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stoneman 1:03 Mon Aug 8
It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

Bloody unions!!

DaveT 6:14 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

Govia, company who run Southern are a disgrace. They also run Thameslink and everyday there seems to be a call for them to be stripped of the franchise. Don't agree with what the union is doing with the Southern routes but I bet the management have screwed up in the negotiations. As for the few numbers who voted to strike, good on them at least they did vote.If the others can't be arsed to vote fuck em, they have to go with the majority who did

Darlo Debs 6:02 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

Couldnt agree more Mike and Jimbo.

Mike Oxsaw 5:39 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the Southern to a standstill.

I would expect all the people I work with to make ALL reasonable efforts to get into work on time before they start trotting out excuses. THEY took on the role aware of the travel involved and the associated risks.

The rub, of course, is the interpretation of "reasonable".

I don't think getting up an hour earlier to get to work when there is travel disruption - HOWEVER CAUSED - is unreasonable. and that's my view both if I'm paying somebody or somebody is paying me for work.

Dr Moose 5:23 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the Southern to a standstill.

Shin,

For those who use Southern and need to get into London to work are being threatened with the sack (according to some news reports) as they are not getting in on time, yes, they can get earlier trains but would you accept that if your train line (if you commute in London) was doing this? We all only think of ourselves so if you are a Southern commuter you are going to say "bloody unions" and blaming them especially if you find yourself out of work.

LeroysBoots 4:43 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

South Eastern ?

Now I know how bad they can be but in this instance it's SOUTHERN trains...not S/E

After8 4:40 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

Hang them all.

Mike Oxsaw 2:42 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

It's never (ever) "that lot" to blame. As with many industries that have a nationalised past (in living memory) it's always a combination of factors - with the railways it's poor/weak/clueless management and strong unions.

There's absolutely NOTHING wrong with a strong union - they're just doing what it says on the packet, getting the best deal they can for their members.

There's an unbelievable amount wrong with poor management. It's not always the fault of individual managers, more the archaic system (of customs & practices) they've inherited from the shit that went before them.

The managers are as duty bound to do the best for the organisation which employs them as are the unions are for the workers in their ranks. It doesn't always have to be conflict, but that is what occurs when either or both sides approach ant situation on a "war footing".

In general the grief is caused by modernisation. The railways, in particular, have still got a swathe of archaic practices that stretch back to the steam age and they need to go if there is to be any movement.

But they can't be unilaterally dismissed; many of the "benefits" are cross-generational and as such were an integral part of the employment terms & conditions workers signed up to when they started (out).

Any benefits through, say, modernisation, therefore, should not be completely denied to the workers; the introduction of new practices (such as the reassignment (not sacking) of guards) should be presented in such a manner as being clear that there's only so much gain to be made from such changes and one group claiming a greater portion inevitably mean all others involved lose out.

jimbo2. 1:47 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

Good point stoneman & I agree that is wrong. However it seems to me that a minimum of 50% having to vote for action (not always striking) is also wrong, as this could be very difficult to achieve. Our government doesn't impose that rule on themselves do they!

Hasans Fish Bar RIP 1:40 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

What I don't understand here is that loads of southern services, especially the metro ones, don't have guards anyway and haven't for years. It's not about passenger safety as they'd have done this years ago.

stoneman 1:24 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

I am sure unions are great but only 1% voted and that was all it took to call a strike.

I hear that the rules have now changed and you need 50% of the membership to vote.

I am sure Labour will change that if they ever get back in power.

jimbo2. 1:24 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

I'm sure that SE trains are rubbish & in turmoil, but just maybe that's the fault of bad Management? It's not exactly going to motivate the staff if they are treated like shit by their (so called) Managers!

Mr Anon 1:18 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

Putting aside the whole union good/bad thing, s/e trains are a joke of a company, every time I use them there's some issue, and the staff don't seem to give a toss. Absolutely no sympathy for whatever their beef is.

jimbo2. 1:16 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

Listen, a lot of workers would be far worse off without Unions to back them! I'm afraid that you have fallen for the old Right wing propaganda that Unions are bad & you can trust the bosses & company to look after you (often you can't). The vast majority of Unions work entirely within Employment law, a law that protects employees to some extent & wouldn't exist without the unions!

stoneman 1:14 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

They are striking because they don't want guards to have to open doors for passengers.

I listen to the news my friend.

Shin Chan 1:10 Mon Aug 8
Re: It only took 398 votes to bring the S/E to a standstill.

Have you looked at what they are striking for, or do you just tow the usual moronic line of "unions = bad"?