Quote Originally Posted by jdfc View Post
I’d say good luck and stick in there, we hear all the calls to cut down the carbon footprint yet they are forcing folk of the trains, when the fat cats stop taking over inflated wages/bonuses then they can have a look at normal hard working mens wages
I think there is something in this comment. I don't know how the rail franchises work but the basic principle seems to be under threat. trying to draw any politician into the discussion needs to be carefully considered and strike action is such a broad weapon for sharing the misery that I think they need to be careful.

I would like to know if the union bosses believe that the "commuter based business plan" is actually on the way out. I saw a statistic that siad only 54% of the total work force in the country was back full time in their business premises. That's a massive drop in passenger numbers and no amouint of efficiency savings and cuts in executive pay or suspension of dividends would make even a start to balance the books. The bus companies seem to be suffering as well, so perhpas strike action is actually the very worst thing the RMT could do to try to restore the train business.