Possible industrial action during Christmas holidays

[Fen Enthusiast]

Industrial action on the UK's railways is pretty big at present. What are the odds of it continuing into or being planed for the Christmas period?

Personally, without resolution to the current disputes before the Christmas period, I think it's more likely that not that we'll see Christmas holiday industrial action.

I'm asking this as I'm plotting a holiday in Scotland during the Christmas period and also because I've got non driving members of the family who may need to travel over the Christmas season.

 

[Starmill]

It is unlikely that there will be a resolution before the end of the year at the TOCs or London Underground. There may be slightly better chances of an agreement at Network Rail, but disruption is still likely.

 

[JonathanH]

The RMT are going to need to reballot soon in respect of most of their disputes as the mandate for strikes only lasts six months, but it seems highly probable that there will be a renewed mandate for strike action. One or two days strike action in the run up to Christmas seems quite probable.

 

[Starmill]

The Unions generally consult with Members if there are any days on which action is preferred too, so if the dispute is ongoing it's a good chance that Christmas Eve would be one, plus the last Friday before Christmas on 23rd. Those are frequently unpleasant days to be working on. As there's absolutely zero chance I personally will be working on either of them, I can see why.

 

[The Planner]

NR will be watching any dates announced at Xmas like hawks for longer access opportunities.

 

[Ianigsy]

The Saturdays before Christmas have been popular when there have been disputes before - it hits discretionary travel without interfering too much with people’s arrangements.

In contrast, there’s probably not much point striking between about December 22nd and January 4th or 5th because there’s less travel and people have come to expect Christmastime on the railways to be chaotic anyway. Better to hit the first Monday in January and the big return to work.

 

[JonathanH]

NR will be watching any dates announced at Xmas like hawks for longer access opportunities.

What if the maintenance staff are on strike? Don't possessions still need signallers on duty?

 

[Vespa]

I'm avoiding any travel over this period, in fact I have one more trip to London as my hotel is prebooked non refundable.

Currently in Edinburgh, riding the tram and luckily my return trip avoids next week's strike.

 

[Jan Mayen]

The Saturdays before Christmas have been popular when there have been disputes before - it hits discretionary travel without interfering too much with people’s arrangements.

In contrast, there’s probably not much point striking between about December 22nd and January 4th or 5th because there’s less travel and people have come to expect Christmastime on the railways to be chaotic anyway. Better to hit the first Monday in January and the big return to work.

Perhaps the first Tuesday, as Monday 2 January 2023 will be a Bank Holiday?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Oct 2022 ==

I'm avoiding any travel over this period, in fact I have one more trip to London as my hotel is prebooked non refundable.

Currently in Edinburgh, riding the tram and luckily my return trip avoids next week's strike.

Indeed. I'm avoiding planning anything relying on railways more than two weeks in advance, having just had to spend last night in Slough as I wasn't able to get home by train.

 

[Starmill]

January is likely to be extra quiet now that office commuting is largely optional, or optional to a point. But the strikes could still hit significant engineering works, causing them to be delayed indefinitely.

 

[eldomtom2]

Wait and see what Truss does - if she gets her minimum service legislation through, I expect the severity of strikes to dramatically increase.

 

[Starmill]

Wait and see what Truss does - if she gets her minimum service legislation through, I expect the severity of strikes to dramatically increase.

It isn't really possible to increase the severity of them over yesterday's! Unless there's industrial action in Northern Ireland too I guess.

 

[eldomtom2]

It isn't really possible to increase the severity of them over yesterday's! Unless there's industrial action in Northern Ireland too I guess.

Oh yes it is - they can increase their length for starters.

 

[Starmill]

Oh yes it is - they can increase their length for starters.

Approximately three per week is a practical upper limit though for the current membership appetite. Obviously you're technically right that they could do four to six days in a row or even go all-out. But that would involve losing very significantly more money.

 

[eldomtom2]

Approximately three per week is a practical upper limit though for the current membership appetite.

Well that's my point - if Truss carries on the way she is the appetite for longer and more frequent strikes among the membership will increase.

 

[The Planner]

What if the maintenance staff are on strike? Don't possessions still need signallers on duty?

There will still be opportunities not normally afforded.

 

[dk1]

If nothing has been resolved by December, then it should be expected that the most popular travelling days over the Christmas & New Year period will be targeted.

During the 2018 RMT disputes on GA the 27th of December was selected as was not only a busy travelling day in itself but to upset Christmas for those covering for guards. Many had to be flown down from Scotrail on Boxing Day & put up in hotels at great expense.

 

[yorksrob]

Well that's my point - if Truss carries on the way she is the appetite for longer and more frequent strikes among the membership will increase.

In some ways it might be better to force things to a head with a longer strike than a drip of continual disruption.

Round here, the buses were out for three weeks or so recently and it seems to have been resolved.

 

[Starmill]

In some ways it might be better to force things to a head with a longer strike than a drip of continual disruption.

Round here, the buses were out for three weeks or so recently and it seems to have been resolved.

Several bus companies have resolved disputes by withdrawing services and using the savings to fund pay rises. If there's an extended period, that's the only outcome really.

 

[Vespa]

Watched "Winter of Discontent" last night on Channel 5, this summer series of strikes have been compared to it.

I remembered it as a child, the consequences of higher pay demand is higher inflation as the increase had to be funded, as previous poster mentioned this would involve withdrawing and cutting back on servives to fund it.

The union Winter of Discontent combined strikes ended up bringing down their own Labour government and ushered in the Thatcher era.

 

[yorksrob]

Several bus companies have resolved disputes by withdrawing services and using the savings to fund pay rises. If there's an extended period, that's the only outcome really.

That pre-supposes that governments dealing with train services will act in the same way as local authorities with bus services.

Ultimately, if that's the endgame why would a long drawn out industrial action be any different ?