So you don’t think £59,000 per year is a good salary for rail workers?

Any increase would put costs back on to the commuter and as Paul highlighted above, it’s already expensive.

It’s the RMT that are on strike - train drivers (in ASLEF) earn that salary.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Mr K

The Government want this strike, anything in the news to divert attention from the shambles they've made of the country.
Nurses and Teachers will be the next targets. Anyone providing public services is the enemy of State Boris.

You are amazing, Mr K. The rail unions call a strike on false pretences and say the government should get involved. The RMT has already said that it will not negotiate with a Conservative government. What is more, the appropriate people for the unions to negotiate with are the employers.

The NHS workers and teachers are now threatening to take strike action alongside the rail workers and you describe them as ‘the next targets’ as if they were the victims!

The funny thing is, many people think your posts are just jokey, but sometimes I think you really believe this stuff.

Originally Posted by Mr K

The Government want this strike, anything in the news to divert attention from the shambles they've made of the country.
Nurses and Teachers will be the next targets. Anyone providing public services is the enemy of State Boris.

Pretty daft of the wider Labour movement to fall into their trap then isn’t it …

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by nomadking

The alternative is that the Government gives in to every set of demands. Just think what the demands would be, if that happened?

It seems absurd that a Union can call a strike, simply because they have built up a strike fund. There is little financial penalty for the strikers.

Yeah that's the reason people voted to strike, with a far greater percentage of the vote than this government was returned with btw because they have built up a strike fund

Originally Posted by GrimUpNorth

I'm sure the thousands of rail workers who earn considerably less than £59,000 will agree with you.

My heart doesn’t bleed for them. They want to try working in the Healthcare industry as it is now, utterly decimated, far harder job for significantly less pay and we can’t strike for obvious reasons.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

You are amazing, Mr K. The rail unions call a strike on false pretences and say the government should get involved. The RMT has already said that it will not negotiate with a Conservative government. What is more, the appropriate people for the unions to negotiate with are the employers.

The NHS workers and teachers are now threatening to take strike action alongside the rail workers and you describe them as ‘the next targets’ as if they were the victims!

The funny thing is, many people think your posts are just jokey, but sometimes I think you really believe this stuff.

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-call...g-with-shapps/

15 June 2022

RMT Press Office:

Rail union RMT has called for a face-to-face meeting with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Chancellor Rishi Sunak to avert strike action on the rail network next week.

The railways will be shut down for 3 days on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, when workers from Network Rail and 13 train operating companies take to picket lines across the country in a row over pay and job losses.

In a letter to Grant Shapps, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch says it has become clear that the Treasury is "calling the shots" and is not allowing rail employers to reach a negotiated settlement with the union.

Mr Lynch writes: "I am writing to seek an urgent meeting with the government, without any pre-conditions, to discuss the national rail disputes prior to the planned strike action next week and I would be grateful if this could be arranged without delay. As you will be aware both this year and last year, meetings have taken place under the Rail Industry Recovery Group (RIRG).

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Yeah that's the reason people voted to strike, with a far greater percentage of the vote than this government was returned with btw because they have built up a strike fund

If there was no strike fund, they would have to think twice, . If there was little money in the strike fund, would the unions be attempting anything?

If one side has no losses, then that is a one-sided battle.

---------- Post added at 20:33 ---------- Previous post was at 20:32 ----------

Originally Posted by Hugh

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-call...g-with-shapps/

The government are not the employers.

Originally Posted by Hugh

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-call...g-with-shapps/

That’s a pretty brazen attempt to turn this into a 1970s style bust up between Tory ministers and Labour-affiliated unions. The stuff about the RIRG is irrelevant. The question is whether government ministers should intervene directly in pay bargaining, not whether ministers and union leaders do or do not meet face to face on principle.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Chris

That’s a pretty brazen attempt to turn this into a 1970s style bust up between Tory ministers and Labour-affiliated unions. The stuff about the RIRG is irrelevant. The question is whether government ministers should intervene directly in pay bargaining, not whether ministers and union leaders do or do not meet face to face on principle.

I've forgotten how public sector disputes used to get resolved. As Network Rail is publicly owned and funded, I imagine that the government may have to get involved if more cash is involved.