Guest 1849- Registered: 12 Sep 2016
- Posts: 440
Keith Sansum1 wrote:Bob of course has aright to a view
but those within the RMT in his ward I'm sure will recall the last posting at election time
There's probably a handful of RMT members in Bob's ward, the amount that read this forum will be negligible. On the other hand far more commuters will be affected by the strikes.If Bob is looking for votes (and only he knows) I'd suggest he's just won some.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
well that's a biased view from bob and david,
Keith Sansum1 likes this
Paul M- Registered: 1 Feb 2016
- Posts: 393
That's also the view of hundreds of thousands of commuters attempting to get into London to go to work to feed their families.
Jan Higgins, Button and Guest 1849 like this
Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,061
In its publication 'The Safety-Critical Role of the Guard: A dossier on the dangers of driver-only operation', the RMT points to there having been 10 serious incidents at the Passenger/Train Interface [PTI] since January 2011 that have been, or are, subjected to investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch [RAIB]. Of these, 8 cases involved Driver Only Operation.
RAIB reports (like their air and maritime equivalents) are published on-line; certainly 03/2016 (West Wickham) and 12/2016 (Hayes & Harlington) are available and I commend them as interesting and unbiased investigations - well worth a read.
howard mcsweeney1 likes this
(Not my real name.)
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,128
Keith Sansum1 wrote:Bob of course has aright to a view
but those within the RMT in his ward I'm sure will recall the last posting at election time
With house prices being what they are in Deal fortunately very few RMT members (average salary tram/train driver £47,101) can afford to live in Deal. The Town Council is hoping to get the town motto from
Deal "ADJUVATE ADVENAS" (Befriend the Stranger) as it appears on road signs to
Deal "REASSURINGLY EXPENSIVE".
I did see Mick Cash in the estate agents the other day though!
(RMT general secretary Mick Cash, who was appointed general secretary of the RMT in October 2014, receives a salary of £128,437.)
For those who actually stupid enough to think the strike is 'not political' just look back on London Underground.
When Boris proposed Night Tubes and moving the ticket seller from his lair on to the platform to actually do something useful there was trouble and strife from the unions.
A change of Mayor and all the problems have disappeared overnight. Indeed Sadiq Khan has now announced driverless Tubes without a peep out of the band of brothers!
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/sadiq-khan-driverless-piccadilly-line-trains-could-be-launched-in-2023-a3420061.html
Presumably they will roll over and accept this as rather than an example of wicked capitalists automating workers' jobs to increase their profit margins, this is an example of the white heat of socialist technology freeing the oppressed from mindlessly repetitive jobs?
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Southern Rail have no inducement to end this series of stoppages in fact the longer it goes on the better for them. The passengers are left completely in the lurch.
Paul M- Registered: 1 Feb 2016
- Posts: 393
That's not strictly true. The Government can at any time without any reason terminate their contract/franchise agreement and put it out to open tender. I hope they do.
howard mcsweeney1 likes this
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,128
howard mcsweeney1 wrote:Southern Rail have no inducement to end this series of stoppages in fact the longer it goes on the better for them.
Believe it or not Howard, most managers on Southern wished to make money from running a railway and initially were hoping to make a few bob from actually providing a service to rail users.
It's a bit like Starbucks tries to serve coffee and Amazon to deliver parcels.
Do please explain how it's 'better for them' that a group of workers, whose sole transferable skill seems to be pressing a button to open sliding doors (much the same skill set as I used in John Lewis in the elevator yesterday) holding them to ransom helps?
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Not in their party political interests to do so, they need someone like the unions here to take the brunt of public abuse, Chris Grayling has made a career out of union bashing.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,128
howard mcsweeney1 wrote:Not in their party political interests to do so, they need someone like the unions here to take the brunt of public abuse, Chris Grayling has made a career out of union bashing.
Where do you get this rubbish from Howard? You still reading Marxism Today or something?
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Button- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,061
Post 34: on a point of order, I believe the skill to which you are referring relates to closing sliding doors. (Just saying!)
(Not my real name.)
Guest 1881- Registered: 16 Oct 2016
- Posts: 1,071
Paul M wrote:That's not strictly true. The Government can at any time without any reason terminate their contract/franchise agreement and put it out to open tender. I hope they do.
So, given Southern Rail's abyssmal punctuality and frequent cancellation of services prior to the RMT strike, why isn't this back in public hands? It couldn't be that someone is getting a backhander somewhere, could it?
Jan Higgins likes this
Just because you don't take an interest in politics doesn't mean that politics won't take an interest in you. PERICLES.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#34
Bob it may come as a surprise to you but unlike Starbucks and Amazon all monies from customers of Southern Rail go straight to the Treasury.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
There is rubbish and then there is the alternative rubbish depending on how blinkered your political stance is.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,128
howard mcsweeney1 wrote:#34
Bob it may come as a surprise to you but unlike Starbucks and Amazon all monies from customers of Southern Rail go straight to the Treasury.
Extraordinary. I thought it was a private company and profit (after tax) would go to the shareholders?
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-2995605/Grand-finale-Southern-Railway-annual-profits-soaring-29-3million.html"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,128
Here's the Economist's take on the band of brothers and proposed strikes.
The interesting bit is the penultimate paragraph which explains McCluskey's resignation, a year before his term ends, from Unite.
http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21712150-though-their-economic-clout-has-fallen-their-political-importance-has-soared-series-planned"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
lots more to come by sounds of it
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The Government are considering bringing in the army to ferry commuters to work by coach should the Southern Rail dispute continue into the new year. At peak times there are about 10 trains per hour each carrying approx 1000 passengers. I cannot see how 200 coaches in the vicinity are not being used on a daily basis now never mind the problem of finding parking in Central London until the evening rush hour.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
The army would have less of a problem parking than the public, they will simply visit the nearest army barracks.
It really is time that the Government stripped Southern of their franchise, they have had various troubles for ages long before this present fiasco.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I can't see anyone wanting to take over the franchise, with labour relations so bad they would want some sort of no strikes agreement which the union leadership wouldn't wear.