Train passengers face nightmare journeys today as new nationwide train strikes begin, with only a fifth of services expected to run. Around 45,000 workers employed by Network Rail and 14 train operators – members of the RMT Union – are walking out for 24 hours in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Education Secretary James Cleverley criticized striking transport workers, telling Sky News they were “holding the country hostage” and “disadvantaging people trying to get to work”. Meanwhile, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch suggested unions could start calling for “generalised and synchronized” strikes amid widespread anger over low pay in the face of the cost of living crisis. “There is a wave of backlash among workers about the way they are being treated. People are getting poorer every day of the week,” he told Sky News. “People can’t pay their bills. They are treated abominably in the workplace. I think there will be generalized and synchronized action.”
Basic points
Show latest update 1660821338
Opinion: “So many at work feel stuck – I sympathize with striking rail staff”
“Already, there are screams about how the unions are taking over and how RMT workers are selfish, and so on and so forth. But I can’t help but sympathize,” writes Harry Redhead for the Independent’s Voices section. “Many of those on strike worked throughout the pandemic, putting themselves at risk. And some of them, RMT assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey said, are in their third year of a pay freeze. “Most of our memberships cost around £24,000,” he said. “We don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that [when inflation] is at 11.1 percent, we want a salary increase.” “That’s not unreasonable either.” Read the full article here:
Opinion: I have sympathy for the rail strikers – and you should too
Rail workers are simply using their collective power to send a message. There may be a lesson in this Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 12:15 p.m 1660820455
“Extreme instability when the traveler yearns for tranquility” – Simon Calder
In his latest commentary on the worst summer for rail strikes since the 1980s, Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, writes: “Speaking privately to some rail staff, it’s clear they feel undervalued. They worked through the Covid-19 pandemic and are now seeing their pay eroded by rampant inflation. “They want a reasonable pay rise, reassurance about job losses and to trade more efficient work for extra percentages in their wages. All just demands, which they believe can only be achieved by repeatedly walking away until the government gives in.’ However, he writes, while rail unions are assuring their members that ministers will eventually meet their demands, that expectation may not materialise. “By August, the economic damage caused by the strikes is being absorbed by taxpayers. In September, the arrival of the new prime minister will be accompanied by severe spending cuts. But surely the railway is immune thanks to its environmental credentials? Unfortunately, it’s fantastic to imagine that any of the Conservative leadership candidates actually give two shits about the planet.” He concludes: “A long, hot summer for railway workers. punishment for commuters; and a government that is either on holiday or (in the case of transport secretary Grant Shapps) too wrapped up in the battle for No 10. “It all adds up to extreme instability when the traveler yearns for tranquility.”
Rail strikes: and the winners are – car dealers, oil companies and bus companies
Train Talk: “Stay strong, stay united and we will prevail,” says Aslef boss. I’m not so sure Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 12:00 p.m 1660819371
The disruption will continue for the next few weeks on the Avanti West Coast
Even as the latest national rail strikes end, travelers to London Euston from the West Midlands, north-west England, north Wales and southern Scotland face weeks of disruption. Avanti West Coast unveiled an emergency schedule this week that will continue until September 11 at the earliest. He blamed “the current industrial relations climate which has led to severe staff shortages in some grades due to increased levels of sickness as well as the majority of drivers not being available for overtime in a coordinated manner and at short notice”. The biggest reductions are on services linking Birmingham and Manchester to London – reduced to just one train an hour instead of three. Cuts are also being made to trains serving Chester and North Wales and from London via the West Midlands to Edinburgh. Typically Avanti West Coast relies on 250 drivers a day working on rest days – covering around 400 passenger trains. Sources say that number dropped dramatically overnight – by nearly 90 percent. Transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “Unions are now stopping volunteer drivers – causing misery to the public and staff who won’t be paid.” Avanti West Coast says it wants to “ensure a reliable service is provided so our customers can travel with greater confidence” – although it acknowledges the emergency timetable will cause “huge frustration and inconvenience”. But Mick Whelan, Aslef general secretary, says there is an overwhelming mandate for industrial action in West Coast Avanti. He told the Independent: “When you lose goodwill and we strike, people not coming in to work overtime is usually the first thing that happens.” You can read more about the emergency program here:
Avanti West Coast train cuts: What do they mean for passengers?
The operator is cutting hundreds of services every day from August 14 until at least September 11 Simon Calder August 18, 2022 11:42 am 1660818069
Friday: ‘Avoid traveling on the Tube’ warns Transport for London
A strike by staff working on London’s Tube and buses is sandwiched between two national rail strikes. About 10,000 workers will leave. Transport for London (TfL) is telling would-be travelers on Friday 19 August: “Strikes are taking place on Tubes and buses which will affect the majority of TfL services. “Furthermore, there will be minimal service on the national rail network until approximately 8am following the previous day’s strike. Customers are advised to avoid traveling on the Metro and only travel on the rest of the network if necessary. Ahead of Saturday, the agency is warning of reduced services on the London Overground and the new Elizabeth line. There will be no service on the District line between Wimbledon and Parson’s Green, and Richmond and Turnham Green before 8am. and after 6 p.m., and there will be no service at all on the Bakerloo line northwest of Queen’s Park. In addition, TfL says: “There are also strikes affecting some bus services on 20 August which will affect services in West and South West London and parts of Surrey. “London trams will also have a reduced service on August 20 due to strike action.”
Is there a pipe strike today?
The day-long strike is expected to put much of London’s TfL network out of action, with disruption on both sides Simon Calder August 18, 2022 11:21 am 1660816677
Two parts of the UK have regular trains
The national strike has caused around 16,000 train cancellations – but only in England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland services are running as normal, with timely departures from Great Victoria Street station in Belfast to Portadown, Larne, Bangor and Derry-Londonderry. One part of Great Britain has trains that keep to the usual schedule: the Isle of Wight. The first train running anywhere in Britain today at 5.45am. from Ryde Pier Head in Shanklin reached its destination, eight miles south, one minute early. The last train leaves Ryde at 11.15pm tonight. Simon Calder August 18, 2022 10:57 am 1660815768
‘This strike is not about my pay’: Network Rail boss defends £590,000 salary
Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haynes has brushed off questions about his £590,000 salary as rail workers go on strike over pay and conditions. A BBC Breakfast reporter pointed to Mr Haines’ pay rise in April from £544,000 to £590,000, saying: “It’s a huge amount of money for people listening to this. How do you defend that?’ Mr Haines replied: “What happened was I took a pay cut last year so my salary this year will be exactly the same as 2018. “This simply reflected the fact that I volunteered … to take a short-term pay cut. It wasn’t a salary increase.” He added that he “really understands why people are concerned about the cost of living”, but insisted: “I am well paid but this strike is not about my pay. People don’t go on strike about how much I earn.” Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 10:42 am 1660815004
Unions on brink of ‘synchronized’ strikes, says Mick Lynch
RMT union boss Mick Lynch suggested unions could start calling for “generalised and synchronized” strikes amid widespread anger over low pay in the face of the cost of living crisis. Speaking to Sky News from the picket line, Mr Lynch said: “There is a wave of backlash among workers about the way they are being treated. People are getting poorer every day of the week. “People can’t pay their bills. They are treated abominably in the workplace. I think there will be generalized and synchronized action. It may not be in a traditional format. “But we have seen the Post Office workers and BT [take industrial action]we saw bus workers in london strike tomorrow and over the weekend. “I think there’s a huge backlash from workers because they’re fed up with the way they’ve been treated.” Asked about the prospect of a general strike, Mr Lynch said: “Only the TUC can call a general strike.” Friday four…
title: “Train Strike Today Live Updates Uk Could See Widespread Synchronized Strikes Amid Cost Of Living Crisis Says Mick Lynch Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-28” author: “Connie Cleveland”
Train passengers face nightmare journeys today as new nationwide train strikes begin, with only a fifth of services expected to run. Around 45,000 workers employed by Network Rail and 14 train operators – members of the RMT Union – are walking out for 24 hours in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Education Secretary James Cleverley criticized striking transport workers, telling Sky News they were “holding the country hostage” and “disadvantaging people trying to get to work”. Meanwhile, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch suggested unions could start calling for “generalised and synchronized” strikes amid widespread anger over low pay in the face of the cost of living crisis. “There is a wave of backlash among workers about the way they are being treated. People are getting poorer every day of the week,” he told Sky News. “People can’t pay their bills. They are treated abominably in the workplace. I think there will be generalized and synchronized action.”
Basic points
Show latest update 1660821338
Opinion: “So many at work feel stuck – I sympathize with striking rail staff”
“Already, there are screams about how the unions are taking over and how RMT workers are selfish, and so on and so forth. But I can’t help but sympathize,” writes Harry Redhead for the Independent’s Voices section. “Many of those on strike worked throughout the pandemic, putting themselves at risk. And some of them, RMT assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey said, are in their third year of a pay freeze. “Most of our memberships cost around £24,000,” he said. “We don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that [when inflation] is at 11.1 percent, we want a salary increase.” “That’s not unreasonable either.” Read the full article here:
Opinion: I have sympathy for the rail strikers – and you should too
Rail workers are simply using their collective power to send a message. There may be a lesson in this Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 12:15 p.m 1660820455
“Extreme instability when the traveler yearns for tranquility” – Simon Calder
In his latest commentary on the worst summer for rail strikes since the 1980s, Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, writes: “Speaking privately to some rail staff, it’s clear they feel undervalued. They worked through the Covid-19 pandemic and are now seeing their pay eroded by rampant inflation. “They want a reasonable pay rise, reassurance about job losses and to trade more efficient work for extra percentages in their wages. All just demands, which they believe can only be achieved by repeatedly walking away until the government gives in.’ However, he writes, while rail unions are assuring their members that ministers will eventually meet their demands, that expectation may not materialise. “By August, the economic damage caused by the strikes is being absorbed by taxpayers. In September, the arrival of the new prime minister will be accompanied by severe spending cuts. But surely the railway is immune thanks to its environmental credentials? Unfortunately, it’s fantastic to imagine that any of the Conservative leadership candidates actually give two shits about the planet.” He concludes: “A long, hot summer for railway workers. punishment for commuters; and a government that is either on holiday or (in the case of transport secretary Grant Shapps) too wrapped up in the battle for No 10. “It all adds up to extreme instability when the traveler yearns for tranquility.”
Rail strikes: and the winners are – car dealers, oil companies and bus companies
Train Talk: “Stay strong, stay united and we will prevail,” says Aslef boss. I’m not so sure Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 12:00 p.m 1660819371
The disruption will continue for the next few weeks on the Avanti West Coast
Even as the latest national rail strikes end, travelers to London Euston from the West Midlands, north-west England, north Wales and southern Scotland face weeks of disruption. Avanti West Coast unveiled an emergency schedule this week that will continue until September 11 at the earliest. He blamed “the current industrial relations climate which has led to severe staff shortages in some grades due to increased levels of sickness as well as the majority of drivers not being available for overtime in a coordinated manner and at short notice”. The biggest reductions are on services linking Birmingham and Manchester to London – reduced to just one train an hour instead of three. Cuts are also being made to trains serving Chester and North Wales and from London via the West Midlands to Edinburgh. Typically Avanti West Coast relies on 250 drivers a day working on rest days – covering around 400 passenger trains. Sources say that number dropped dramatically overnight – by nearly 90 percent. Transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “Unions are now stopping volunteer drivers – causing misery to the public and staff who won’t be paid.” Avanti West Coast says it wants to “ensure a reliable service is provided so our customers can travel with greater confidence” – although it acknowledges the emergency timetable will cause “huge frustration and inconvenience”. But Mick Whelan, Aslef general secretary, says there is an overwhelming mandate for industrial action in West Coast Avanti. He told the Independent: “When you lose goodwill and we strike, people not coming in to work overtime is usually the first thing that happens.” You can read more about the emergency program here:
Avanti West Coast train cuts: What do they mean for passengers?
The operator is cutting hundreds of services every day from August 14 until at least September 11 Simon Calder August 18, 2022 11:42 am 1660818069
Friday: ‘Avoid traveling on the Tube’ warns Transport for London
A strike by staff working on London’s Tube and buses is sandwiched between two national rail strikes. About 10,000 workers will leave. Transport for London (TfL) is telling would-be travelers on Friday 19 August: “Strikes are taking place on Tubes and buses which will affect the majority of TfL services. “Furthermore, there will be minimal service on the national rail network until approximately 8am following the previous day’s strike. Customers are advised to avoid traveling on the Metro and only travel on the rest of the network if necessary. Ahead of Saturday, the agency is warning of reduced services on the London Overground and the new Elizabeth line. There will be no service on the District line between Wimbledon and Parson’s Green, and Richmond and Turnham Green before 8am. and after 6 p.m., and there will be no service at all on the Bakerloo line northwest of Queen’s Park. In addition, TfL says: “There are also strikes affecting some bus services on 20 August which will affect services in West and South West London and parts of Surrey. “London trams will also have a reduced service on August 20 due to strike action.”
Is there a pipe strike today?
The day-long strike is expected to put much of London’s TfL network out of action, with disruption on both sides Simon Calder August 18, 2022 11:21 am 1660816677
Two parts of the UK have regular trains
The national strike has caused around 16,000 train cancellations – but only in England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland services are running as normal, with timely departures from Great Victoria Street station in Belfast to Portadown, Larne, Bangor and Derry-Londonderry. One part of Great Britain has trains that keep to the usual schedule: the Isle of Wight. The first train running anywhere in Britain today at 5.45am. from Ryde Pier Head in Shanklin reached its destination, eight miles south, one minute early. The last train leaves Ryde at 11.15pm tonight. Simon Calder August 18, 2022 10:57 am 1660815768
‘This strike is not about my pay’: Network Rail boss defends £590,000 salary
Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haynes has brushed off questions about his £590,000 salary as rail workers go on strike over pay and conditions. A BBC Breakfast reporter pointed to Mr Haines’ pay rise in April from £544,000 to £590,000, saying: “It’s a huge amount of money for people listening to this. How do you defend that?’ Mr Haines replied: “What happened was I took a pay cut last year so my salary this year will be exactly the same as 2018. “This simply reflected the fact that I volunteered … to take a short-term pay cut. It wasn’t a salary increase.” He added that he “really understands why people are concerned about the cost of living”, but insisted: “I am well paid but this strike is not about my pay. People don’t go on strike about how much I earn.” Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 10:42 am 1660815004
Unions on brink of ‘synchronized’ strikes, says Mick Lynch
RMT union boss Mick Lynch suggested unions could start calling for “generalised and synchronized” strikes amid widespread anger over low pay in the face of the cost of living crisis. Speaking to Sky News from the picket line, Mr Lynch said: “There is a wave of backlash among workers about the way they are being treated. People are getting poorer every day of the week. “People can’t pay their bills. They are treated abominably in the workplace. I think there will be generalized and synchronized action. It may not be in a traditional format. “But we have seen the Post Office workers and BT [take industrial action]we saw bus workers in london strike tomorrow and over the weekend. “I think there’s a huge backlash from workers because they’re fed up with the way they’ve been treated.” Asked about the prospect of a general strike, Mr Lynch said: “Only the TUC can call a general strike.” Friday four…
title: “Train Strike Today Live Updates Uk Could See Widespread Synchronized Strikes Amid Cost Of Living Crisis Says Mick Lynch Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-09” author: “Krista Wikoff”
Train passengers face nightmare journeys today as new nationwide train strikes begin, with only a fifth of services expected to run. Around 45,000 workers employed by Network Rail and 14 train operators – members of the RMT Union – are walking out for 24 hours in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Education Secretary James Cleverley criticized striking transport workers, telling Sky News they were “holding the country hostage” and “disadvantaging people trying to get to work”. Meanwhile, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch suggested unions could start calling for “generalised and synchronized” strikes amid widespread anger over low pay in the face of the cost of living crisis. “There is a wave of backlash among workers about the way they are being treated. People are getting poorer every day of the week,” he told Sky News. “People can’t pay their bills. They are treated abominably in the workplace. I think there will be generalized and synchronized action.”
Basic points
Show latest update 1660821338
Opinion: “So many at work feel stuck – I sympathize with striking rail staff”
“Already, there are screams about how the unions are taking over and how RMT workers are selfish, and so on and so forth. But I can’t help but sympathize,” writes Harry Redhead for the Independent’s Voices section. “Many of those on strike worked throughout the pandemic, putting themselves at risk. And some of them, RMT assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey said, are in their third year of a pay freeze. “Most of our memberships cost around £24,000,” he said. “We don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that [when inflation] is at 11.1 percent, we want a salary increase.” “That’s not unreasonable either.” Read the full article here:
Opinion: I have sympathy for the rail strikers – and you should too
Rail workers are simply using their collective power to send a message. There may be a lesson in this Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 12:15 p.m 1660820455
“Extreme instability when the traveler yearns for tranquility” – Simon Calder
In his latest commentary on the worst summer for rail strikes since the 1980s, Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, writes: “Speaking privately to some rail staff, it’s clear they feel undervalued. They worked through the Covid-19 pandemic and are now seeing their pay eroded by rampant inflation. “They want a reasonable pay rise, reassurance about job losses and to trade more efficient work for extra percentages in their wages. All just demands, which they believe can only be achieved by repeatedly walking away until the government gives in.’ However, he writes, while rail unions are assuring their members that ministers will eventually meet their demands, that expectation may not materialise. “By August, the economic damage caused by the strikes is being absorbed by taxpayers. In September, the arrival of the new prime minister will be accompanied by severe spending cuts. But surely the railway is immune thanks to its environmental credentials? Unfortunately, it’s fantastic to imagine that any of the Conservative leadership candidates actually give two shits about the planet.” He concludes: “A long, hot summer for railway workers. punishment for commuters; and a government that is either on holiday or (in the case of transport secretary Grant Shapps) too wrapped up in the battle for No 10. “It all adds up to extreme instability when the traveler yearns for tranquility.”
Rail strikes: and the winners are – car dealers, oil companies and bus companies
Train Talk: “Stay strong, stay united and we will prevail,” says Aslef boss. I’m not so sure Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 12:00 p.m 1660819371
The disruption will continue for the next few weeks on the Avanti West Coast
Even as the latest national rail strikes end, travelers to London Euston from the West Midlands, north-west England, north Wales and southern Scotland face weeks of disruption. Avanti West Coast unveiled an emergency schedule this week that will continue until September 11 at the earliest. He blamed “the current industrial relations climate which has led to severe staff shortages in some grades due to increased levels of sickness as well as the majority of drivers not being available for overtime in a coordinated manner and at short notice”. The biggest reductions are on services linking Birmingham and Manchester to London – reduced to just one train an hour instead of three. Cuts are also being made to trains serving Chester and North Wales and from London via the West Midlands to Edinburgh. Typically Avanti West Coast relies on 250 drivers a day working on rest days – covering around 400 passenger trains. Sources say that number dropped dramatically overnight – by nearly 90 percent. Transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “Unions are now stopping volunteer drivers – causing misery to the public and staff who won’t be paid.” Avanti West Coast says it wants to “ensure a reliable service is provided so our customers can travel with greater confidence” – although it acknowledges the emergency timetable will cause “huge frustration and inconvenience”. But Mick Whelan, Aslef general secretary, says there is an overwhelming mandate for industrial action in West Coast Avanti. He told the Independent: “When you lose goodwill and we strike, people not coming in to work overtime is usually the first thing that happens.” You can read more about the emergency program here:
Avanti West Coast train cuts: What do they mean for passengers?
The operator is cutting hundreds of services every day from August 14 until at least September 11 Simon Calder August 18, 2022 11:42 am 1660818069
Friday: ‘Avoid traveling on the Tube’ warns Transport for London
A strike by staff working on London’s Tube and buses is sandwiched between two national rail strikes. About 10,000 workers will leave. Transport for London (TfL) is telling would-be travelers on Friday 19 August: “Strikes are taking place on Tubes and buses which will affect the majority of TfL services. “Furthermore, there will be minimal service on the national rail network until approximately 8am following the previous day’s strike. Customers are advised to avoid traveling on the Metro and only travel on the rest of the network if necessary. Ahead of Saturday, the agency is warning of reduced services on the London Overground and the new Elizabeth line. There will be no service on the District line between Wimbledon and Parson’s Green, and Richmond and Turnham Green before 8am. and after 6 p.m., and there will be no service at all on the Bakerloo line northwest of Queen’s Park. In addition, TfL says: “There are also strikes affecting some bus services on 20 August which will affect services in West and South West London and parts of Surrey. “London trams will also have a reduced service on August 20 due to strike action.”
Is there a pipe strike today?
The day-long strike is expected to put much of London’s TfL network out of action, with disruption on both sides Simon Calder August 18, 2022 11:21 am 1660816677
Two parts of the UK have regular trains
The national strike has caused around 16,000 train cancellations – but only in England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland services are running as normal, with timely departures from Great Victoria Street station in Belfast to Portadown, Larne, Bangor and Derry-Londonderry. One part of Great Britain has trains that keep to the usual schedule: the Isle of Wight. The first train running anywhere in Britain today at 5.45am. from Ryde Pier Head in Shanklin reached its destination, eight miles south, one minute early. The last train leaves Ryde at 11.15pm tonight. Simon Calder August 18, 2022 10:57 am 1660815768
‘This strike is not about my pay’: Network Rail boss defends £590,000 salary
Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haynes has brushed off questions about his £590,000 salary as rail workers go on strike over pay and conditions. A BBC Breakfast reporter pointed to Mr Haines’ pay rise in April from £544,000 to £590,000, saying: “It’s a huge amount of money for people listening to this. How do you defend that?’ Mr Haines replied: “What happened was I took a pay cut last year so my salary this year will be exactly the same as 2018. “This simply reflected the fact that I volunteered … to take a short-term pay cut. It wasn’t a salary increase.” He added that he “really understands why people are concerned about the cost of living”, but insisted: “I am well paid but this strike is not about my pay. People don’t go on strike about how much I earn.” Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 10:42 am 1660815004
Unions on brink of ‘synchronized’ strikes, says Mick Lynch
RMT union boss Mick Lynch suggested unions could start calling for “generalised and synchronized” strikes amid widespread anger over low pay in the face of the cost of living crisis. Speaking to Sky News from the picket line, Mr Lynch said: “There is a wave of backlash among workers about the way they are being treated. People are getting poorer every day of the week. “People can’t pay their bills. They are treated abominably in the workplace. I think there will be generalized and synchronized action. It may not be in a traditional format. “But we have seen the Post Office workers and BT [take industrial action]we saw bus workers in london strike tomorrow and over the weekend. “I think there’s a huge backlash from workers because they’re fed up with the way they’ve been treated.” Asked about the prospect of a general strike, Mr Lynch said: “Only the TUC can call a general strike.” Friday four…
title: “Train Strike Today Live Updates Uk Could See Widespread Synchronized Strikes Amid Cost Of Living Crisis Says Mick Lynch Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-15” author: “Maxine Peake”
Train passengers face nightmare journeys today as new nationwide train strikes begin, with only a fifth of services expected to run. Around 45,000 workers employed by Network Rail and 14 train operators – members of the RMT Union – are walking out for 24 hours in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Education Secretary James Cleverley criticized striking transport workers, telling Sky News they were “holding the country hostage” and “disadvantaging people trying to get to work”. Meanwhile, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch suggested unions could start calling for “generalised and synchronized” strikes amid widespread anger over low pay in the face of the cost of living crisis. “There is a wave of backlash among workers about the way they are being treated. People are getting poorer every day of the week,” he told Sky News. “People can’t pay their bills. They are treated abominably in the workplace. I think there will be generalized and synchronized action.”
Basic points
Show latest update 1660821338
Opinion: “So many at work feel stuck – I sympathize with striking rail staff”
“Already, there are screams about how the unions are taking over and how RMT workers are selfish, and so on and so forth. But I can’t help but sympathize,” writes Harry Redhead for the Independent’s Voices section. “Many of those on strike worked throughout the pandemic, putting themselves at risk. And some of them, RMT assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey said, are in their third year of a pay freeze. “Most of our memberships cost around £24,000,” he said. “We don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that [when inflation] is at 11.1 percent, we want a salary increase.” “That’s not unreasonable either.” Read the full article here:
Opinion: I have sympathy for the rail strikers – and you should too
Rail workers are simply using their collective power to send a message. There may be a lesson in this Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 12:15 p.m 1660820455
“Extreme instability when the traveler yearns for tranquility” – Simon Calder
In his latest commentary on the worst summer for rail strikes since the 1980s, Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, writes: “Speaking privately to some rail staff, it’s clear they feel undervalued. They worked through the Covid-19 pandemic and are now seeing their pay eroded by rampant inflation. “They want a reasonable pay rise, reassurance about job losses and to trade more efficient work for extra percentages in their wages. All just demands, which they believe can only be achieved by repeatedly walking away until the government gives in.’ However, he writes, while rail unions are assuring their members that ministers will eventually meet their demands, that expectation may not materialise. “By August, the economic damage caused by the strikes is being absorbed by taxpayers. In September, the arrival of the new prime minister will be accompanied by severe spending cuts. But surely the railway is immune thanks to its environmental credentials? Unfortunately, it’s fantastic to imagine that any of the Conservative leadership candidates actually give two shits about the planet.” He concludes: “A long, hot summer for railway workers. punishment for commuters; and a government that is either on holiday or (in the case of transport secretary Grant Shapps) too wrapped up in the battle for No 10. “It all adds up to extreme instability when the traveler yearns for tranquility.”
Rail strikes: and the winners are – car dealers, oil companies and bus companies
Train Talk: “Stay strong, stay united and we will prevail,” says Aslef boss. I’m not so sure Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 12:00 p.m 1660819371
The disruption will continue for the next few weeks on the Avanti West Coast
Even as the latest national rail strikes end, travelers to London Euston from the West Midlands, north-west England, north Wales and southern Scotland face weeks of disruption. Avanti West Coast unveiled an emergency schedule this week that will continue until September 11 at the earliest. He blamed “the current industrial relations climate which has led to severe staff shortages in some grades due to increased levels of sickness as well as the majority of drivers not being available for overtime in a coordinated manner and at short notice”. The biggest reductions are on services linking Birmingham and Manchester to London – reduced to just one train an hour instead of three. Cuts are also being made to trains serving Chester and North Wales and from London via the West Midlands to Edinburgh. Typically Avanti West Coast relies on 250 drivers a day working on rest days – covering around 400 passenger trains. Sources say that number dropped dramatically overnight – by nearly 90 percent. Transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “Unions are now stopping volunteer drivers – causing misery to the public and staff who won’t be paid.” Avanti West Coast says it wants to “ensure a reliable service is provided so our customers can travel with greater confidence” – although it acknowledges the emergency timetable will cause “huge frustration and inconvenience”. But Mick Whelan, Aslef general secretary, says there is an overwhelming mandate for industrial action in West Coast Avanti. He told the Independent: “When you lose goodwill and we strike, people not coming in to work overtime is usually the first thing that happens.” You can read more about the emergency program here:
Avanti West Coast train cuts: What do they mean for passengers?
The operator is cutting hundreds of services every day from August 14 until at least September 11 Simon Calder August 18, 2022 11:42 am 1660818069
Friday: ‘Avoid traveling on the Tube’ warns Transport for London
A strike by staff working on London’s Tube and buses is sandwiched between two national rail strikes. About 10,000 workers will leave. Transport for London (TfL) is telling would-be travelers on Friday 19 August: “Strikes are taking place on Tubes and buses which will affect the majority of TfL services. “Furthermore, there will be minimal service on the national rail network until approximately 8am following the previous day’s strike. Customers are advised to avoid traveling on the Metro and only travel on the rest of the network if necessary. Ahead of Saturday, the agency is warning of reduced services on the London Overground and the new Elizabeth line. There will be no service on the District line between Wimbledon and Parson’s Green, and Richmond and Turnham Green before 8am. and after 6 p.m., and there will be no service at all on the Bakerloo line northwest of Queen’s Park. In addition, TfL says: “There are also strikes affecting some bus services on 20 August which will affect services in West and South West London and parts of Surrey. “London trams will also have a reduced service on August 20 due to strike action.”
Is there a pipe strike today?
The day-long strike is expected to put much of London’s TfL network out of action, with disruption on both sides Simon Calder August 18, 2022 11:21 am 1660816677
Two parts of the UK have regular trains
The national strike has caused around 16,000 train cancellations – but only in England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland services are running as normal, with timely departures from Great Victoria Street station in Belfast to Portadown, Larne, Bangor and Derry-Londonderry. One part of Great Britain has trains that keep to the usual schedule: the Isle of Wight. The first train running anywhere in Britain today at 5.45am. from Ryde Pier Head in Shanklin reached its destination, eight miles south, one minute early. The last train leaves Ryde at 11.15pm tonight. Simon Calder August 18, 2022 10:57 am 1660815768
‘This strike is not about my pay’: Network Rail boss defends £590,000 salary
Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haynes has brushed off questions about his £590,000 salary as rail workers go on strike over pay and conditions. A BBC Breakfast reporter pointed to Mr Haines’ pay rise in April from £544,000 to £590,000, saying: “It’s a huge amount of money for people listening to this. How do you defend that?’ Mr Haines replied: “What happened was I took a pay cut last year so my salary this year will be exactly the same as 2018. “This simply reflected the fact that I volunteered … to take a short-term pay cut. It wasn’t a salary increase.” He added that he “really understands why people are concerned about the cost of living”, but insisted: “I am well paid but this strike is not about my pay. People don’t go on strike about how much I earn.” Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 10:42 am 1660815004
Unions on brink of ‘synchronized’ strikes, says Mick Lynch
RMT union boss Mick Lynch suggested unions could start calling for “generalised and synchronized” strikes amid widespread anger over low pay in the face of the cost of living crisis. Speaking to Sky News from the picket line, Mr Lynch said: “There is a wave of backlash among workers about the way they are being treated. People are getting poorer every day of the week. “People can’t pay their bills. They are treated abominably in the workplace. I think there will be generalized and synchronized action. It may not be in a traditional format. “But we have seen the Post Office workers and BT [take industrial action]we saw bus workers in london strike tomorrow and over the weekend. “I think there’s a huge backlash from workers because they’re fed up with the way they’ve been treated.” Asked about the prospect of a general strike, Mr Lynch said: “Only the TUC can call a general strike.” Friday four…
title: “Train Strike Today Live Updates Uk Could See Widespread Synchronized Strikes Amid Cost Of Living Crisis Says Mick Lynch Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-24” author: “Randall Chance”
Train passengers face nightmare journeys today as new nationwide train strikes begin, with only a fifth of services expected to run. Around 45,000 workers employed by Network Rail and 14 train operators – members of the RMT Union – are walking out for 24 hours in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Education Secretary James Cleverley criticized striking transport workers, telling Sky News they were “holding the country hostage” and “disadvantaging people trying to get to work”. Meanwhile, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch suggested unions could start calling for “generalised and synchronized” strikes amid widespread anger over low pay in the face of the cost of living crisis. “There is a wave of backlash among workers about the way they are being treated. People are getting poorer every day of the week,” he told Sky News. “People can’t pay their bills. They are treated abominably in the workplace. I think there will be generalized and synchronized action.”
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Opinion: “So many at work feel stuck – I sympathize with striking rail staff”
“Already, there are screams about how the unions are taking over and how RMT workers are selfish, and so on and so forth. But I can’t help but sympathize,” writes Harry Redhead for the Independent’s Voices section. “Many of those on strike worked throughout the pandemic, putting themselves at risk. And some of them, RMT assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey said, are in their third year of a pay freeze. “Most of our memberships cost around £24,000,” he said. “We don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that [when inflation] is at 11.1 percent, we want a salary increase.” “That’s not unreasonable either.” Read the full article here:
Opinion: I have sympathy for the rail strikers – and you should too
Rail workers are simply using their collective power to send a message. There may be a lesson in this Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 12:15 p.m 1660820455
“Extreme instability when the traveler yearns for tranquility” – Simon Calder
In his latest commentary on the worst summer for rail strikes since the 1980s, Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, writes: “Speaking privately to some rail staff, it’s clear they feel undervalued. They worked through the Covid-19 pandemic and are now seeing their pay eroded by rampant inflation. “They want a reasonable pay rise, reassurance about job losses and to trade more efficient work for extra percentages in their wages. All just demands, which they believe can only be achieved by repeatedly walking away until the government gives in.’ However, he writes, while rail unions are assuring their members that ministers will eventually meet their demands, that expectation may not materialise. “By August, the economic damage caused by the strikes is being absorbed by taxpayers. In September, the arrival of the new prime minister will be accompanied by severe spending cuts. But surely the railway is immune thanks to its environmental credentials? Unfortunately, it’s fantastic to imagine that any of the Conservative leadership candidates actually give two shits about the planet.” He concludes: “A long, hot summer for railway workers. punishment for commuters; and a government that is either on holiday or (in the case of transport secretary Grant Shapps) too wrapped up in the battle for No 10. “It all adds up to extreme instability when the traveler yearns for tranquility.”
Rail strikes: and the winners are – car dealers, oil companies and bus companies
Train Talk: “Stay strong, stay united and we will prevail,” says Aslef boss. I’m not so sure Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 12:00 p.m 1660819371
The disruption will continue for the next few weeks on the Avanti West Coast
Even as the latest national rail strikes end, travelers to London Euston from the West Midlands, north-west England, north Wales and southern Scotland face weeks of disruption. Avanti West Coast unveiled an emergency schedule this week that will continue until September 11 at the earliest. He blamed “the current industrial relations climate which has led to severe staff shortages in some grades due to increased levels of sickness as well as the majority of drivers not being available for overtime in a coordinated manner and at short notice”. The biggest reductions are on services linking Birmingham and Manchester to London – reduced to just one train an hour instead of three. Cuts are also being made to trains serving Chester and North Wales and from London via the West Midlands to Edinburgh. Typically Avanti West Coast relies on 250 drivers a day working on rest days – covering around 400 passenger trains. Sources say that number dropped dramatically overnight – by nearly 90 percent. Transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “Unions are now stopping volunteer drivers – causing misery to the public and staff who won’t be paid.” Avanti West Coast says it wants to “ensure a reliable service is provided so our customers can travel with greater confidence” – although it acknowledges the emergency timetable will cause “huge frustration and inconvenience”. But Mick Whelan, Aslef general secretary, says there is an overwhelming mandate for industrial action in West Coast Avanti. He told the Independent: “When you lose goodwill and we strike, people not coming in to work overtime is usually the first thing that happens.” You can read more about the emergency program here:
Avanti West Coast train cuts: What do they mean for passengers?
The operator is cutting hundreds of services every day from August 14 until at least September 11 Simon Calder August 18, 2022 11:42 am 1660818069
Friday: ‘Avoid traveling on the Tube’ warns Transport for London
A strike by staff working on London’s Tube and buses is sandwiched between two national rail strikes. About 10,000 workers will leave. Transport for London (TfL) is telling would-be travelers on Friday 19 August: “Strikes are taking place on Tubes and buses which will affect the majority of TfL services. “Furthermore, there will be minimal service on the national rail network until approximately 8am following the previous day’s strike. Customers are advised to avoid traveling on the Metro and only travel on the rest of the network if necessary. Ahead of Saturday, the agency is warning of reduced services on the London Overground and the new Elizabeth line. There will be no service on the District line between Wimbledon and Parson’s Green, and Richmond and Turnham Green before 8am. and after 6 p.m., and there will be no service at all on the Bakerloo line northwest of Queen’s Park. In addition, TfL says: “There are also strikes affecting some bus services on 20 August which will affect services in West and South West London and parts of Surrey. “London trams will also have a reduced service on August 20 due to strike action.”
Is there a pipe strike today?
The day-long strike is expected to put much of London’s TfL network out of action, with disruption on both sides Simon Calder August 18, 2022 11:21 am 1660816677
Two parts of the UK have regular trains
The national strike has caused around 16,000 train cancellations – but only in England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland services are running as normal, with timely departures from Great Victoria Street station in Belfast to Portadown, Larne, Bangor and Derry-Londonderry. One part of Great Britain has trains that keep to the usual schedule: the Isle of Wight. The first train running anywhere in Britain today at 5.45am. from Ryde Pier Head in Shanklin reached its destination, eight miles south, one minute early. The last train leaves Ryde at 11.15pm tonight. Simon Calder August 18, 2022 10:57 am 1660815768
‘This strike is not about my pay’: Network Rail boss defends £590,000 salary
Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haynes has brushed off questions about his £590,000 salary as rail workers go on strike over pay and conditions. A BBC Breakfast reporter pointed to Mr Haines’ pay rise in April from £544,000 to £590,000, saying: “It’s a huge amount of money for people listening to this. How do you defend that?’ Mr Haines replied: “What happened was I took a pay cut last year so my salary this year will be exactly the same as 2018. “This simply reflected the fact that I volunteered … to take a short-term pay cut. It wasn’t a salary increase.” He added that he “really understands why people are concerned about the cost of living”, but insisted: “I am well paid but this strike is not about my pay. People don’t go on strike about how much I earn.” Lucy Thackray August 18, 2022 10:42 am 1660815004
Unions on brink of ‘synchronized’ strikes, says Mick Lynch
RMT union boss Mick Lynch suggested unions could start calling for “generalised and synchronized” strikes amid widespread anger over low pay in the face of the cost of living crisis. Speaking to Sky News from the picket line, Mr Lynch said: “There is a wave of backlash among workers about the way they are being treated. People are getting poorer every day of the week. “People can’t pay their bills. They are treated abominably in the workplace. I think there will be generalized and synchronized action. It may not be in a traditional format. “But we have seen the Post Office workers and BT [take industrial action]we saw bus workers in london strike tomorrow and over the weekend. “I think there’s a huge backlash from workers because they’re fed up with the way they’ve been treated.” Asked about the prospect of a general strike, Mr Lynch said: “Only the TUC can call a general strike.” Friday four…
