The cause of the problem: if Boris Johnson thinks he’ll enjoy decent rail travel after his decisions caused inflation to soar, plunging workers into financial crisis, he’d better think again. The trouble is, his likely successors are unlikely to solve the problem because they are as pig-headed as he is.
Commuters were encouraged to find alternative routes to their destinations on Saturday as around 5,000 train drivers went on strike for higher pay.
Drivers’ union ASLEF called the strike because current franchise agreements between the government and the mostly foreign-owned firms that run UK rail services allow for pay rises of only two per cent – in effect, pay cuts with inflation running at 9.4 per cent, its highest in 40 years.
The strike is said to have cancelled almost all services run by seven of the UK’s 34 train operators, but is unlikely to break a stalemate between ASLEF and industry organisation the Rail Delivery Group, which says operators will give bigger pay rises only if train drivers agreed to changes in working practices that would save money.
According to International Business Times, RDG chair Steve Montgomery said,
“We’re not saying to people ‘work longer hours’, but to be more productive within the hours they currently have.”
How are they supposed to do that? They drive trains that run according to specific schedules, meaning their use of time is determined by their bosses, not them.
IBT also stated:
Soaring inflation … and patchy wage rises have exacerbated labour tensions across sectors including postal services, health, schools, airports and the judiciary.
So brace yourself for strikes in all those sectors as well. ASLEF is planning another one-day strike on August 13.
Source: Britain’s trains disrupted in second widespread rail strike in a week
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