Bevan Price
Established Member
- Joined
- 22 Apr 2010
- Messages
- 7,408
If Labour win the next election, it will have problems:-
1. The "National Purse" will be nearly empty, so just as in 1964 and 1997, there will be a difference between what it would like to do, and what it can actually afford to do. And railways will have a lower priority than NHS, Social Care, Education and Defence, etc..
2. Labour would also hope to win the following election(s), so it cannot afford to be seen as in the pocket of the Trades Unions. So do not expect any large, "way above inflation" pay offers for rail staff. NHS staff are probably the only ones who might get favourable treatment. ASLEF may need to learn the lesson of Scargill v. Thatcher - "sometimes you are not going to be allowed to win." (however vaild your claims may be).
3. So, for rail passenger services, it will almost certainly be "wait until TOC contracts expire". Existing stock to remain "on hire", but maybe a start to new stock "owned by the railway".
1. The "National Purse" will be nearly empty, so just as in 1964 and 1997, there will be a difference between what it would like to do, and what it can actually afford to do. And railways will have a lower priority than NHS, Social Care, Education and Defence, etc..
2. Labour would also hope to win the following election(s), so it cannot afford to be seen as in the pocket of the Trades Unions. So do not expect any large, "way above inflation" pay offers for rail staff. NHS staff are probably the only ones who might get favourable treatment. ASLEF may need to learn the lesson of Scargill v. Thatcher - "sometimes you are not going to be allowed to win." (however vaild your claims may be).
3. So, for rail passenger services, it will almost certainly be "wait until TOC contracts expire". Existing stock to remain "on hire", but maybe a start to new stock "owned by the railway".