Breaking News. : Tube Strikes

[sonic2009]

Tube Drivers to strike including one on Boxing Day.

More info to follow.

 

[Class377/5]

It's showing on the BBC news on ticker, no further info.

 

[Max]

From the ASLEF website:

14 Dec 2011

The union’s members working in London Underground have voted overwhelmingly to take action on Boxing Day. The dispute concerns the compensation for working the day after Christmas and the union’s insistence that the day must be covered by volunteers.

The union balloted its 2,200 Underground drivers and they returned a 92.3% vote in favour of action.

The company is currently offering no additional payments for working on Boxing Day. The union says its members require ‘substantial incentives’ to attend.

If the dispute is not resolved, the union intends to take further action on 16 January and 3 and 13 February.

 

[talltim]

I can understand not wanting to work on boxing day with no extra pay, but why strike about it after the event?

 

[ushawk]

How much are they paid to work on Boxing Day anyway ? And i also dont get why they are striking for 2 additional days next year

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes I'm wondering that as well, fair enough wanting extra pay to work Boxing Day, but to strike after it? That just seems a bit vindictive, is there more to this than meets the eye?

 

[Ivo]

Lovely jubbly. More Tube strikes.

Yes I'm wondering that as well, fair enough wanting extra pay to work Boxing Day, but to strike after it? That just seems a bit vindictive, is there more to this than meets the eye?

With ASLEF and the RMT, when isn't there...? :roll:

 

[rmt-driver]

Lovely jubbly. More Tube strikes.



With ASLEF and the RMT, when isn't there...? :roll:

RMT nothing to do with this one...

What do other TOC's drivers get for working Boxing Day? Just out of interest?

I know there are only a handful running, I think it is just Heathrow Express, Scotrail, and Southern?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

RMT nothing to do with this one...

I'll bet Bob Crow still gives a statement to the BBC on the matter though!

 

[SS4]

I reckon it's got more to do with the idea that drivers are not given a choice (not sure if this is in their contract or not) but no doubt the anti-union press will seek to make this about greedy mercenaries holding the capital ransom for their own selfish ends (as though they were small scale City bankers)

 

[Mojo]

I reckon it's got more to do with the idea that drivers are not given a choice (not sure if this is in their contract or not) but no doubt the anti-union press will seek to make this about greedy mercenaries holding the capital ransom for their own selfish ends (as though they were small scale City bankers)

There is no choice, but then again the Union signed a deal in 1993 with considerably increased benefits and remuneration in return for, amongst other things, working on 26 December.

 

[313103]

RMT nothing to do with this one...

What do other TOC's drivers get for working Boxing Day? Just out of interest?

I know there are only a handful running, I think it is just Heathrow Express, Scotrail, and Southern?

All Staff on London Overground are paid Time plus Time if they work on Christmas day or Boxing Day, the only time we get paid this, so its the only days we don't work!

Although essentially i am working Boxing Day as i have to be at work at 04.30 on the 27th so up at 03.00 and in bed on Boxing Day at around 20.00 and not being allowed to have any alcholol past my lips on that day either. I will also be paid flat rate even though it is a Bank Holiday in lieu of Christmas day, The agrement says staff with the exception of Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday are paid at plain time.

As an aside Arsenal FC have postponed their game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the 26th to the 27th. This has a major impact as on the 27th public transport services will be running a normal saturday service.

 

[trentside]

TfL have placed information on their website about the strike action and services they're hoping to operate.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/boxing-day-tube-strike-advance-travel-advice.pdf

 

[notadriver]

Tube drivers get the approx same salary as main line drivers who do not have to work boxing day. 313103 you are not working on boxing day itself.

 

[313103]

Tube drivers get the approx same salary as main line drivers who do not have to work boxing day. 313103 you are not working on boxing day itself.

Thats as maybe, however i have to treat Boxing day like a day at work as i will be restricted on what i can and cannot do on the day itself and regulate my sleeping pattens from Christmas day. So i will be up extremly early on both days so my body adapts easy. To much sleep before a shift is as bad as not enough sleep. But i take your point I am not working on Boxing day.

 

[notadriver]

Thats as maybe, however i have to treat Boxing day like a day at work as i will be restricted on what i can and cannot do on the day itself and regulate my sleeping pattens from Christmas day. So i will be up extremly early on both days so my body adapts easy. To much sleep before a shift is as bad as not enough sleep. But i take your point I am not working on Boxing day.

If I was on my original shift I'd also be up as early if not earlier than you for work on 27th. Do you get double or a day off in lieu for that?

 

[radamfi]

Why don't they offer Tube drivers £100,000 a year with 60 days holiday a year and no Tube service on Boxing Day? That would surely mean no strikes ever again. Or would it?

 

[notadriver]

What about keeping things as they are and volunteers on boxing day subject to them getting enough for a Sunday service rather than a Saturday service.

 

[radamfi]

No, that won't keep ASLEF happy for long. There would bound to be something else to complain about. There's no need for a Tube service on Boxing Day. There are no buses running and no shops open.

 

[notadriver]

I'm in ASLEF and I'm not complaining mate.

 

[radamfi]

What about keeping things as they are and volunteers on boxing day subject to them getting enough for a Sunday service rather than a Saturday service.

Isn't that a complaint?

 

[notadriver]

It's an idea or a suggestion.

 

[radamfi]

That's the point. Something that seems a relatively trivial thing to an outsider is actually a big deal for ASLEF members, certainly enough to go on strike. We need to offer something that is really special, something beyond their wildest dreams, to avoid strike action. I'm sure most taxpayers are prepared to fund it.

 

[notadriver]

I think because LU are refusing to sit round the table to negotiate that's what's causing the friction. Drivers don't want triple pay from the few I've chatted to, they want working to be voluntary.

 

[radamfi]

Did LU accuse ASLEF of wanting triple pay when they didn't actually want it? If that's the case, then LU would seem to be playing dirty.

 

[notadriver]

From what I understand From some tube drivers, ASLEF never asked its members if they wanted triple time and a day in lieu to work boxing day. But it still demanded it all the same. I think it was a case of LU rostering a full Saturday service without consultation so they demanded triple pay in retaliation.

 

[CarterUSM]

With Scotrail, because Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, "Sunday" has been moved to boxing day and all staff working will be paid double time and a day in lieu, or treble time instead if they choose. Boxing day has been "moved" to the 27th and the usual enhancement of a day in lieu with standard time, or double time if preferred, applies. Same rates apply to 2nd/3rd of January. Staff not booked to work, accrue the days in lieu respectively I think, I cannot remember for sure, but they don't lose out anyway.

 

[313103]

If I was on my original shift I'd also be up as early if not earlier than you for work on 27th. Do you get double or a day off in lieu for that?

Annual leave is in advance and pay is at flat rate. So no extra's.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Sorry triple pay for boxing day..... My mum is a senior nurse and gets 1 and 2/3 pay for christmas day the same as every other sunday and bank holiday including boxing day..... triple pay... having a laugh? Surely double pay should suffice....

 

[Mutant Lemming]

..... triple pay... having a laugh? Surely double pay should suffice....

I take it you are unaware have how negotiations are conducted.

One side puts in an exaggerated version of what they actually want and then they argue their way towards what they would actually settle for.