Virgin train workers have voted for strike, RMT says August 9, 2016 After the misery caused by the RMT strike on Southern Rail, workers on the Virgin trains have now voted for industrial action. Workers on Virgin East Coast have voted to strike in a dispute over jobs, working conditions and safety, the RMT rail union said. Read more: RMT offers to suspend Southern strike – if it [...]
How can employers deal with workplace disruption during the Southern Rail strike? August 8, 2016 The five-day strike by Southern Rail workers which started today could lead to significant workplace disruption for some employers. Thousands of employees working in the City and elsewhere may be unable to get to work and forecasts of a heat wave due to start later this week could lead to a spike in unauthorised absenteeism. [...]
Autumn Budget 2017 at-a-glance guide: All the announcements by chancellor Philip Hammond you need to know November 22, 2017 Chancellor Philip Hammond has unveiled the Autumn Budget, saying the UK must “seize the opportunities” for Britain and promised to invest “to secure a bright future”. Now we’ve heard plenty about what was expected from today, from a concerted focus on housing, to a regulatory revamp for driverless cars and a slew of tech spending. [...]
Blame Jeremy Corbyn for the increasing number of public sector strikes August 16, 2016 The total number of working days lost through labour disputes last year was, at just 170,000, the second lowest annual total since records began in 1891. What a difference a year can make. Southern Rail commuters have endured months of misery due to the prolonged series of strikes called by the RMT. Union members on Eurostar [...]
Euro 2016: Travel chaos looms as French pilots call a strike for 11-14 June June 2, 2016 French pilots could be set to throw thousands of football fans' travel plans into chaos, after calling a strike for 11-14 June – coinciding with the start of the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Pilots working for Air France are planning to take industrial action over a pay dispute, according to union Spaf – which represents around [...]
Orange barmy army: Network Rail spends £103m on Christmas upgrades to rail infrastructure January 3, 2017 Network Rail hailed the success of its "orange army" of workers and revealed it had forked out £103m over the Christmas break upgrading Britain's rail network. The work was carried out at almost 200 locations across the UK. Meanwhile, commuters into London Waterloo will be pleased to hear that £4.5m of work scheduled at the station, or on the tracks [...]
Fresh talks to go ahead between Southern rail and Aslef union to try and put the brakes on the strike saga February 20, 2017 Fresh talks will be held between Southern rail and train drivers' union Aslef after members of the union rejected a previously agreed deal last week. The agreement was expected to bring the row over the so-called driver-only operated trains to a close and end the ongoing industrial action that had disrupted the network, subject to the referendum [...]
It seems as if Jeremy Corbyn wanted to sit on the floor of apparently “ram-packed” Virgin Trains service August 23, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sat on the floor for his journey from London to Newcastle last week to meet Owen Smith for their hustings. He said: “This is a problem that many passengers face every day, commuters and long-distance travellers. Today this train is completely ram-packed. The staff are absolutely brilliant, working really hard to help [...]
Gospel Oak to Barking line reopens on 27 February but more disruption is on the cards after work wasn’t completed on time February 7, 2017 Good news: the London Overground line between Gospel Oak and Barking will reopen to passengers on Monday 27 February. Bad news: despite a phased eight-month closure, the work hasn't been finished on time and more needs to be done. Work began on the £130m upgrade in June 2016. Along the 14-mile route, a number of [...]
The strike saga continues: Members of train drivers’ union Aslef have rejected the Southern rail deal February 16, 2017 Members of train drivers' union Aslef have rejected the deal their union and Southern Rail had agreed. Earlier this month, a TUC-brokered deal was agreed in the long-running dispute between Southern rail and Aslef over the role of the guard, in the wake of fresh talks. It was expected to bring the row over the so-called [...]