XC RMT Strike - is there a discussion somewhere?

[ValentaFan1974]

No. It’s the RMT who don’t want the RSM’s working the front set solo. I was happy to do it personally…

 

[voyagerdude220]

No. It’s the RMT who don’t want the RSM’s working the front set solo. I was happy to do it personally…

Is that instruction still ongoing? I was under the impression Cross Country had stopped paying you extra for when you work solo in the front, or am I mistaken?

 

[ValentaFan1974]

The pay uplift was only agreed until 31st March, at which point the whole agreement ended and RSM’s were no longer classed as competent.

 

[voyagerdude220]

The pay uplift was only agreed until 31st March, at which point the whole agreement ended and RSM’s were no longer classed as competent.

Ok thank you. So I'm guessing this lack of agreement is ongoing until further notice?

 

[ValentaFan1974]

Correct

 

[Russel]

It has been clearly explained above. Management failing to abide by agreements. Not for the first time at that operator.

No, it hasn't though, that's a vague statement that doesn't really explain what the issue is, i.e. what agreements aren't being stuck to?

 

[43066]

No, it hasn't though, that's a vague statement that doesn't really explain what the issue is, i.e. what agreements aren't being stuck to?

It explains what the issue is. If you don’t work there you aren’t going to know the details of what the agreements are, and which are being breached. What more explanation is really needed? The opinions that count are those of the union members who are being balloted.

 

[JD2168]

This is a poster I have seen about this in Sheffield Station, seen today

 

[Merthyr Imp]

This is a poster I have seen about this in Sheffield Station, seen today

Strange. It still says on the Cross Country website:

Industrial Action | CrossCountry Trains

www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

'There is currently no planned industrial action.'

All very confusing.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Is the strike action back on at Cross Country?

This page on their website refers to action taking place on Saturdays 18th October and 1st November:

Industrial Action | CrossCountry Trains

www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

Industrial action by the RMT union will mean significant disruption to services on Saturday 18 October, and a very limited service will operate.

All CrossCountry routes will be impacted, with a limited service on some routes and no services on others. Services will also start later and finish much earlier. Further details can be found below.

The RMT union has also announced planned industrial action on Saturday 1 November. We continue to assess the impact on our services and will provide updates on what this will mean for CrossCountry passengers when available.

 

[ValentaFan1974]

The RMT strikes have never been “off”…. It’s the ASLEF ones that have been suspended.

 

[voyagerdude220]

The RMT strikes have never been “off”…. It’s the ASLEF ones that have been suspended.

Ok thanks for clarifying..

 

[Snow1964]

Is the strike action back on at Cross Country?

This page on their website refers to action taking place on Saturdays 18th October and 1st November:

Industrial Action | CrossCountry Trains

www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

There were supposed to be diversions via Bath and Westbury next Saturday 18th, instead everything South West of Bristol is cancelled.

The diversions are currently still happening on Sunday 19th

If I look at the notice as a potential passenger, the section on Industrial action reads really uninformatively eg
Industrial action by RMT union (let's not bother to explain what RMT means), let's not tell customers why they are taking action, no explanation why some lines have limited services that can run and others can't, mentioning some that run will have different calling patterns without explaining why. Dreadful lack of respect for customers.

Then just to demonstrate they don't care one iota but those already booked and holding reservations, the section on advance tickets says contact your ticket seller (wouldn't it be more customer friendly if they got in contact with the customer), rather than expecting the customer to sort a problem not of their making. I know XC are dreadful but this approach smacks of treating customers as an inconvenience, their organisation seems to have forgotten why it exists and gives people jobs.

Industrial Action | CrossCountry Trains

www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

 

[philosopher]

CrossCountry have now released their strike timetable for the 18th October. In summary, most of their Voyager routes are running, but with low frequencies. The majority of services are also starting or ending or Birmingham New Street. None of their Turbostar routes seem to be running. All their services stop by 17:30.

Their strike timetable is up here:

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/media-vnext/3jud3amv/t51-sat-18-oct-v2.pdf

 

[Starmill]

Worth noting only two departures from Edinburgh (0907, 1108). The last departure from Manchester is 1203. Taunton not being served at all is also far from ideal. There is just one train between Leeds and Sheffield so the Northern services are going to be interesting given they're nearly all booked two car...

 

[Russel]

Oh deep joy, i'd forgotten about next Saturdays strike until this thread cropped up.

Meant to be heading into Birmingham from Tamworth, I think I'll use the bus!

 

[ValentaFan1974]

Strike due for Saturday has been suspended - no link just received via email:

Our Ref: BR2/14/2



16th October 2025

STRIKE ACTION ON SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2025 SUSPENDED

BOOK ON FOR YOUR SHIFT AND WORK AS NORMAL ON THIS DAY​

Dear RMT Member,



BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS - CROSS COUNTRY



Your Unions negotiating team have been in discussions with Cross Country to try and find a meaningful resolution to the ongoing dispute.



The company has since produced a document, that whilst the Union has not agreed to any items and is still not in a position to agree to any of the points, the previous blocks put in place by the company have now been removed, which will allow for meaningful dialogue going forward.



RMT Union's National Executive Committee has considered the matter and taking into consideration the views of your Lead Officer and Company Council representatives, has taken the decision to suspend the industrial action due to take place Saturday 18th October 2025. Members should therefore book on and work as normal on this day.



For the avoidance of doubt, the strike action called for Saturday 1st November 2025 remains in place.



I will continue to keep members advised of developments.

Yours sincerely,



Eddie Dempsey
General Secretary

 

[Starmill]

Strike due for Saturday has been suspended - no link just received via email:

Has that gone out tonight? One working day of notice?

 

[ValentaFan1974]

Literally received about 10 mins before I posted here.

I doubt there’s any chance of restoring the normal timetable for Saturday as they usually need at least 48 hours notice…

 

[Starmill]

Literally received about 10 mins before I posted here.

I doubt there’s any chance of restoring the normal timetable for Saturday as they usually need at least 48 hours notice…

Yes unfortunately just a single working day (Friday) is totally insufficient. It will be up to what CrossCountry's control centre are able to resource around what's in the current plan. It's likely they'd be able to put a handful of extra services on at least.

 

[Russel]

So in reality, the strike may as well still be on from a passenger perspective...

I don't want to jump to any conclusions here, but suspending the strike knowing there is no realistic chance of the service being restored does raise a few questions...

 

[Jamesrob637]

So in reality, the strike may as well still be on from a passenger perspective...

I don't want to jump to any conclusions here, but suspending the strike knowing there is no realistic chance of the service being restored does raise a few questions...

Well, everybody has to book on again and I imagine there'll be repercussions if many don't.

 

[MikeWM]

Does this mean the Peterborough-Ely-Cambridge rail replacement buses will run, or not? Would they have run if the strike remained on - and if not, will they run now?

There will be 1 bus every 2 hours (GA service) between PBO and Ely if not, which doesn't seem likely to meet demand for everyone who wants to go east from Peterborough but not all the way to Norwich.

 

[londonmidland]

What a mess and no doubt has caused many pax to book alternative transport and/or routes or cancelled their plans altogether.

The CrossCountry website is still publicly advertising strike action for this Saturday (the 18th)

 

[Teds]

Does this mean the Peterborough-Ely-Cambridge rail replacement buses will run, or not? Would they have run if the strike remained on - and if not, will they run now?

I raised this with the user group and they have an assurance from CrossCountry that the buses will run. This was issued before the strike was suspended.

 

[Russel]

Well, everybody has to book on again and I imagine there'll be repercussions if many don't.

The cynic in me can see a days disruption without loss of pay to RMT members...

 

[ValentaFan1974]

But surely if there’s progression towards a resolution, that’s in everyone’s interests, no?

 

[High Dyke]

The cynic in me can see a days disruption without loss of pay to RMT members...

The onus is on the employer now. TU members have been told to work as normal. If management can't get their act together the TU can't be blamed for that.

 

[CC 72100]

The onus is on the employer now. TU members have been told to work as normal. If management can't get their act together the TU can't be blamed for that.

You say 'management' as if its the top brass.

The reality is, it'll be train planners and Controllers - who may be management grade but aren't the big bosses you're implicitly alluding to here - working their backsides off to try and put an alternative train plan in at less than 48 hours notice.

It's a lot more work than merely "getting their act together".

 

[High Dyke]

You say 'management' as if its the top brass.

The reality is, it'll be train planners and Controllers - who may be management grade but aren't the big bosses you're implicitly alluding to here - working their backsides off to try and put an alternative train plan in at less than 48 hours notice.

It's a lot more work than merely "getting their act together".

Do they not have contingency plans available for such scenarios? Yes, resources may be difficult to arrange at short notice, but if there is an available plan, like the normal timetable, then, some of the issues are negated.