RMT announces further strike action for TOCs & overtime ban for Network Rail

[footprints]

Have they actually demanded an “unconditional pay offer”?

Yes. Today's press release says:

RMT is seeking an unconditional offer from rail operators and Network Rail.

 

[theking]

Good on Mick and the RMT need every working person to keep the pressure on this toxic tory government who cause mass inflation yet won't give people even a basic payrise.

 

[trainophile]

I must be going blind, I still don't see 17th March mentioned.

Edit: Oh sorry, seen it now.

But it's only until 0159 on 17th March.

02:00 hours on March 16th 2023 and 01:59 hours on March 17th 2023.

 

[footprints]

Good on Mick and the RMT need every working person to keep the pressure on this toxic tory government who cause mass inflation yet won't give people even a basic payrise.

The RMT striking themselves silly and achieving nothing plays right into the Government's hands.

 

[Jamesrob637]

More notice so more time to call them off.

 

[Russel]

Time for NR\RDG to force the final offer through.

This is potentially writing most of April off.

 

[eldomtom2]

If there hasn't been movement on stuff like unpredictable rest days they'd be fools not to strike.

 

[350401]

Demanding a zero conditions rise is a non starter and shows this is purely political. The moment Kier Starmer walks into No. 10 the current deal will be accepted. I’ve really started to lose sympathy now. Yes the government is awful, but an inflation rise with zero conditions is just not going to happen. Every timetable brings more cuts, and this will continue getting worse - made worse by such idiocy as this.

 

[totally]

As well as RMT on 16th? I can't find that on BBC News page.

Agreed, it was reported on the rolling news, it would seem they may have got that wrong.

 

[Iskra]

Demanding a zero conditions rise is a non starter and shows this is purely political. The moment Kier Starmer walks into No. 10 the current deal will be accepted.

I wouldn’t be so sure, unless he’s got an economic magic wand. Conceding on one pay dispute, would set a precedent. And how would it all be funded?

 

[HSTEd]

Yeah, they're definitely targeting model railway shows

Those modellers shouldn't be running trains without guards!

I will get my coat

 

[Fred26]

This is just a political game played by RMT now, as members we’ve heard virtually nothing for weeks, not even solidarity or support messages

Then emergency branch meetings to get a general idea of thoughts of the “offer” I don’t agree it’s a good offer but the branch meeting I attended had 35 people online, 4 of which were NEC/Branch reps, out of a possible 550 (approx) members
How that provides a fair decision to reject without referendum on the offer I don’t know…can’t speak for all branches but 6% of members don’t speak for all the rest?!

All 4 days hit me this time, go to the hardship fund for help with bills etc…can’t even get an email reply from our reps and I’m not going to go begging exposing all my finances to them so I’m out now and don’t even want to stay in the job, 8-9 months in to what I thought was an amazing job and it’s a vile, toxic and horrible atmosphere to work in that’s going to go on for years

Any unconditional offer received will never be enough.

This is purely political now.

Demanding a zero conditions rise is a non starter and shows this is purely political. The moment Kier Starmer walks into No. 10 the current deal will be accepted. I’ve really started to lose sympathy now. Yes the government is awful, but an inflation rise with zero conditions is just not going to happen. Every timetable brings more cuts, and this will continue getting worse - made worse by such idiocy as this.

I didn't vote to strike due to not liking the Tories, I voted to strike because my terms and conditions are being destroyed.
I don't know anyone who voted to strike for political reasons. The very suggestion is ludicrous.

The politics are being played by the government who decided to start and prolong this whole dispute. They don't want to settle, they want to make us bleed.

 

[Russel]

I wouldn’t be so sure, unless he’s got an economic magic wand. Conceding on one pay dispute, would set a precedent. And how would it all be funded?

Ask Mick Lynch how he proposes it's all funded...

 

[Class 317]

Please can someone confirm which train companies are the 14? Can't see the info in any reporting. Thanks.

I see the soundbait from the announcement first talks about the pay aspects and then conditions etc. I can see that back firing for the RMT especially with the lack of putting the last offer to a vote. Going to be reported and seen by many quite negatively I think.

Shame more emphasis was not put on t&c first.

 

[350401]

I didn't vote to strike due to not liking the Tories, I voted to strike because my terms and conditions are being destroyed.
I don't know anyone who voted to strike for political reasons. The very suggestion is ludicrous.

The politics are being played by the government who decided to start and prolong this whole dispute. They don't want to settle, they want to make us bleed.

No, demanding a zero conditions inflation rise is very political. There is no grounds for compromise with a demand like that. To be blunt, with WFH, demand and most importantly revenue, is going down. Cuts and reforms therefore need to be made to make the industry sustainable. The country doesn’t owe rail workers a living - the books have to balance, or we will face a Beeching 2. Look at what happened to lots of unionised industries in the 1970s. I get it really really sucks when that personally impacts you - but that’s the nature of all work, things change.

 

[ar10642]

Ask Mick Lynch how he proposes it's all funded...

Something something fat cats something shareholders something profits race to the bottom etc. Ridiculous union.

 

[Fred26]

No, demanding a zero conditions inflation rise is very political. There is no grounds for compromise with a demand like that. To be blunt, with WFH, demand and most importantly revenue, is going down. Cuts and reforms therefore need to be made to make the industry sustainable. The country doesn’t owe rail workers a living - the books have to balance, or we will face a Beeching 2. Look at what happened to lots of unionised industries in the 1970s. I get it really really sucks when that personally impacts you - but that’s the nature of all work, things change.

It's a negotiating position.

 

[XIX7007177]

MPs had an unconditional pay award.

 

[350401]

It's a negotiating position.

It may well, but it’s a much more extreme one than before. It’s getting to the point where the government may impose fire and rehire. 6 months ago, I think a lot of people would be outraged by that. Now, I think a lot of people, myself included, see this as the grim inevitable end of the dispute.

 

[ar10642]

MPs had an unconditional pay award.

We doing this again are we?

 

[duncanp]

Good on Mick and the RMT need every working person to keep the pressure on this toxic tory government who cause mass inflation yet won't give people even a basic payrise.

Yes, I remember the winter of discontent in 1978/1979, and look how that ended politically.

The longer the strikes go on, the less public sympathy there will be with the RMT and other rail unions.

As far as the government goes, there is likely to be a general election next year, and Labour look likely to win an overall majority at the moment.

Unless the unions push their luck with too many strikes, that is.

 

[CFRAIL]

Some of the conditions they wanted in return for an "okay" rise are poor. Like the movement of rest days with perhaps as few as 3 days notice. How can that ever be acceptable?

Or 'committed Sundays'... if I want it off, I can only if there is cover available, again that could be as few as 3 days notice, so can't make plans. Yet if it's my turn to work and they decide there isn't enough work for me, they can tell me I'm not working again with 3 days notice so I lose the money. How can that be fair?

 

[Fred26]

It may well, but it’s a much more extreme one than before. It’s getting to the point where the government may impose fire and rehire. 6 months ago, I think a lot of people would be outraged by that. Now, I think a lot of people, myself included, see this as the grim inevitable end of the dispute.

The government could've done that a long time ago. They could've imposed these changes if they wanted to.
The government haven't moved their negotiating position, simply because they don't want to negotiate.

What the RMT are asking for is no more extreme than what the government are asking for. Both are unrealistic and both need to move for negotiation. The RMT have asked for negotiation from the start, but they haven't been given it.

 

[thedbdiboy]

For those of us with long enough memories, it's depressing to see rail workers being led down the road of a glorious socialist revolution that a) isn't going to happen and b) will end up leaving those same workers worse off in the long run.

 

[Drogba11CFC]

Something something fat cats something shareholders something profits race to the bottom etc. Ridiculous union.

Also, to quote the Kremlin, fascist Ukrainians.

 

[Fred26]

For those of us with long enough memories, it's depressing to see rail workers being led down the road of a glorious socialist revolution that a) isn't going to happen and b) will end up leaving those same workers worse off in the long run.

We're not being led anywhere.

 

[thedbdiboy]

MPs had an unconditional pay award.

MPs are on contracts that can be terminated by voters very suddenly.

 

[Russel]

MPs had an unconditional pay award.

Of 3%... Would the RMT accent 3%? No.

 

[Fred26]

Of 3%... Would the RMT accent 3%? No.

Unconditionally? Yes.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

It’s Cheltenham Races week.

That will be interesting ! Wonder if that's one of the reasons they chose these dates.