Zero sympathy: Jacob Rees-Mogg slams ‘selfish’ and ‘unnecessary’ strikes July 1, 2022 Brexit Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has hit out at “selfish” strikers, claiming that they are hampering productivity in the Civil Service. The Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency was about the numbers of people in the Civil Service who have returned to the office. “Well, they were getting better until the railways went on strike,” [...]
Travel disruption looms over as Avanti West Coast workers vote to strike June 29, 2022 Travel disruption continues to loom over the UK as hundreds of members of the TSSA union working for Avanti West Coast have voted in favour of walking out. The union announced today the results of the ballot– which was called on 10 June over pay, conditions and job security as the cost-of-living crisis continues to [...]
Aslef chief calls Grant Shapps ‘either inept or a liar’ after speech earlier today June 29, 2022 The Aslef union has slammed Grant Shapps for lying in a speech he made earlier today, where he accused railway unions of standing in the way of modernisation by carrying out strike action. “We’ve got to get out of these 20th century work practices in order that the whole thing works together and provides a [...]
Government modernising railways despite ‘unions’ best efforts’, says Shapps June 29, 2022 The UK Government is modernising the railway network “despite the best efforts of unions,” Grant Shapps said today. The transport secretary’s comments came as he announced £1bn worth of funding to replace the Victorian signalling system along the East Coast Main Line (ECML) – which connects London to Edinburgh – with a digital one. “We’re [...]
Far from over: New rail strike alert amid fears of weekend travel chaos June 24, 2022 A fresh alert has been issued to train passengers amid fears that many are reluctant to abandon leisure trips planned for Saturday despite another rail strike taking place. Only a fifth of services will run and half of lines will be closed as 40,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at Network [...]
Govt’s union bill could break law, legal experts say June 23, 2022 Lawyers have said the government’s plans to overturn laws that prevent agency staff from filling in for striking workers could face legal challenges under both UK and international law. The comments come after the government set out plans to repeal the “burdensome legal restrictions” that block staffing agencies from sending in temporary workers during strikes. [...]
Rail strikes spill into tube network, affecting journeys on Overground, Bakerloo and Elizabeth lines June 23, 2022 The chaos and disruption brought by the ongoing rail strike has once again spilled into London’s tube network, affecting journeys on the Overground as well as the Bakerloo and Elizabeth lines. Overground services are running on a reduced schedule as trains between Romford and Upminster, Sydenham and Crystal Palace as well as between Surrey Quays [...]
Govt will try to change ‘burdensome’ law so agency staff can cover for striking workers June 23, 2022 The government will try to change the law to allow agency staff to cover for striking workers. Grant Shapps and Kwasi Kwarteng, the transport and business secretaries, made the announcement on Thursday as the UK is crippled by a second day of industrial action. Under current trade union laws, firms cannot supply temporary workers to [...]
Rail misery deepens for millions of Brits as Britain locks down for second day June 22, 2022 Millions of Brits will again be hit by severe transport disruption across the country today by rail strikes as talks resume in a bid to resolve a bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions. Fewer than one in five trains ran yesterday after members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on Network Rail [...]
Rail strikes expected to spill into Wednesday June 21, 2022 Following a day of extreme disruption caused by rail and tube strikes, passengers should brace themselves for travel chaos to spill into Wednesday. Around 60 per cent of train will run tomorrow due to a delay to the start of services as signallers and and control room staff are not doing overnight shifts. Londoners were [...]