national express train driver strike :(

sarah_elton

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

As far as I know it doesnt affect National Express East COAST, only National Express East ANGLIA. So you should be fine.

Correct - only the Norwich-London, Clacton-London, Southend-London, Stansted Express etc.

pippitypip_2

sarah_elton wrote: »

Had a few offers for my tickets but would have meant losing loads of money on them.

Mum and I have decided sod it! Bob Crowe and his band of workshy deluded monkeys aren't going to stop our fun! We have booked a hotel in the West End and are going to the show, then on for cocktails and then to bed.

Actually better than the usual theatre night of great fun at show -> cramming onto Central Line -> onto the Vomit Comet from Liverpool Street at midnight.

:T Hope you have a great time

pippitypip

System

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

As far as I know it doesnt affect National Express East COAST, only National Express East ANGLIA. So you should be fine.

thanks , its the 1st time we have travelled by train and i must admit im getting a bit stressed !

d0imakeuh0rny

Bob Crowe and his band of workshy deluded monkeys aren't going to stop our fun!

Just wanted to say its a little harsh calling the workers names when the full facts havnt been released by NXEA. Im one of the "work shy monkeys" lol. Without going to deep into the railway politics, the dispute has been ongoing for many months, long before NX decided to bring pay into the equation. When they have been quoting this "above inflation pay offer" what they dont say is they are offering this payment made of two seperate payments to Drivers. This is taxible and for this we need to give up £150 attendence allowance which is recieved 4 times a year. Basically this mean we would be a few hundred pounds out of pocket,,,, im sure nobody would take them up on this offer. If this was about pay, we wouldnt be willing to lose £100+ per strike day.

But besides all this if i can be to any help to fellow MSE users please PM - be it with latest news from unions and strikes which may or may not take place in the comming weeks. ACAS are being called in which can only be a good thing.

pippitypip_2

d0imakeuh0rny wrote: »

Bob Crowe and his band of workshy deluded monkeys aren't going to stop our fun!

Just wanted to say its a little harsh calling the workers names when the full facts havnt been released by NXEA. Im one of the "work shy monkeys" lol. Without going to deep into the railway politics, the dispute has been ongoing for many months, long before NX decided to bring pay into the equation. When they have been quoting this "above inflation pay offer" what they dont say is they are offering this payment made of two seperate payments to Drivers. This is taxible and for this we need to give up £150 attendence allowance which is recieved 4 times a year. Basically this mean we would be a few hundred pounds out of pocket,,,, im sure nobody would take them up on this offer. If this was about pay, we wouldnt be willing to lose £100+ per strike day.

But besides all this if i can be to any help to fellow MSE users please PM - be it with latest news from unions and strikes which may or may not take place in the comming weeks. ACAS are being called in which can only be a good thing.

Hi there,

Whilst I appreciate your point, the thing is we all know people who have lost their jobs completely, and many, including myself who have had no payrise for 18 months and counting. Let's not forget those who have had to accept a pay decrease in order to keep their jobs, or forced to work a day less a week.

Now as much as some might say oh poor you no pay rise, it does mean everything's gone up (not withstanding the price of train travel of course!!!) and yet salary hasn't so in effect a salary decrease all round.

I fail to see why rail staff should be making demands for things that seem totally deluded and deeply inappropriate in the current environment, when everyone is already suffering. You're damn lucky, given the way things are at the moment, that there's even an offer at all!

I'm lucky I can work from home, but I know many people who are forced to take it as holiday or worse unpaid.

I for one support NXEA for a change (I usually don't) and don't want them to give in. As a taxpayer and an enforced customer (there are no other options for me to get to work), I will have to pay for your pay rise through taxes and the inevitable hefty price rise next year.

You have to understand where everyone is coming from on this, surely?

Not trying to put you off from posting, and I don't mean to vent at you as if you were 'all Rail staff' but it's interesting to have your perspective even if I and others vehemently disagree!

Also do appreciate your offer to help re info.

pippitypip

Gavin83

pippitypip wrote: »

I'm torn, I don't want NE to give in, under ANY circumstances but can only assume they will keep striking until they get what they want.

Well it's a matter of how much money the workers can afford to lose while on strike. Im sure NE will hope that the workers taking home half the pay they normally do will force them to work through further proposed strikes.

It's just a matter of who will cave in first.

d0imakeuh0rny

Gavin83 wrote: »

Well it's a matter of how much money the workers can afford to lose while on strike. Im sure NE will hope that the workers taking home half the pay they normally do will force them to work through further proposed strikes.

It's just a matter of who will cave in first.

I think the point being this isnt about pay which still isnt being grasped (NX management were awarded £3000-£5000 bonus and is humouring to see that little fact ignored by Chivers)- its about conditions and relations which are now so severed i can see NX being stripped of all 3 franchises. ACAS involvement would indicate the goverment are wanting an end to this disruption like everyone else.

Gavin83

d0imakeuh0rny wrote: »

I think the point being this isnt about pay which still isnt being grasped (NX management were awarded £3000-£5000 bonus and is humouring to see that little fact ignored by Chivers)- its about conditions and relations which are now so severed i can see NX being stripped of all 3 franchises. ACAS involvement would indicate the goverment are wanting an end to this disruption like everyone else.

My point is valid regardless of the strike reason. Any strike for any reason is all about who will cave in first.

I can appreciate the conditions although I can't comment on them not working in the rail industry. No one really wants this strike action, workers included so hopefully a solution can be reached soon.

I actually don't think £3000-£5000 bonus is that high, especially for management positions. I know people who earn bigger bonuses than that in receptionist jobs.

d0imakeuh0rny

Gavin83 wrote: »

My point is valid regardless of the strike reason. Any strike for any reason is all about who will cave in first.

I can appreciate the conditions although I can't comment on them not working in the rail industry. No one really wants this strike action, workers included so hopefully a solution can be reached soon.

I actually don't think £3000-£5000 bonus is that high, especially for management positions. I know people who earn bigger bonuses than that in receptionist jobs.

I danno. That kinda money in rather substantial to a company that is pleading poverty, why try to hide the fact they have paid some the managers 3-5%??? If certain conditions are sorted and everyone treated fairly in terms of discipline, i for one am happy with what im earning already.

helloecho

Does anyone know if I can get a refund on my weekly tickets (last week and this week)? The signs at Liverpool Street say to go to the ticket office for a refund via the method I paid. I did this and was sent away with a 'delay repay' form - but the website says that delay repay forms won't be accepted for strike action?! I feel like I'm being passed from pillar to post.

I have to say though, the cost of my National Express East Anglia travel (£365 month!) is the reason I am moving house tomorrow. Instead of travel costs I will be paying rent of £400 a month. Insane that a very squashed train journey on a rickety, juddery, unreliable train service twice a day can cost as much as a permanent share in a lovely 3-bedroomed house!

The strikes make me livid. Can they not see they are putting commuters jobs in jepoardy by not running train services to allow us to get to work? People are getting laid off at every opporunity - a 2-day-a-week absence might be considered 'industrial action' if you work for NXEA, but it's considered skiving when I can't get in, and it's threatening MY job!