Trust the Bl***y Rail Unions to threaten strikes over Christmas

Rail unions threaten wave of Christmas getaway strikes


Britains two major rail unions have threatened to throw Christmas travel plans of tens of thousands of British families into disarray by a wave of strikes over the holiday period.








The RMT has called four rail strikes as thousands of families embark on the Christmas getaway Photo: PA






By David Millward, Transport Editor

10:56AM GMT 17 Dec 2012





In London Aslef, which represents the majority of tube drivers, has called three separate stoppages in a dispute over Bank Holiday pay.


The first walkout will take place on Boxing Day, when thousands of people will be flocking to London for the start of the post Christmas sales and an extensive football fixture list.


Further 24-hour stoppages, in support of a claim for triple pay and a day off in lieu for working December 26, are planned for January 18 and 25.


Aslef's announcement came within hours or the other main rail union, RMT, announcing two fresh strikes in addition to stoppages planned for CrossCountry, the line linking provincial cities from Penzance to Aberdeen, and Scotrail.


Signallers at the West Hampstead signal box in north London, which controls traffic in and out of St Pancras serving the cities of Nottingham, Sheffield and Leicester, will hold a 48 hour strike from Wednesday morning.



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The extent of any disruption was unclear this morning although Network Rail, the infrastructure company, said it did not anticipate “any significant impact on services."

Underpinning the dispute are plans to cut staff at the signal box in a move which the union claims would put safety at risk.

“RMT members are rightly angry at the attempt to halve the number of key signalling staff which is being driven by Network Rail without any proper consideration of the safety consequences and the impact on the workforce,” said Bob Crow, RMT’s general secretary.

“The 100% vote for strike action reflects that anger amongst the staff who operate this key service.”

Network Rail said it had contingency plans in place but remained willing to talk to the union at “any time.”

In a separate dispute cleaners working for Churchill’s, the contractors, on Tyne and Wear Metro will hold a 72 hour strike starting on Sunday over low pay.

Meanwhile on Friday RMT members working for Scotrail will hold the first of two 24 hour strikes. The second will take place on Christmas Eve. The dispute is over what the union says is victimisation of its members.

While the impact will primarily be in Scotland, there could also be disruption to cross border and sleeper services to London.

Meanwhile talks are planned for this week aimed at settling the dispute with CrossCountry, Britain's widest ranging franchise which handles 90,000 passengers a day.

RMT members are due to walk out on Friday, one of the busiest days of the year, over what it says has been a breakdown in industrial relations.

The union’s decision to call a series of stoppages over the festive season was condemned by Priti Patel, Conservative MP for Witham.

“This is a highly selfish act by RMT to call strikes when people are travelling across the country to see families and loved ones. The union should think again.”

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There is no other Country which holds travellers to ransom like the Railways, they do it all the time. Shame on them.

Do Firemen, Policemen, Nurses, Doctors, Pilots demand triple time and a day off in lieu. ? The Boss of ASLEF I'm sure takes great delight in making demands like this when the Country is in such a parlous State.