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Rail strike goes ahead as talks break down
Ben Bailey5 Aug 2009
A 48-hour strike by workers at a leading rail company will go ahead from midnight after talks aimed at resolving a row over pay and conditions broke down today.
The Rail Maritime and Transport union said it expected its members at National Express East Anglia to "solidly support" the walk-out.
Workers staged a 48-hour stoppage last week, causing travel chaos for tens of thousands of commuters.
The company ran just 100 services a day instead of its usual 1,800 and the union said it expected the same level of disruption during the strike tomorrow and on Friday.
Reader views (6)
“RMT members have shown in this ballot that they are not prepared to be the victims of the National Express franchise chaos and that they are determined to fight for a decent pay rise and for decent working conditions. This company has made half a billion in profits out of our members over the past decade, it’s a scandal that they are offering their staff peanuts in return.”
How can the workers say its not about the money when RMT issues a statement like this!!! Thye already ge paid enough and are still causing problems for everyone!!!
- Derek Adams, Enfield, 11/08/2009 14:06
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With the very real possibility of National Express either being taken over or losing their two remaining rail franchises including NXEA in the coming months. These strikes are nothing but pointless selfish behaviour at this time. Whether the union members believe they are justified or not.
Or does the union leadership have a more sinister purpose in mind, such as making the East Anglian line appear unattractive to any other operator. Preferring instead a weak taxpayer funded management?
- Harry H, London UK, 06/08/2009 00:07
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The dispute at NXEA is not just related to pay, I know I am married to a railwayman. This has been brewing for a long time and the way in which the mangement of NXEA treats its employee's is nothing short of a disgrace. My husband has told me he'd happily take a pay freeze in exchange for a change in employer so don't quote greed. When profits were high we heard no grumbles, as soon as the going gets tough they start bleating and pandering to the shareholders. There are many other underlying industrial issues relating to this dispute and it is about time the media stopped blaming the drivers, guards and other rail workers for the mess of privatisation and managers on extortionate salaries and share options for running a failed franchise. Reward Failure and hit the staff who are actually the ones who keep the trains running on a day to day basis seems to be the order of the day. Perhaps if the full details of this dispute were reported, then those making knee jerk comments might just stop and think a bit more?
- Sally, Norwich, 05/08/2009 21:43
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Chris , think for yourself, people dont lose money by striking for a laugh , they do it because they have no other option left.
Ban public service? so how would you gety to work then eh? no trains anywhere atall, think on .
- Brian, Wiltshire, 05/08/2009 18:56
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to chris,shenfield,essex
this is why we are on strike
think the situation is summed up as follows : Profit from the NXEA franchise comes from the government in the form of subsidy (cap & collar) payments and from the farebox. Part of the money is used to bolster NX Groups Profits and pay a shareholder dividend. Other money has been used to pay above inflation bonuses to NXEA Management. Costs have been reduced by cutting staff to the bare minimum. 300+ posts have gone on NXEA in the last 6 months. Some staff have seen their colleagues "replaced" by Agency staff - many woefully inadequately trained and working on Barrier lines. Management have engendered a "climate of fear" across a broad range of grades and skills. For safety related posts - dont dare come to work if youre not feeeling 100% or "we'll 'ave ya". But dont have a day off sick either because "We'll 'ave ya". This dispute really isnt about pay at all - its much more about culture. The damning indictment of NXEA is this - no other Train Company since Privatisation has managed to alienate its entire staff so successfully that the various grades and trades unions involved are working together with co-ordinated industrial action. Says it all really
so talk to us...
- Nxea Driver, shenfield, 05/08/2009 16:27
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Just who do these idiots think they are? Everyone else is losing their job or taking a pay cut. They think they can demand not just an increase but also a 4 day week.
It's time for passenger action. Next time you see a driver on the platform ask him or her to explain exactly how they can justify this pathetic strike. It's time public service strikes were banned.
- Chris, Shenfield, Essex, 05/08/2009 15:44
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