Strike action still on!!

At the present time, and to the best of my knowledge, the planned strike for NYE is still on.


The strike is due to commence at 12 noon tomorrow until 12 noon on New Years Day, what this means is that any staff due to book on BEFORE 12 noon on NYE should still book on as normal, and finish their duty at the rostered time. Any staff due to start work AFTER 12 noon are being advised by the RMT NOT to book on. Also on New Years Day, any staff who start work BEFORE 12 noon are advised NOT to book on, and any staff starting work AFTER 12 noon on New Years Day should book on as normal.

I suspect a few depots may have a picket line to persuade train ops NOT to cross the picket line in support of their comrades, even though the train ops are not involved in this particular dispute.

What really adds insult to injury though, is that according to my trade union rep. BC is currently on holiday in Egypt (schmuck!!!!)

Strike called for on New Years Eve

The RMT have announced strike action to take place from 12 noon on NYE until 12 noon on NYD. (link) In the ballot for strike action, there were 1,327 votes (84.6 per cent) in favour and 241 (15.4 per cent) against. In the ballot for action short of strike, there were 1,435 (91.8 per cent) votes in favour and 129 (8.2 per cent) against. I personally wasn't even ballotted but from the numbers above, it seems not even half of the station staff even voted (or received a ballot paper)

3 weeks of freedom

Just got back from escorting the Mrs. to Heathrow who should be about now boarding her plane to go and visit some of her relatives in Africa.

Whilst the idea of 3 weeks alone, sounds good, I'm already missing her. I suppose after 11 years of marriage, it feels really weird to have the house to myself for such a long time.

Nothing happening

Haven't blogged for a while mainly because nothing of interest has happened, and also because I've been feeling a bit lousy with flu-like symptons and stuff.

One of our regular VIP's (Visually Impaired Persons) who we assist to & from trains on an almost daily basis was considerate enough to bring all the staff a tin of chocolates to express his gratitude for our help throughout the year. Although I don't celebrate Xmas as I am not a Christian I thought it was a really nice gesture and thought.

I will be working as usual over the holiday period, although for once I am not doing late turns or nights so I shouldn't have to deal with all the drunks, even though we did have one drunk start a fight with one of our station tenants today.