bellyscratch
1st August 2009, 18:57
From the Shop Stewards' Network mailing list
About twenty-five railway workers were on the picket line outside Norwich station on Thursday morning. The press have presented this as a demand for more wages. However, the dispute is mainly about the deterioration of relations between new managers and the workforce, in what appears to be an attempt to demoralise the workers. Strikes are planned over the next few weeks for each Thursday and Friday.
Pickets told me this strike, on several of the rail services in Britain, is more about management treatment of the workers than about wages. Drivers are being bullied over minor disciplinary matters. Some drivers have been suspended for six weeks (on full pay) pending disciplinary hearings, such as for going as little as 2.5 miles an hour above the speed limit on short sections of track. Guards and platform staff are also on strike. Catering services have been cut causing redundancies. These were very popular with passengers. Clerical staff are balloting with a view to joining the action.
These pickets told me that when ASLEF (the drivers union) was balloted for industrial action there was 100% return of ballot papers with 95% voting for strike action. On Friday, the second day of the strike, the workers on the picket line said that if there were another ballot now the votes for strike action would be even higher. So the mood is strong.
About twenty-five railway workers were on the picket line outside Norwich station on Thursday morning. The press have presented this as a demand for more wages. However, the dispute is mainly about the deterioration of relations between new managers and the workforce, in what appears to be an attempt to demoralise the workers. Strikes are planned over the next few weeks for each Thursday and Friday.
Pickets told me this strike, on several of the rail services in Britain, is more about management treatment of the workers than about wages. Drivers are being bullied over minor disciplinary matters. Some drivers have been suspended for six weeks (on full pay) pending disciplinary hearings, such as for going as little as 2.5 miles an hour above the speed limit on short sections of track. Guards and platform staff are also on strike. Catering services have been cut causing redundancies. These were very popular with passengers. Clerical staff are balloting with a view to joining the action.
These pickets told me that when ASLEF (the drivers union) was balloted for industrial action there was 100% return of ballot papers with 95% voting for strike action. On Friday, the second day of the strike, the workers on the picket line said that if there were another ballot now the votes for strike action would be even higher. So the mood is strong.