Although no one complains at pensioners getting an inflation rise
My (only) pension went up by precisely 3.1% this year - Not the state pension mind, a company pension which I worked extremely hard for, and paid additional contributions into. But please note, I do not begrudge, at all, rail staff a decent pay rise, but expecting to match inflation is an impossible dream.
Its just working people who pay tax
Pensioners pay tax too! In fact, 3 years ago, thanks to a quirk of the tax year and my pension payment dates, I received a demand from the Inland Revenue for an additional £1000, over and above the tax I had already paid over the year. So I think I have helped keep the country running a little.
I was talking about the state pension, if you get an occupational pension as well then that makes for very happy, affluent pensioners
Only if you get both, I do not.
It seems to me that all sides in this dispute are utterly entrenched in their positions, the Unions, the railway industry and the Government, and I despair of any solution soon. Inflammatory language from all involved does not help, I note the BBC reporting Mick Lynch talking about 'unsafe Driver only operation'; A method of working used in the UK for around 40 years, and in which his members participate thousands of times a day!
Whether we like it or not, the Government has a huge majority, and another couple of years to go. Given the likelihood of defeat at the next General Election what incentive is there for them to bow to the Unions' every demand, and OTOH what incentive is there for the RMT, a Union dedicated to dismantling the capitalist system) to agree to any compromise? Not to mention that crippling the railway and thus reducing fare income, plus also now possibly disrupting major and hugely expensive engineering work, is hardly likely to lead to more money for the industry.
BTW what pay increase are the RMT offering their own staff?!!