XC RMT Strike - is there a discussion somewhere?

[Jamesrob637]

They'll probably get called off the previous Wednesday anyway.

 

[dk1]

Talks have been taking place but CrossCountry have taken the mickey. There are outstanding issues with pay, staffing and previously agreed commitments. They have failed to honour agreements on overtime payments, staff resourcing and wage discrepancies for different grades.

The proposal from the company is worse than previous proposals.

XC management are rotten to the core and have proved this time and time again.

 

[Russel]

XC management are rotten to the core and have proved this time and time again.

15 Years ago I left, it's sad to see how bad things have got.

 

[dk1]

15 Years ago I left, it's sad to see how bad things have got.

I concur mate.

 

[vicbury]

XC management are rotten to the core and have proved this time and time again.

To what extent are their hands tied by the DfT, or not?

 

[dk1]

To what extent are their hands tied by the DfT, or not?

Obviously to some extent and that dreadful DfT link is awful but their comparison with any other train operator is stark.

 

[Russel]

To what extent are their hands tied by the DfT, or not?

As dk1 says, the link to the DFT is there, but you don't see this happening else where, so what does that tell you?

I still keep in touch with a few former XC colleagues and the impression I get from them is the Amazon school of thought within the current management is very obvious.

 

[class 9]

XC management are rotten to the core and have proved this time and time again.

I'd add the word senior, local management are mainly spot on.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I think someone needs to update the XC website, as it still states:

"There is currently no planned Industrial Action at CrossCountry.

For up-to-the minute updates, please see our Service Updates page."

Industrial Action | CrossCountry Trains

www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

 

[Dr Day]

Can someone please explain in plain English from a neutral perspective what the issues actually are?

These threads are typically full of generalisations about ‘management’ and ‘agreements’ but light on the kind of details that would help many of us outside the industry actually understand why our travel is being disrupted.

 

[dk1]

I'd add the word senior, local management are mainly spot on.

Yes of course. I should’ve been more specific. Hands on managers are normally salt of the earth.

 

[Adam Williams]

I think someone needs to update the XC website, as it still states:

"There is currently no planned Industrial Action at CrossCountry.

For up-to-the minute updates, please see our Service Updates page."

Industrial Action | CrossCountry Trains

www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

The industry has always been very sluggish at communicating industrial action (and sorting out things like ticket acceptance arrangements), it's rather frustrating - and prevents customers from being able to plan around disruption effectively. BBC News and the unions themselves tend to be better sources on the current state of things.

 

[Starmill]

I think someone needs to update the XC website, as it still states:

"There is currently no planned Industrial Action at CrossCountry.

For up-to-the minute updates, please see our Service Updates page."

Industrial Action | CrossCountry Trains

www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

It was the same with the previous round. They left that on the website for over a week.

 

[ruaival]

It was the same with the previous round. They left that on the website for over a week.

To give XC some credit ... I am off to visit elderly parents one of those weekends, and they will worry while there is no alternative arrangements known.

First thing Saturday the XC online chat team were sharing 'possible' alternatives with me and,
when I later in the day decided to travel earlier on the Friday instead, XC agreed to amend my Advance ticket for strike Saturday at no cost other than the difference in ticket price.
( it did need me to buy a fresh ticket first and then get a full refund for the original ticket, but I think that was down to website tech' issues on the day )

for the record, I support the staff involved in trying to resolve the dispute with the company but skipping parents visit doesn't feel like the right option
and Dad's dad was the last station master of my avatar picture - the grand St Enoch mainline station in Glasgow

 

[Starmill]

XC agreed to amend my Advance ticket for strike Saturday at no cost other than the difference in ticket price

Is that not what they do for everyone? I'd expect they'll announce that this can be done at no cost shortly too. So in that respect, they've probably ripped you off there.

it did need me to buy a fresh ticket first and then get a full refund for the original ticket, but I think that was down to website tech' issues on the day

I don't think there were technical issues, that's normal practice.

 

[coppercapped]

As dk1 says, the link to the DFT is there, but you don't see this happening else where, so what does that tell you?

I still keep in touch with a few former XC colleagues and the impression I get from them is the Amazon school of thought within the current management is very obvious.

Specific to the last paragraph I do not understand the reference to Amazon.

Amazon is a remarkably successful company. Following its founding in 1994 as a bookseller it now supplies web services as well as music and video streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, MGM+ and Amazon Music. It publishes books through its publishing arm and produces and distributes film and television content through Amazon MGM.

If Cross Country was run on Amazon principles — it has a turnover of more than $600 billion and employs over 1.5 million people — then Cross Country would be eye-wateringly profitable.

 

[Russel]

Specific to the last paragraph I do not understand the reference to Amazon.

Amazon is a remarkably successful company. Following its founding in 1994 as a bookseller it now supplies web services as well as music and video streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, MGM+ and Amazon Music. It publishes books through its publishing arm and produces and distributes film and television content through Amazon MGM.

If Cross Country was run on Amazon principles — it has a turnover of more than $600 billion and employs over 1.5 million people — then Cross Country would be eye-wateringly profitable.

Yeah, they may be successful which is great and all, now look at how Amazon treat it's warehouse and currier staff...

 

[tram21]

Specific to the last paragraph I do not understand the reference to Amazon.

Amazon is a remarkably successful company. Following its founding in 1994 as a bookseller it now supplies web services as well as music and video streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, MGM+ and Amazon Music. It publishes books through its publishing arm and produces and distributes film and television content through Amazon MGM.

If Cross Country was run on Amazon principles — it has a turnover of more than $600 billion and employs over 1.5 million people — then Cross Country would be eye-wateringly profitable.

It's not about the profits, its about the staff treatment, which Amazon is incredibly bad at

 

[Phillipimo]

I think someone needs to update the XC website, as it still states:

"There is currently no planned Industrial Action at CrossCountry.

For up-to-the minute updates, please see our Service Updates page."

Industrial Action | CrossCountry Trains

www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

Information is now available at this link with FAQs.

Industrial Action
The RMT union has announced plans for industrial action at CrossCountry on the following Saturdays in December: 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th.

We are assessing the impact on our services and will update this page with further information as soon as possible.

 

[father_jack]

Specific to the last paragraph I do not understand the reference to Amazon.

Amazon is a remarkably successful company. Following its founding in 1994 as a bookseller it now supplies web services as well as music and video streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, MGM+ and Amazon Music. It publishes books through its publishing arm and produces and distributes film and television content through Amazon MGM.

If Cross Country was run on Amazon principles — it has a turnover of more than $600 billion and employs over 1.5 million people — then Cross Country would be eye-wateringly profitable.

Well maybe that's why the current XC management don't work for Amazon any more and are causing chaos at XC rather than thriving at Amazon like you described how they should be.....

 

[voyagerdude220]

Information is now available at this link with an FAQ.

At least that's an improvement in communication from XC compared with the lack of warning last time on their website.

 

[coppercapped]

Yeah, they may be successful which is great and all, now look at how Amazon treat it's warehouse and currier staff...

Do you have any recent examples of what I assume you imply is poor treatment?

It's not about the profits, its about the staff treatment, which Amazon is incredibly bad at

Really? They treat all 1.5 million badly? Then I'm surprised that if it treats skilled technicians and engineers badly it has managed to become one of the three major internet service providers on the planet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Nov 2025 ==

Well maybe that's why the current XC management don't work for Amazon any more and are causing chaos at XC rather than thriving at Amazon like you described how they should be.....

Is it a fact that the current XC management used to work for Amazon? Or are you making that up?

 

[tram21]

Is it a fact that the current XC management used to work for Amazon? Or are you making that up?

It is a fact. The MD is ex Amazon.

 

[Russel]

Do you have any recent examples of what I assume you imply is poor treatment?

There is plenty of information on the internet documenting their poor treatment of staff and anti union stance, I'm not looking for you.

If you don't want to believe me, please yourself.

 

[coppercapped]

There is plenty of information on the internet documenting their poor treatment of staff and anti union stance, I'm not looking for you.

If you don't want to believe me, please yourself.

Yes, I am aware of these reports, including that in July 2024 when the GMB just missed gaining sufficient votes to seek recognition in Amazon's UK sites.

What I asked for, and you didn't answer, is whether there have been any recent reports of poor staff treatment in Amazon's UK sites. Bearing in mind that what one group sees as 'poor treatment' may be seen by the other group involved as effective management to maintain and improve staff productivity.

 

[Russel]

Yes, I am aware of these reports, including that in July 2024 when the GMB just missed gaining sufficient votes to seek recognition in Amazon's UK sites.

What I asked for, and you didn't answer, is whether there have been any recent reports of poor staff treatment in Amazon's UK sites. Bearing in mind that what one group sees as 'poor treatment' may be seen by the other group involved as effective management to maintain and improve staff productivity.

Others may call it a race to the bottom.

 

[coppercapped]

Others may call it a race to the bottom.

What exactly does this phrase mean?

There are many, many highly skilled and well paid staff working in the various Amazon operations with excellent conditions of employment — it certainly could not have reached its present size by mistreating its staff. My impression is that you are concentrating only on the alleged conditions in the warehouses and 'fulfilment centres' and implying that these conditions apply in all of Amazon's operations.

I am not apologising for nor defending Amazon's policies or actions, but simply trying to point out that it is inaccurate to suggest that Amazon treats all its staff badly. Comparing the alleged behaviour of Cross Country's management with that of this somewhat biased representation of Amazon's behaviour in some of its warehouses is, frankly, lazy and does not help your case.

 

[Jamesrob637]

All called off now apparently, one day before my predicted Wednesday.

 

[dk1]

All called off now apparently, one day before my predicted Wednesday.

Yes there’s a post in the XC RMT Strike - Trip Planning & Reports section below explaining all.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Dec 2025 ==

Crikey it’s taking XC long enough to put a statement out. I see they’ve taken down the strike action posts.

 

[DDB]

My personal experience on the regional routes is it is rare for the conductor to leave their cab. Hopefully the payment per ticket scan referenced in the other thread mentioned above will tempt them out.