Strike!!

[Bayum]

Over the May Half Term... Potentially causing mayhem on the roads, let alone the railways...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=565850&in_page_id=1770

 

[Metroland]

Most signallers are in TSSA, so I highly doubt disruption will be that great.

 

[Guinness]

Won't be on a massive scale despite the RMT been "A militant union" according to the Daily Mail.

 

[33056]

Most signallers are in TSSA, so I highly doubt disruption will be that great.

Disagree, most signallers who are in a union are in the RMT, however there are a significant number who are non-union.

 

[Nym]

Would be fun if the strikes ment that bits of lines where shut

Say if Doncaster PSB went offline and locked out, but York PSB was still up, would have a bit of a bitty network, still what would be fun is if MP SignalBox got shutdown for strike, oh hang on, that wouldn't be fun, I need that signalbox to get to work .

Now that we're in the world of computerised PSBs, can't they just hand over and lockout striked ones, such as if the above happends, hand Doncaster PSB consoles over to York PSB, and Manchester - Crewe etc...?

 

[gordonthemoron]

don't schools break up on 23rd May, rather than 'a week later' as stated by the Daily Mail?

 

[djw1981]

Depends on your local authority. In Scotland many areas don't have a half term then anyway due to the early summer holidays and the numerous 'Holiday Mondays' - 3 or 4 of them in Edinburgh this term.

 

[Metroland]

Now that we're in the world of computerised PSBs, can't they just hand over and lockout striked ones, such as if the above happends, hand Doncaster PSB consoles over to York PSB, and Manchester - Crewe etc...?

No, signallers like drivers have to know the line and box, there are many local instructions and methods of working, and it helps to know the timetable. Anyway, Doncaster PSB is still panels...

 

[Max]

I thought that all English schools (at least) have their May half term on the same week, so that external examinations can be uniform across the country - if some schools had different weeks, there'd be a high liklihood of cheating.

 

[djw1981]

Yes but if you have a 3tier area, with middle schools, then the first and middle schools can be off a different week to the High schools....

 

[me123]

Still, the SQA do hold exams during some weekend holidays and expect kids to come in for exams nonetheless. No reason why the exam board(s) down south can't follow suit (with adequite warning to parents, of course).

 

[TheSlash]

I should think the Government are currently strapping on 'The boot' ready to give NR a kick up the ass.
The T&Cs they offered us would of been funny if they weren't serious.
Would anybody accept a contract requiring them to work 91 shifts over 39 weekends, for a pay cut?
What about being rostered Christmas day, Boxing day and New Years eve/day, all on flat money?

 

[The Planner]

I should think the Government are currently strapping on 'The boot' ready to give NR a kick up the ass.
The T&Cs they offered us would of been funny if they weren't serious.
Would anybody accept a contract requiring them to work 91 shifts over 39 weekends, for a pay cut?
What about being rostered Christmas day, Boxing day and New Years eve/day, all on flat money?

Thats the maintenance deal though isnt it ? most of the aggro is the two year deal on the table. The RMT arent happy with 4.8% year one and RPI + 0.5% in year two. Once the press get a proper hold on it, I dont think a strike is going to achieve anything....

 

[TheSlash]

12,000 maintenance staff against a handfull of MOM's and Signalmen.

 

[Up Carriage Liner]

Most signallers are in TSSA, so I highly doubt disruption will be that great.

You are quite mistaken. RMT is the union that negotiates for signallers. I received my ballot paper today and voted against action. In the current climate I consider Network Rail's two-year offer quite reasonable.......

Not sure how the ballot will turn out. When the union organised a "referendum" a couple of months ago it was 2:1 against accepting the offer.

 

[33056]

Not sure how the ballot will turn out. When the union organised a "referendum" a couple of months ago it was 2:1 against accepting the offer.

The result will be interesting.

Every time there is a ballot of this nature, there always seems to be a sizeable proportion who do not bother to vote - are these people who would be happy with the offer and therefore see the ballot as irrelevant? I never cease to be amazed that there appear to be so many apathetic people out there who don't have an opinion either way or couldn't be bothered to put an X in one of the boxes :x

 

[P156KWJ]

don't schools break up on 23rd May, rather than 'a week later' as stated by the Daily Mail?

Our schools in Notts break up then - but I'm going 2 days earlier, as I'll be bashing Paris metro trains lol

 

[Up Carriage Liner]

I never cease to be amazed that there appear to be so many apathetic people out there who don't have an opinion either way or couldn't be bothered to put an X in one of the boxes :x

I don't know what the turnout was in the referendum. The % voting will be interesting....

There's no excuse for not voting, a pre-paid envelope is always supplied.....

Did 6T get away OK after I went off duty???

 

[Nym]

No, signallers like drivers have to know the line and box, there are many local instructions and methods of working, and it helps to know the timetable. Anyway, Doncaster PSB is still panels...

OK, OK, but the question stands and the awnser is yes, they can swap, would just be fun to see Mallaig's Signaler running Manchester TCC

 

[33056]

OK, OK, but the question stands and the awnser is yes, they can swap, would just be fun to see Mallaig's Signaler running Manchester TCC

No they cannot swap - I sign for one box and one box only these days and would not even consider working anywhere that I used to work, let alone somewhere that I am completely unfamiliar with.

There's no excuse for not voting, a pre-paid envelope is always supplied.....

Did 6T get away OK after I went off duty???

Quite right, what is so hard about marking a sheet of paper and inserting into an envelope. Getting off one's backside to go to the post box?
6T81 got away around 1330, just as I was getting worried that he might have bailed out as he seemingly took an age to move after the signal cleared!