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Comments
I agree - sex the RMT.
Half of France is currently out on strike because they want to increase the pension age of train drivers from early fifties upwards.
And to be clear I'm not a leftie that goes around calling people Comrad!
Employment law forbids targeted punitive dismal. What might be legal is to sack all staff and selectively rehire.
I'm actually rather baffled by the current process, at least for the opening of the doors - the guard opens his own door, gets out, looks up and down the train then opens the rest. I can understand why he might need to check before closing, but the only possible reason I can think of for this is the minute risk that someone might be injured by the doors pushing out 10cm then sliding to the side - is this the justification?
There's a difference between commuters with season tickets and long distance travel. I think a long distance train needs a guard to help passengers (who often travel by train just once or twice a year), sell tickets (the ticket machines and booking offices are often not working, or closed, on smaller stations) and handle on-train issues.
The RMT is losing the public sympathy vote and starting to look like they're just trying to leverage the change to get paid some more money. The mainline through Christchurch seems to be running 50% of the timetable service at the mo.
I'd also suggest it's rather easier to feel solidarity for their cause when they're inconveniencing you for 5 hours on one day (in your case) rather than for several hours for 20+ days throughout December (in commuters' cases).
I don't use SWT in any regular capacity so I have no experience, good or bad, to report. As a regular rail user, though, I think the actions of the RMT are diabolical.
A 27 day strike is madness and cynical especially at this time of year and designed to turn rail users against SWT, IMHO. However, I don't think the public are duped and most are fully aware that it's the RMT holding SWT over a barrel over who gets to close the bloody doors, like anyone who gets on and off the train gives a toss - we're just happy if they turn up on time.
To be equally cynical I believe this is job justification gone mad. If the RMT weren't crying, kicking and screaming over some non-issue there would be no visible need for them.
There is no 'H' in Aych, you know that don't you? ~ Wife
Turns out there is an H in Haych! ~ Sporky
Bit of trading feedback here.