Network Rail Signallers: Strike Action

[Metroland]

Normally managers are qualified in the signalling regulations, usually ex signallers or supervisors. The other people they would draft in is TSSA and non-union people.

I sincerely hope they don't do what Railtrack did last time and send people in that are not fully conversant with the area (IE pass qualified people to work new locations in record time: It normally takes 4-6 months retraining at the higher grade end on top of your initial 8-12 months of training including a 9 week rules course depending on the location). There was all sorts of incidents covered up last time and would suggest to anyone do not travel. I won't be.

It's not the delays I'm worried about, 80% of railway incidents are communications failures, usually people under pressure. It's very easy to get mixed up who you are talking to with 6 phones going off at once, and talk the wrong train by a signal, run someone over, or some message concerning safety drastically mixed up with the S&T, Pway, and many others. I've seen it done several times, and on one occasion nearly ended up with a head on collision because they were inexperienced and talked a train by a signal during a failure and had the points set up wrongly (You normally have to appoint route setting agents who work to your instructions with complex failures).

 

[ashworth]

Ive got an Advance Purchase ticket for Easter Sunday afternoon travelling from Nottingham to Kings Cross via Grantham.
I don't want the inconveneince of having to delay the beginning of a short break away with friends and so I have already purchased a cheap £10 Nottingham to London coach ticket just in case there are no trains running. Perhaps it may be safer travelling by coach even if some train are running! Being more serious I thought even if I don't need to use the coach ticket, its better to just lose £10 than miss the beginning of a holiday.

Anyone any ideas as to whether I ought to be thinking about a coach ticket for my return journey on Saturday 10th April when I should be travelling in the afternoon from St Pancras to Nottingham?

 

[tripleseis]

Does anyone know if this proposed strike will effect Eurotunnel services? We're off to Germany on Easter Sunday.

 

[Hampshire Unit]

So the strike is happening. I’m just wondering what people think of the strike being split up into Hours rather then having a solid day or two???

 

[CosherB]

It's dispicable. Screwing up the travel plans (and often the lives) of millions of people by going on strike. Anyone who goes on strike should be made financially responsible for the consequences of their actions; perhaps then they'd find a civilsed and unselfish way of resolving their disputes, rather than cynically using their customers as ammunition in an internal battle.

If most folk (me included) did anything as stupid a strike, our customers would sack us. The BA cabin crew will find that to be the truth; workers in an industry where the customer is effectively captive (rail travellers) are just taking selfish advantage.

Like I said, that Bob Crowe... he's sooo 1970s (as is Unite). The world has moved on - some unions, it seems, haven't.

 

[TW7]

Captain Speaking - I think the RMT have done the decent thing not to strike over Easter. I dont usually believe that strikes solve anything, but if this strike helps to keep our railway safe & stops another Potters Bar or Hatfield then im all for it!

 

[Tomnick]

But without such representation and action from Trade Unions, would working conditions have improved significantly from those 'suffered' during the Industrial Revolution? Clearly there's a place for negotiation and compromise, but if the employer isn't prepared to back down, then there's the choice between accepting undesirable conditions and resignation! Since resignation probably isn't an option for most (even less so in the Industrial Revolution), then should the Signalmen just sit back and allow their conditions to be eroded? If that approach had been taken right from the start, then we (as a nation) would probably still be working 18 hour days, 7 days a week, with no holiday entitlement. The world might have moved on, but employers are still seeking to extract the most from their workforce, perhaps without appropriate regard for the welfare of those employees!

 

[68000]

Captain Speaking - I think the RMT have done the decent thing not to strike over Easter.

The decent thing equates to affecting 100% more people

 

[CarterUSM]

Captain speaking, it is not particularly selfish to strike when you are protecting conditions and terms of employment and you are penalised financially by not getting paid believe it or not. I am also assuming you mean Bob Crow and not Crowe. I am no lover of him, but again, believe it or not, it is the union members who have voted to strike and it is not Mr Crow who told them to. He is merely the figurehead of the union and I think he does what he does very well, as he seems to get talked about all the time.

 

[Metroland]

Quite so, I could tell you all sorts of things about what happened last time, and if the public knew they would have kittens.

 

[313103]

It's dispicable. Screwing up the travel plans (and often the lives) of millions of people by going on strike. Anyone who goes on strike should be made financially responsible for the consequences of their actions; perhaps then they'd find a civilsed and unselfish way of resolving their disputes, rather than cynically using their customers as ammunition in an internal battle.

If most folk (me included) did anything as stupid a strike, our customers would sack us. The BA cabin crew will find that to be the truth; workers in an industry where the customer is effectively captive (rail travellers) are just taking selfish advantage.

Like I said, that Bob Crowe... he's sooo 1970s (as is Unite). The world has moved on - some unions, it seems, haven't.

The usual claptrap from this 'Im alright Jack' type person.

 

[CosherB]

The usual claptrap from this 'Im alright Jack' type person.

Was that suposed to be ironic? You do know that 'I'm alright jack' was the title of a 1960s film lampooning self-obsessed strike-ridden unions don't you?

No?

Well, there's a surprise!


Message to you selfish strikers - GET YOUR TANKS OFF NR'S LAWN - DO YOUR JOBS, LET NR DO THEIR'S!!!

 

[Hampshire Unit]

It's dispicable. Screwing up the travel plans (and often the lives) of millions of people by going on strike. Anyone who goes on strike should be made financially responsible for the consequences of their actions

So what would the alternative be ??? Network Rail have been totally uncompromising on this situation and have been forcing these changes despite the warnings with regards to Safety. I am unsure of your employment but if you was placed in a situation knowing your actions could make the difference between another rail disaster or “keeping things safe” what would you choose?
Please remember this action is NOT about pay or how many hours a signaller works in a week but it is about Safety. Not just the safety of rail staff but also the safety of all the people we are inconveniencing.
So what will Network Rail staff gain from this? Financially NOTHING in fact they will lose, but knowing that Mr Average on his rail journey is safe makes it all worth while.

 

[Dai.]

Message to you selfish strikers - GET YOUR TANKS OFF NR'S LAWN - DO YOUR JOBS, LET NR DO THEIR'S!!!

Here here, as a strong user of the railways, with a day planned out with a very good friend using the railways on the 8th, I am extremely dissatisfied at the signallers for calling a strike. As signallers work in an industry where you are in control of a majority of peoples days you shouldn't put other peoples enjoyments at stake because of a tiff with your employer.

Before someone mentions that I'm only going on about this because I'd planned a day out, this is not the case, I think this is a silly thing to do at any point of the year.

 

[313103]

Message to you selfish strikers - GET YOUR TANKS OFF NR'S LAWN - DO YOUR JOBS, LET NR DO THEIR'S!!!

Actually that is an ironic statement If the union allowed NR to their jobs the workers wont have any.

As for the tanks this is 2010 UK not 1960s South Africa or Russia. So less of being a drama queen.

Perhaps you like the approach when a Manager comes along and says i am going to screw you , you will say how far do you want me to bend down.

 

[royaloak]

Here here, as a strong user of the railways, with a day planned out with a very good friend using the railways on the 8th, I am extremely dissatisfied at the signallers for calling a strike. As signallers work in an industry where you are in control of a majority of peoples days you shouldn't put other peoples enjoyments at stake because of a tiff with your employer.

Before someone mentions that I'm only going on about this because I'd planned a day out, this is not the case, I think this is a silly thing to do at any point of the year.

How true, much better to have your day out and end up spread all over the tracks because essential maintenance has been "deferred" as at Hatfield.

 

[313103]

I am glad No one on here is losing their jobs. Perhaps you need to have a chat with those from Network Rail and Jarvis and tell them you can afford to out of work have my job.

 

[CosherB]

Perhaps you like the approach when a Manager comes along and says i am going to screw you , you will say how far do you want me to bend down.

Welcome to the real world! If you feel that strongly about it, and you have the ability, become a manager and run it the way you think is best.

 

[313103]

Welcome to the real world! If you feel that strongly about it, and you have the ability, become a manager and run it the way you think is best.

Ah Management type person or as they use to be called Bourgeoisie. As for becoming a Manager No Thanks. I get screwed enough by being a peasent.

 

[Minstral25]

4 working days in a row - signal staff are going to strike from 6am to 10am and then 6pm to 10pm - basically the rush hour so no-one can work for the whole working week (oh yes Monday is a bank holiday)

So I can't get to work, I can't get paid and my kids go hungry (not quite the last one but I felt a need to exaggerate like Bob Crow for a moment)

This strike is despicable - it is deliberately aimed at commuters and to cause the maximum pain to the travelling public

The travelling Public (and some daily mail readers) will have no sympathy with rail workers over this and saying its about safety will not make one iota of a difference

Oh and the travelling public of course indirectly pay his salary - well there's irony

Sure I'll whip up some anger with this message, but surely it would be better to talk to the ORR, make a case in public, lobby parliament or just run some adverts in the papers to make sure the public are informed about the decisions Network Rail are making on their behalf. Maybe just one day of strike. Couldn't try any of that first - NO RMT says lets go on a big strike and cause the ordinary public huge amounts of suffering. It posturing of the worst kind!!

My anger is not at the railwaymen and women who do a wonderful job but at their pathetic hooligan union leaders who are only interested in having a fight

 

[royaloak]

My anger is not at the railwaymen and women who do a wonderful job but at their pathetic hooligan union leaders who are only interested in having a fight

Not that NR management are of course :roll:

 

[Dai.]

How true, much better to have your day out and end up spread all over the tracks because essential maintenance has been "deferred" as at Hatfield.

I do like my days out, but when you're in a position where safety, security and enjoyment of the public is the main priority, every precaution must be taken to make sure they are not disrupted.

Take the government for example they'd never do anything to ruin the lives of the general pub... never mind..

 

[royaloak]

I do like my days out, but when you're in a position where safety, security and enjoyment of the public is the main priority, every precaution must be taken to make sure they are not disrupted.

Take the government for example they'd never do anything to ruin the lives of the general pub... never mind..

Which is what this is all about :roll:

Would you rather have a few strike days or another post Hatfield time?

 

[313103]

Sure I'll whip up some anger with this message,

Eh actually you wont, we have heard it all before and it really isnt news worthy anymore. TBH i cant spend all night on here arguing with people who dont understand or dont to understand. So i will leave this forum now and let you guys whinge and moan and keep saying all those nasty things about whoever you want to really. Even me if you so wish.

Night All

 

[Daimler]

Which is what this is all about :roll:

Would you rather have a few strike days or another post Hatfield time?

I don't wish to enter the fray too far here (I don't think I understand the situation well enough to do that...), but what guarantees that these 'few strike days' will give those going on strike what they want?

It appears to be being presented by some as a kind of guaranteed way of doing this.

Is it not more likely that it's being used as a threat to Network Rail in order to 'help discussions along' without resorting to the actual strike - which neither party seems to want particularly.

 

[royaloak]

I feel that the strike call is to get them in charge (government) to bring pressure on NR to take part in MEANINGFUL discussions, not just sit there with their fingers in their ears going la la la la la la ad infinitum.

 

[CosherB]

As for becoming a Manager No Thanks. I get screwed enough by being a peasent.

Well, there you go, then. Perhaps if you had to actually run something within the budgetry constraints imposed by the real world you'd have to take a more mature view.

Holding the public (your customers and your paymasters) to ransom to sort out internal wrangles is despicable. In most industries, if you did that you'd pi55 of your customers big time, who'd go elsewhere. You'd go bust and have no job.

What are you rail strikers? Some sort of protected species?

If you have a problem with your boss, sort it out internally - don't screw up my life and the lives of millions of disinterested others to do so! Or are you letting that Bob Crow use you for his career and political ambitions?

 

[jopsuk]

Strikes are really not uncommon in manufacturing, Captain Speaking. They're not generally big news, given the more limited impact on the general public, but they happen. As a big example, in 2008 nearly 30,000 production workers at Boeing in the US went on strike for over a month.

 

[Kernowfem]

Its not the strikes that concern me. I have little knowledge of the ins and outs of the situation, so ill leave the rights and wrongs of the stirke to thise who fully understand the circumstances.
What does concern me however is the impression that passengers are under in regard to the strikes. I was on the sheffield to derby service yesterday sat behind two males chatting about the strikes when one said to the other 'well seeing as there'll be no trains running, which line do you fancy walking?' to which the other replied 'i fancy doing totley tunnel if your up for it'. How thick do you have to be to think this way, its insane...

 

[CarterUSM]

Good luck to the all the strikers, I hope they will keep their current terms and conditions and show NR management a thing or two about how you treat others. I'll need to find another way to get into work also, but that's just tough. I'll deal with it.