Disruption?

[vim_fuego]

I reckon the amount of arse-custard released via MSM HD as been greater than usual for the train Strike…just been driving around the Southern half of the country since Monday and the roads have been marvellously flowing.

Perhaps the militants under-estimated the effect of 80% of the working population for two years working from home and many still able to switch to that routine effortlessly?

 

[Deltaitem]

Define militants?

 

[Tin basher]

Define militants?

Dictionary - favouring confrontational or violent methods in support of a political or social cause
Daily Mail - Money grabbing, left wing agitators, bolshy union types who put their own interests before other peoples livelihoods.

One man's militant is a Mick Lynch style, far left, nut job for others it's simply a commited advocate for higher wages and social justice. It's the old terrorist or freedom fighter conumdrum.

 

[Talk Wrench]

Dictionary - favouring confrontational or violent methods in support of a political or social cause
Daily Mail - Money grabbing, left wing agitators, bolshy union types who put their own interests before other peoples livelihoods.

One man's militant is a Mick Lynch style, far left, nut job for others it's simply a commited advocate for higher wages and social justice. It's the old terrorist or freedom fighter conundrum.

A militant is a socialist that hasn't grown up.

 

[busby1971]

The action, which they are more than entitled to take, is only accelerating the shift to driverless (uncrewed) trains as they are pricing themselves out of the cab.

Wife gets the train to work, and even with the reduced service both of her trains have been on time

 

[muttywhitedog]

The action, which they are more than entitled to take, is only accelerating the shift to driverless (uncrewed) trains as they are pricing themselves out of the cab.

Wife gets the train to work, and even with the reduced service both of her trains have been on time

ASLEF is the union for almost all train drivers - they are not on strike.

 

[Oldstacker]

ASLEF is the union for almost all train drivers - they are not on strike.

There were ASLEF pickets out at Ipswich today according to the BBC News.....

 

[Oldstacker]

This should have been a time for the railways to be staging a comeback as a means of travel - the reduction in 'rush hour' commuting thanks to wfh, the introduction of many new trains (and services) around the country and the drive to reduce emissions etc should all have encouraged a return to rail travel throughout the day for both passengers and freight. So what do the unions do? Demonstrate that the railways are unreliable and that they are intent on pushing up the costs of operation (and hence the costs of usage).

How many companies considering swapping freight from road to rail to 'go green' or 'optional' leisure travellers will be dissuaded by these strikes with a consequent impact on the rail industry and the planet?

 

[vim_fuego]

The Beeb agree:

Train strikes: Why haven't they caused more disruption?

The post-pandemic shift to working from home means disruption caused by the strikes has been more limited.

www.bbc.co.uk

Back in the early noughties I used the trains a fair bit. Aside from living in London 2003-2007 (so tube hopping most weeks) I also used the mainline trains to get up North. I would go on the Trainline site and lodge a request to be told when the ealy [and much cheaper] tickets were being released and also had a Military railcard. All that made it better value than a car and I could have a cheeky glass of something and enjoy the view as I was generally getting on at the start of the trains journey and got my reserved seat without threats of violence from a twat who just sat anywhere.

The past few years, when I have planned journeys and looked at air and rail as well as road, rail has always come out the most expensive. I'm travelling between my home office and Brize every other week lately. It costs me a tank to go both ways which this week was £92 and took 3.5 hours each way. The trains want £164.80 and will take nearly 5 hours each way, with a change or two each trip. I also have to factor in the cost of a cab both times which would be around £20, or a hire car from the station or close by (maybe a cab ride away) at around £350 for the 3 days I need to get to and fro the base and a hotel.

So its £90 by car, there and back plus daily short transits, or £554.80 to use the train and get a hire car. Even just comparing car v rail (£90 v £164.80) its 83% more expensive.

 

[Stevienics]

It's a quid a minute for a cheap day return. submit to the Unions, its going to be a $hitload more.

They'll do away with themselves as a private company needs to be competitive. By that time fat boy lynch will in a spansih villa, and he won't give a toss.

 

[Deltaitem]

Seems that barristers are also running the risk of being tarred and feathered with the militant brush.

 

[Rigga]

Seems that barristers are also running the risk of being tarred and feathered with the militant brush.

And now doctors….looking for 30%?

 

[norfolkred1]

And now doctors….looking for 30%?

30% Is their current work rate.

 

[Deltaitem]

And now doctors….looking for 30%?

Well, 22% according to reports I've read. But then again, they're saying their pay has dropped by 30% since 2008. Can't blame them, really. It says something about this tory government that two traditionally conservative with a small c professions are taking a stand against them and voting to exercise their right to withdraw their labour. Good on 'em, I say.
It's funny that Johnson's been banging on (lying actually) about how he wants a high wage economy. Now's his chance to make it happen...not!
You can't believe a word he says

 

[vim_fuego]

It feels like GP’s have been on strike for some time now.

 

[Deltaitem]

After decades of under-funding, maybe they've got good reason

https://www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opinion/cornered-gps-under-attack

 

[Talk Wrench]

Well, 22% according to reports I've read. But then again, they're saying their pay has dropped by 30% since 2008. Can't blame them, really. It says something about this tory government that two traditionally conservative with a small c professions are taking a stand against them and voting to exercise their right to withdraw their labour. Good on 'em, I say.
It's funny that Johnson's been banging on (lying actually) about how he wants a high wage economy. Now's his chance to make it happen...not!
You can't believe a word he says

Simple solution. De-nationalise the NHS and remodel it in the shape of those much envied, successful health systems that operate in the EU.

Make everyone pay compulsory insurance deducted directly from their pay (this happens in the EU) with employers and employees each bearing 50% of the costs (based upon a non linear sliding scale related to earnings- this happens in the EU)

Make it an insurance based system, administrated by private companies (but heavily regulated by government- this happens in the EU) whereby doctor's are paid upon what treatment they provide within a regulated framework (this happens in the EU)

Or, stick with the current NHS model which is so brilliant that no other country in the world has copied it (the NHS model will never happen in the EU)

 

[Deltaitem]

An American doctor's view

How good is the NHS?

 

[Talk Wrench]

An American doctor's view

How good is the NHS?

I couldn't care less about the American doctor's point of view so what's your point?

You want doctor's to have more pay, I've shown you how it works in EU countries.

 

[Deltaitem]

An American doctor is pointing out the benefits of the NHS, coming from a country that doesn't have one. Many in the US would love to see it happen over there, but the establishment won't wear it.
You've shown me how it works? You haven't. You've expressed an opinion in text without backing it up.
Where is your evidence that EU health systems are envied and successful, and is it really possible to lump 27 nations' healthcare systems into one generic response? That's kind of simplistic.
Deductions from pay kind of already happens in the UK, it's called National Insurance.
Health insurance has actually been shown to be very wasteful.
The second link above will give you a more balanced, less rabid view of the NHS, and even gets compared to other countries, including others from the evil EU.
Performance related pay, you say? Well, that's partially there as well, see link below, and good luck making head nor tail from all of it. Personally, I'd put the doctors on AfC payscales, like the rest of the NHS, but that's another story.
How doctors' pay is decided