16
General Discussion Area / U.K. Rail Strike
« on: 20 June 2022, 18:26:26 »
So the unions have decided to have their members come out on strike tomorrow.
After hearing various reports about rail workers current salaries I have found this:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/61840077#:~:text=Rail%20construction%20and%20maintenance%20operatives,and%20tram%20drivers%20%2D%20%C2%A359%2C189
So as the majority of the population, who are on a average wage far lower than railway staff, are fighting higher living costs these unions believe their members are hard done by. The industry has survived over the last two years by way of multi-billion pound injections of cash by the U.K. Government. But these workers still want a 7% increase across the board.
I really wonder what is going on. Do they realise that this action could scare away the increased passenger numbers witnessed post-pandemic, but well short of the numbers before? Do they think this will help them in their cause of keeping old, and expensive, railway practices going when the railway companies cannot improve financial viability by letting them do so?
Perhaps this strike will lead to an outcome similar to that experienced by the coal miners 40 years ago. In my opinion, it is plain stupidity and greed and will piss off the very people that railway workers depend on; the passengers, just at a time when they are trying to keep sane over vastly increased costs of a rail ticket. The Government will also be pissed off and could really bring down an axe on any further support
But, what do you all, or importantly, the younger regular users of the railways in your families, think about all this?
After hearing various reports about rail workers current salaries I have found this:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/61840077#:~:text=Rail%20construction%20and%20maintenance%20operatives,and%20tram%20drivers%20%2D%20%C2%A359%2C189
So as the majority of the population, who are on a average wage far lower than railway staff, are fighting higher living costs these unions believe their members are hard done by. The industry has survived over the last two years by way of multi-billion pound injections of cash by the U.K. Government. But these workers still want a 7% increase across the board.
I really wonder what is going on. Do they realise that this action could scare away the increased passenger numbers witnessed post-pandemic, but well short of the numbers before? Do they think this will help them in their cause of keeping old, and expensive, railway practices going when the railway companies cannot improve financial viability by letting them do so?
Perhaps this strike will lead to an outcome similar to that experienced by the coal miners 40 years ago. In my opinion, it is plain stupidity and greed and will piss off the very people that railway workers depend on; the passengers, just at a time when they are trying to keep sane over vastly increased costs of a rail ticket. The Government will also be pissed off and could really bring down an axe on any further support
But, what do you all, or importantly, the younger regular users of the railways in your families, think about all this?
