Yet another tube strike.....which is called off!

[XPTE]

The latest in a long run of tube strikes, which was due to start tomorrow has been called off. Absolutely no surprise atall to me! I don't know why they make all the fuss in the media about these tube strikes. It's all over the London newspapers, and the regional news about the strikes. Yet they allways get called off anyway. So it seems pointless. Every time the strikes first get mentioned, I think to myself what's all the fuss about, the strike won't go ahead anyway.

In the last few years there have been several tube strikes advertised. All of which were called off. Does anyone know when the last tube strike was which actually went ahead?

[wertyuv]

I dont think there has been a tube strike since the 70s or the 80s (feel free to correct me if im wrong) I think they do it because they are bored so they organize a meeting and say lets pretend to go on strike for the hell of it

[bgstrowger]

Last year, the Metronet workers struck after the company went belly up. Plus there tends to be the odd strike that affects one line when someone on that line gets sacked for whatever reason.

[wertyuv]

Last year, the Metronet workers struck after the company went belly up. Plus there tends to be the odd strike that affects one line when someone on that line gets sacked for whatever reason.

They cant strike since the company went. You cant really have a strike when the company you are working for doesnt exist. Plus i think XPTE was refering to TFL workers striking on the tube and not contractors

[XPTE]

The last tube strike was as long ago as the 70's or 80's? Wow. That's surprising.... or maybe not all that surprising really.

The thing that makes me laugh is on the TV news, the London news at least. With the news reporters/presenters genuinelly seem to imply that shock horror - there will be a tube strike going ahead, destined to cause travel choas throughtout the city. Also the people they interview on the street moaning about there being another tube strike. When there hasn't been a tube strike for at least 20 years!

Next tube strike proposed for September 3rd I believe. Naaah it won't go ahead, you see!

[wertyuv]

They might as well just laugh everytime they have to report the story. Its never going to happen. London cant afford a tube strike. It would grind to a halt and there would be 8 million people shoving onto busses and trains

[bgstrowger]

Last year, the Metronet workers struck after the company went belly up. Plus there tends to be the odd strike that affects one line when someone on that line gets sacked for whatever reason.

They cant strike since the company went. You cant really have a strike when the company you are working for doesnt exist. Plus i think XPTE was refering to TFL workers striking on the tube and not contractors

They can and they did. The company still exercised it duties under the control of the administrator, the RMT's reason for striking was to protect their members from being laid off during the administration period. Also, it wasn't a drivers strike which is the usual cause of disruption, but the maintenance workers who work for Metronet who walked out and caused 2 days of disruption on two thirds of the network.

The last full drivers strike was in 2004.

[AlanP46]

Some of the Metronet lines were on strike early September last year. It totally screwed my househunting plans for that week!

[danielw2599]

An episode of "The Tube" featured a tube strike a couple of years back.

[BR7MT]

I am glad it was called off - didn't fancy having to walk through the picket lines into the main office for two days running!

Regards,

Dan

[jbilton]

The thing to remember is this is always the last action the workers can do, to get management to the negotiating table.
No one goes on strike without a great deal of thought, and of course it costs workers dearly.
Not sure if its possible these days, but working to rule and go slows are much better at upsetting management, and can be continued for much longer periods.

Cheers
Jon

[buffy500]

it actually takes a lot to call a strike, there are several steps and significant pre-warning which needs to be given to the employer.

I'd suggest no union does it for a laugh or if they are not prepared to go through with it.
I guess it comes down to brinkmanship and getting the other side to the table.