ASLEF strikes 5th-8th April weekend

High Dyke · 20 Mar 2024

mike57 said:
Ignoring the rights and wrongs, another strike, whats this going to acheive? The current government is flapping around like a dying fish out of water, with an election this year, so they will roll out all the old cliches but nothing will change. The strike will not get any closer to resolving the issues.

It may not get any closer to resolving it. Then again when the BBC are reporting that.

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, said it wanted to resolve the dispute, but argued Aslef's leadership "need to recognise that hard-pressed taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra £54m a week just to keep services running post-Covid.

What they fail to say is that money is paid to TOCs, whether they run a service or not. I appreciate there are more issues than pay in this ongoing dispute.

VP185 said:
Meanwhile, MP’s get a 5.5% rise next month. No changes to terms and conditions and no protracted negotiations

Absolutely this. The taxpayer doesn't get a say in this. So double standards from MP's, regardless of their political viewpoint. Of course, they would argue that an MP's pay is set by an independent pay body.

And yes, the wife and I will be affected by the industrial action announced, in regards to travel plans.

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Russel · 20 Mar 2024

Bletchleyite said:
Sorry

I'd expect a late start and some disruption.

Thanks, luckily I booked Nuneaton to Euston rather than Lichfield to Euston so it leaves me with more options should the 0743 be cancelled.

thedbdiboy · 20 Mar 2024

VP185 said:
Meanwhile, MP’s get a 5.5% rise next month. No changes to terms and conditions and no protracted negotiations

Yes, but they can be kicked out with zero notice by the electorate every time there is an election

vikingdriver · 20 Mar 2024

thedbdiboy said:
Yes, but they can be kicked out with zero notice by the electorate every time there is an election

And any one one of us who drives a train could be kicked out on any single day we set foot on the iron road following a significant operating incident!

MikeWM · 20 Mar 2024

DMckduck97 said:
I think ASLEF are hoping they can keep it rolling through to a new Labour government and use their affiliation to pull strings with the government and get a payrise.

Not that I think labour will have much more of an appetite to end any strikes.

I agree with all of that, but then I do wonder what the current point of striking is, if ASLEF believe nothing is going to change until we get a change of government. Assuming they are correct, and it is fairly clear that the present government doesn't care less, what purpose does 'extended' action like this serve at this moment, other than annoying passengers? If the only reason is trying to remind us that this is ongoing, why not just strike for one day every three months or similar?

greyman42 · 20 Mar 2024

winks said:
If ASLEF want to keep this in the public eye they should call an “all-out” National Strike like they did at the beginning of the dispute. Friday to Sunday would focus the minds a bit IMO.

Members would not agree to that as they like their enhanced Sunday pay rates to cover their loses from strike action.

vikingdriver said:
And any one one of us who drives a train could be kicked out on any single day we set foot on the iron road following a significant operating incident!

Can you elaborate on that?

zwk500 · 20 Mar 2024

High Dyke said:
Absolutely this. The taxpayer doesn't get a say in this. So double standards from MP's, regardless of their political viewpoint. Of course, they would argue that an MP's pay is set by an independent pay body.

I mean, it's not a silly idea to have other public sector employee's pay set by an independent body rather than directly by Ministers.

greyman42 · 20 Mar 2024

High Dyke said:
Of course, they would argue that an MP's pay is set by an independent pay body.

It is not an argument, it is a fact.

skyhigh · 20 Mar 2024

greyman42 said:
Members would not agree to that as they like their enhanced Sunday pay rates to cover their loses from strike action.

What enhanced Sunday pay...?

DMckduck97 · 20 Mar 2024

vikingdriver said:
And any one one of us who drives a train could be kicked out on any single day we set foot on the iron road following a significant operating incident!

Only those who lie about operational incidents or try to cover them up are sacked. Or of course if you simply constantly have them.

But in both cases that's understandable, I don't know anyone who's been sacked and correctly followed policies and procedures pre and post incident...

greyman42 · 20 Mar 2024

skyhigh said:
What enhanced Sunday pay...?

Overtime?

skyhigh · 20 Mar 2024

greyman42 said:
Overtime?

Overtime on a Sunday is paid at exactly the same rate as other days for us, Sunday working is booked hours, not overtime and is paid at the same rate as any other day. So it's more than a little disingenuous to suggest that "members" wouldn't like to miss their Sundays due to "enhanced Sunday pay".

Snow1964 · 20 Mar 2024

Just out of interest have any drivers actually seen the latest offer,

ie an unedited copy of the offer, rather than heresay, third hand comments from reps and colleagues, and selected bits

Certain people keep saying will never agree to X and Y without actually giving the definition of exactly what X and Y is proposed to be amended to

vikingdriver · 20 Mar 2024

DMckduck97 said:
Only those who lie about operational incidents or try to cover them up are sacked. Or of course if you simply constantly have them.

But in both cases that's understandable, I don't know anyone who's been sacked and correctly followed policies and procedures pre and post incident...

Perhaps I didn't word it quite how I intended it to come across, it was in reference to the post regarding how MPs may lose their job with little notice, I wanted to highlight that can happen to anyone and yes of course, it would be following more than one incident - though I'm sure there will be drivers on here who are themselves or know someone who is one serious incident away from losing their key!

Falcon1200 · 20 Mar 2024

43066 said:
We all know we’re waiting either for a change in approach

Given experience so far the chance of this Government changing its approach is absolutely zero, so further action will achieve nothing other than lose Drivers pay (are they not able to work overtime regardless of whether there are strike days?), cost the industry money, and inconvenience passengers. There will be an election, hopefully sometime soon, then the campaign can begin again.

skyhigh · 20 Mar 2024

Snow1964 said:
Just out of interest have any drivers actually seen the latest offer,

As far as I'm aware the latest offer was April 2023 and the RDG/DfT have declined any talks since.

yorkie · 20 Mar 2024

jkkne said:
Yes, I'd say the Unions are losing the PR war - ...

True, but I don't think they are interested in that. Indeed it's deemed to be "neither here nor there" what the public think, as mentioned up thread.

infobleep · 20 Mar 2024

zwk500 said:
I think the typo is 'London North Easter' instead of London North Eastern Railway.

Thanks. I couldn't spot it. It all made sense to me but then your brains can compensate for things slightly misspelt when you don't expect it.

Economist · 20 Mar 2024

At this stage it's a protest, the current government have no intention of trying to reach a settlement but if we stopped industrial action it would encourage the government to try it on with other T&Cs etc.
Personally, I'd have much preferred ASLEF leadership to have made it clear in December 2019 that members should start saving money because based on the Tory manifesto it was obvious the party wanted a battle with rail unions.

The pandemic was an opportunity for members to save plenty of money so that we could have had an all-out 12 week effort back in 2022, the government would have settled to limit the damage to the economy so long as the strike wasn't blocked in the courts.

A union is only as strong as it's members savings accounts and whilst I appreciate people can end up in financial difficulty through unexpected situations like a divorce or family ill-health, there are always people who are profligate and then whine "I can't afford to go on strike because I can't afford the PCP repayments on my w***panzer" or something to that effect.

Bald Rick · 20 Mar 2024

Economist said:
The pandemic was an opportunity for members to save plenty of money so that we could have had an all-out 12 week effort back in 2022, the government would have settled to limit the damage to the economy so long as the strike wasn't blocked in the courts.

My bold. That is quite an assumption, and not my reading of the situation.

infobleep · 20 Mar 2024

jkkne said:
Yes, I'd say the Unions are losing the PR war

Do you have evidence they are losing the PR war?

Msq71423 · 20 Mar 2024

Does anyone know what's changed at TPE? They weren't included in the last ASLEF strike but now they are this time? I was under the impression TPE have just agreed RDW for the next twelve months.

dk1 · 20 Mar 2024

Msq71423 said:
Does anyone know what's changed at TPE? They weren't included in the last ASLEF strike but now they are this time? I was under the impression TPE have just agreed RDW for the next twelve months.

Most of the TOCs have RDW agreements but that is totally separate to the pay dispute.

Snow1964 · 20 Mar 2024

infobleep said:
Do you have evidence they are losing the PR war?

The fact many media and news reports refer to it as " ...striking again.... " as though it is boring regular occurrence, like PM saying economy is improving

rather than saying something like taking action due to diabolical change of terms

skyhigh · 20 Mar 2024

Msq71423 said:
They weren't included in the last ASLEF strike but now they are this time?

They were, they were out the same day as Northern.

Edit: sorry, getting mixed up. The last strike was relating to agreements specifically and was why only LNER and Northern were on strike. The time before that, Northern and TPE were out the same day.

The_Van · 20 Mar 2024

Anyone know what sort of service LNER run on a strike day? I'm booked from Newcastle to Stevenage at 6.30pm on the 6th

There's a later LUMO service that I understand will be unaffected.

Can I cancel my LNER advance without penalty as its a strike day?

Nicholas Lewis · 20 Mar 2024

Reality is drivers have voted overwhelming for this action on several occasions in a democratic ballot so ASLEF leadership must believe they are continuing to respond in a way their members want by calling further action. It won't change anything with government and Harper and his lacky Merriman will further inflame the situation so round we go again and reinforce the cycle. The only impact is the passengers that have to travel although majority are very adept now at working around it. A real stalemate and i do hope that Lousie Haigh has a back channel into ASLEF to formulate a plan to deal with this should Labour get their hands on government.

ComUtoR · 20 Mar 2024

greyman42 said:
Can you elaborate on that?

Despite what "they" would have you believe; this isn't a 'job for life'. Drivers, can, and do, lose their jobs and pretty much all of us are well aware you are only as safe as your last trip. Some of us may be aware of the phrase "clause 9" but it is effectively everything that falls under 'Gross Misconduct'. Being a Driver doesn't magically protect you. Our list of Gross Misconduct offences is pretty shocking and would surprise you. I am well aware that tomorrow I could lose my job for some of the smallest, insignificant things.

I'd love a 'Loss of office, resettlement, and/or winding up', payment.

ainsworth74 · 20 Mar 2024

The_Van said:
Anyone know what sort of service LNER run on a strike day? I'm booked from Newcastle to Stevenage at 6.30pm on the 6th

There will be LNER services but they will start later and finish earlier. I think it highly unlikely the 1830 will run but if you're able to travel in the middle of the day then you should still be able to travel. You may however need to change at somewhere like York or Doncaster as I don't believe that Newcastle services on an ASLEF strike day serve Stevenage.

The_Van said:
There's a later LUMO service that I understand will be unaffected.

Indeed Lumo will be unaffected.

The_Van said:
Can I cancel my LNER advance without penalty as its a strike day?

If you train is not running (which I think highly likely) then you will be entitled to a refund. I can't recall offhand if LNER offer a more blanket policy than that.

Ashfordian6 · 20 Mar 2024

This harms the economy way more than it inconveniences the travelling public. That the Government are willing to continue their scorched early policy and continue the harm this does to the economy is disgusting, but they don't care as the taxpayer is the one who will be on the hook for the loses.

ASLEF strikes 5th-8th April weekend

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