London Tube Strike March 2?
Feb 23rd, 2006, 06:48 AM
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This is exciting...we aren't sure if the "one today" happened or not and we are projecting about the "possible" one on March 2? Makes me almost want to move my April trip ahead to I can be there to observe the (possibly non) phenomenon!
Feb 23rd, 2006, 06:56 AM
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The Guardian the other day said that the strike was scheduled for Mar 2 - not supposed but was nearly a sure thing but things change - nice to know about these things if in London. But they don't always materialize.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 07:20 AM
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from BBC news - 23rd Feb.
Commuters await Tube ballot news
Commuters are to learn whether they face an all-out Tube strike next week, in a row over industrial relations.
About 3,500 Tube drivers represented by the RMT and Aslef unions are already due to walk out on 2 March.
But Thursday's ballot will determine whether up to 5,000 signallers and station staff will join them.
rest of the article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4742260.stm
Commuters await Tube ballot news
Commuters are to learn whether they face an all-out Tube strike next week, in a row over industrial relations.
About 3,500 Tube drivers represented by the RMT and Aslef unions are already due to walk out on 2 March.
But Thursday's ballot will determine whether up to 5,000 signallers and station staff will join them.
rest of the article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4742260.stm
Feb 23rd, 2006, 07:49 AM
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PalQ - the strike the other day was called off, which often happens. We had a strike by station staff at the beginning of January but it was a bit of a failure, as most staff seemed to ignore it. It becomes a major issue if the DRIVERS strike.
This is a hot potato in London right now. The union bosses are seen as real old-fashioned militants, calling strikes at the drop of a hat and holding London to ransom for their own personal glory. Commuters regard them with loathing and there's calls at the London Assembly to have these strikes banned - particularly with the London Olympics looming.
Love her or loathe her, one of Thatcher's achievements was destroying the power of the unions in the 1980s who were really crippling business. The RMT and ASLEF who control the Tube unions are hopefully the last of a dying breed.
This is a hot potato in London right now. The union bosses are seen as real old-fashioned militants, calling strikes at the drop of a hat and holding London to ransom for their own personal glory. Commuters regard them with loathing and there's calls at the London Assembly to have these strikes banned - particularly with the London Olympics looming.
Love her or loathe her, one of Thatcher's achievements was destroying the power of the unions in the 1980s who were really crippling business. The RMT and ASLEF who control the Tube unions are hopefully the last of a dying breed.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 08:06 AM
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Kate - interesting comments. I think Thatcher and her cuts was also responsible for the sad condition of the Tube and UK railways as investment in infrastructure was lacking and now it's hard to fix up the mess in terms of the infrastructure. I don't know much about the current unions but i'm led to believe Thatcherism is responsible for the embarrasing state of UK rail and tube - miracle worker Kelly from NY subway couldn't pick up the pieces and he's history.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 08:42 AM
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PalQ you are absolutedly correct - Thatcher was a disaster for our transport infrastructure generally (and plenty more besides). The strike breaking was one of the (v.few) things I can commend her for, although this strike breaking clearly didn't have any effect on the transport unions.
