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Rail strike: crisis talks due today
TENS of thousands of commuters face a "disastrous" four-day rail strike on the area's most important rail lines.
Drivers union Aslef has written to South West Trains saying it plans action from March 31 to April 3.
All services on the vital Weymouth-to-Waterloo route would be affected, plus dozens of other services.
Crunch talks are due today but plans are being put in place to run massively reduced services and replacement buses.
John Thomas, chairman of Purbeck Transport Action Group, said: "This is a return to the old days - it's a disaster. So many people around here rely on trains."
An Aslef spokesman said South West Trains' decision to release details of the strike notification was "a clear indication of what management wants from these discussions - failure".
A South West Trains spokesman said: "We couldn't sit on our hands and hope it would be cleared up."
Commuters could turn to Virgin Cross Country, but it only operates one train an hour to Clapham Junction from Bournemouth, and one an hour to Portsmouth and Southampton.
South West Trains said it had offered a 4.5 per cent pay increase, giving London-based drivers a basic salary of £40,447 for a 37-hour week.
An Aslef spokesman declined to say what increase it was asking for. The union estimates its 18,5000 union members include 95 per cent of drivers.
9:15am Thursday 20th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: John B. Pope, Tisbury on 1:22pm Thu 20 Mar 08
It would be an excellent thing if some of these
Rail Persons started to behave in a more Adult fashion. I suppose all manner of folk can threaten to withdraw their Services unless this that or the other. Do Railway workers have to bribed, as the ill advised might bribe children with sweeties?
There is a rate for doing the job, and it seems not an ungenerous amount of money .It is certainly up to any employee whether or not he or she wishes to work for the money on offer.
If they are unwilling to do so, maybe they had better find alternative employment. I am sure there are plenty of others who would be only too keen to have their jobs, and be willing to accept less than the current rate of pay.
I find Train Travel, and the Royal Mail Luxuries that I can ill afford.
It would be an excellent thing if some of these
Rail Persons started to behave in a more Adult fashion. I suppose all manner of folk can threaten to withdraw their Services unless this that or the other. Do Railway workers have to bribed, as the ill advised might bribe children with sweeties?
There is a rate for doing the job, and it seems not an ungenerous amount of money .It is certainly up to any employee whether or not he or she wishes to work for the money on offer.
If they are unwilling to do so, maybe they had better find alternative employment. I am sure there are plenty of others who would be only too keen to have their jobs, and be willing to accept less than the current rate of pay.
I find Train Travel, and the Royal Mail Luxuries that I can ill afford.
Posted by: varalie, shrewton on 10:31pm Tue 25 Mar 08
I would like to see Mr Pope 'be available' for work 365 days a year, 24 hours a day for this "not ungenerous amount of money" - no enhancements for Sundays or Bank Holidays. However, maybe money is not the main issue here.......oh for some investigative journalism!!!!
I would like to see Mr Pope 'be available' for work 365 days a year, 24 hours a day for this "not ungenerous amount of money" - no enhancements for Sundays or Bank Holidays. However, maybe money is not the main issue here.......oh for some investigative journalism!!!!
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