Rail strikes
A little surprised this doesn’t already have a post running.
What are peoples thoughts on the current strikes?
Everyone around the country has faced pay issues over the past few years.
I think pay is the red herring in this dispute. The rail network in this country is from the prewar era. Massive modernisation is needed but the unions refuse, as a consequence modernisation may mean job loses.
I think one benefit is that now that the strike has started the government now has the green light into implement some of these now. Especially in track maintenance. The old saying that you can always tell unionised road workers. One is using a shovel, one is holding a clipboard, and three are sitting down drinking coffee.
I know this could be a contentious issue as pilots are a heavily unionised workforce. But in this issue I am talking more public sector unions.