UK RAILWAYS

> As for Sunday - got a text message from the wonderful MML online
> system (registered for their delay alerts but none to be seen for many
> weeks), that drivers are striking over pay and no MML service AT ALL
> this Sunday. Other TOCs are not affected. Whilst customers at
> principal MML stations can use alternate routes (Leicester to
> Peterborough or Birmingham) to get to London, the poor customers at
> Market Harborough, Kettering and Wellingborough will be stranded.
>

> Definitely not a good few days, but at least we have the Meridians to
> look forward to in May.

>> As for Sunday - got a text message from the wonderful MML online
>> system (registered for their delay alerts but none to be seen for many
>> weeks), that drivers are striking over pay and no MML service AT ALL
>> this Sunday. Other TOCs are not affected. Whilst customers at
>> principal MML stations can use alternate routes (Leicester to
>> Peterborough or Birmingham) to get to London, the poor customers at
>> Market Harborough, Kettering and Wellingborough will be stranded.
>>
>The drivers arent striking. Sunday working is voluntary and they are not
>volunteering because ASLEF have called meetings over a failure to agree with
>management on pay.

> On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 20:23:45 +0100, Peter Fox
> wrote:
>
> >> As for Sunday - got a text message from the wonderful MML online
> >> system (registered for their delay alerts but none to be seen for many
> >> weeks), that drivers are striking over pay and no MML service AT ALL
> >> this Sunday. Other TOCs are not affected. Whilst customers at
> >> principal MML stations can use alternate routes (Leicester to
> >> Peterborough or Birmingham) to get to London, the poor customers at
> >> Market Harborough, Kettering and Wellingborough will be stranded.
> >>
> >The drivers arent striking. Sunday working is voluntary and they are not
> >volunteering because ASLEF have called meetings over a failure to agree
with
> >management on pay.
>
> I thought it was more along the lines of Sunday being outside the
> working week, but if youre rostered to work it then youre supposed to
> unless you can find someone to work the turn for you?
>
> For what its worth, the current base salaries for the ex-InterCity TOCs
> (according to the ASLEF site) are:
>
> Anglia: Ł28,500
> First Great Western: Ł27,967
> Gatwick Express: Ł28,215
> GNER: Ł36,020
> Midland Mainline: Ł30,000
> Virgin Cross Country: Ł34,516
> Virgin West Coast: Ł34,516
>
> Mean: Ł31,391 (inc. GatEx)
> Ł31,919 (exc. GatEx)
>
> So theyre just under Ł1,400 under the mean of the former InterCity TOCs
> including Gatwick Express, just over Ł1,900 under the mean of the former
> InterCity TOCs excluding Gatwick Express.
>

>On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 20:23:45 +0100, Peter Fox
>wrote:
>
>>The drivers arent striking. Sunday working is voluntary and they are not
>>volunteering because ASLEF have called meetings over a failure to agree with
>>management on pay.
>
>I thought it was more along the lines of Sunday being outside the
>working week, but if youre rostered to work it then youre supposed to
>unless you can find someone to work the turn for you?

>I gather they are asking for something in the region of
>30% - not just parity.

> On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 23:03:14 +0100, Tony Miles wrote in
> , seen in uk.railway:
>
> [...]
> >I gather they are asking for something in the region of
> >30% - not just parity.
>
> That sounds like either
> a bargaining chip for a serious change in conditions (one Sunday in
> two as part of week, maybe?) or
> a load of codswallop.
>
> Take your pick, but bear in mind that ASLEF (and its membership) is
> not suicidally stupid, whatever Richard may think.
>
> Ross

> On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 23:03:14 +0100, Tony Miles wrote in
> , seen in uk.railway:
>
> [...]
> >I gather they are asking for something in the region of
> >30% - not just parity.
>
> That sounds like either
> a bargaining chip for a serious change in conditions (one Sunday in
> two as part of week, maybe?) or
> a load of codswallop.
>
> Take your pick, but bear in mind that ASLEF (and its membership) is
> not suicidally stupid, whatever Richard may think.