Mick ‘Grinch’ Holding The Country To Ransom Has Called More Dates To Strike

[Bobbisox1]

I feel for all those people who want to be with their family’s this Christmas, they’ve now included Christmas Eve in their disruption, my opinion is he’s trying every thing he can to bring down the Government, shades of Arthur Scargill, 8% over two years is no good to him, why can’t he see there is no money in the pot to meet his extravagant demands
https://news.sky.com/story/fresh-rail-strikes-planned-over-christmas-as-rmt-union-turns-down-pay-offer-12762377

[Ellipsis]

A minor inconvenience ... except for those who cannot work from home, or whose work isn't affected at all but they are trying to travel to see loved ones at Christmas.

For example, somebody already booked to be flying in to Heathrow, and already bought their train tickets too, to get from Heathrow home to family somewhere more than 100 miles from London ... now what?

[gulliver1]

O.P...B S........ "why can't they see there is no money in the pot"........
But there was enough money in the pot to give MPs a pay rise this year of £2,212 and they did not have to go on strike. It was awarded at the stroke of a pen then back to the tax payer subsidised bar.

[Paul22118]

In the seventies the British car industry was in a hell of a state. It was, thought many people going to crash out - and it did. It was steered to the precipice by a communist convener called Derek Robinson, or red Robbo as he was well known. Many believe he single handedly killed the British motor industry allowing BMW, Mercedes etc plus all the Japanese Companies to fill - successfully - the void. Mr Lynch is in that vein. Who remembers Red Robbo? So let us sit back and watch the rail industry die.

[Bobbisox1]

Well said Paul, I remember him

[emmie]

my brother is hoping to visit one weekend before Christmas, that may not happen now, which is a bloody shame, as we haven't seen each other since July, he won't drive in besides he has only one vehicle, and needs two vehicles to get back and forward to work etc. as his wife's car died, so now down to just one car.

[naomi24]

One could be forgiven for thinking this is all about the workers but this is mean spirited - and actually says sod the workers.

[Bobbisox1]

There’ll be many thousands like you Emmie , awful especially at this time of year

[emmie]

indeed Bobbi, mean and effin spiteful.

[Bobbisox1]

Naomi , saying that it’s non political makes me and you clueless ;0)
Of course it’s political, now the Ambulance drivers have voted to strike

https://news.sky.com/story/more-than-10000-ambulance-workers-in-england-and-wales-to-strike-on-two-days-in-december-12762694

[goodgoalie]

Paul - 70% of the UK's railways are already under foreign ownership. For example, a German company, Deutsche Bahn, owns Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern Railways, Cross Country and Grand Central.

Greater Anglia, Stansted Express and Scotrail are all operated by Abellio. Abellio is run by Netherlands Rail whose only shareholder is the Dutch government.

[THECORBYLOON]

Abellio has had no involvement in ScotRail since April 1st this year.

[Paul22118]

Goodgoalie you are quite correct. I understand that scenario but what I foresee is that Mr Lynch will push the owners, foreign investors or whoever, to a point where the British railway system as it now is will change. Maybe it will take the form of a P&O type solution as already mooted herein. I just wonder which will go first, the system, the pay claim, the Union man or the trains.

[Gromit]

1996 the Conservatives flagship privatisation they formed Railtrack and their chums made loads of money.
It was a complete disaster. Trains crashed and Railtrack went bust in 2001.
The Labour Government replaced Railtrack in 2002 with Network Rail. Safety improved but the Tories resented the new company and vowed to kill it.
Now they have announced the demise of Network Rail, to be replaced by Great British Trains, and vastly cut the money that the Government pays it to run the rail service.
What could possibly go wrong ?

[Gromit]

The Government have lost the economy with rampant inflation, recession and a cost of living crisis.
So below inflation rises are going to get rejected by workers. The railways won’t be the first to hold major strikes this winter. Fortunately you have a bogey man to blame when you can’t see the blindingly obvious - a politically motivated situation designed by the Government.

[douglas9401]

We managed to muddle along for two years with nothing on and nowhere to go.
A couple of days without glorified bus drivers shouldn't be too hard to bear.

Man up wimps.

[Ellipsis]

Eh? Bus drivers have to turn corners!

[nicebloke1]

If you are retired and financially comfortable then the chances are you will have a negative opinion on strike action.
If you are a rail / NHS worker facing threats that affect pay or jobs, then I'm sure you would be a lot more supportive and positive of such action.

[Gromit]

What this is really all about…

// Sweeping reforms to bring the railway’s track and trains together under a new Great British Railways will be set out this week – but reforms of fares will be limited, with the industry braced to have its budget slashed.

The Treasury is understood to be demanding cost cuts of between 10% and 20%. Unions have warned they will fight cuts to maintenance budgets and workforce terms and conditions. //

[nicebloke1]

It's a shame the government don't demand such cuts on the billions being thrown at HS2. Already soaring by billions over budget.

[youngmafbog]

Do you honestly believe that guff you have written Gromit? Talk about clueless.

As for HS2, there would probably be little saving since the contractors would have to be paid off. Unfortunately far too late in the day to cancel it now.