Hi folks, I'm trying to collate all the great info from Nigel and others re the various strikes. I want to know when (if ever) we'll be out of danger, for Sept travel plans. How much notice is required?
Train strikes = 14 days advance notice
Tube strikes = ?
Bus strikes?
Strikes that would impact British Airways or Heathrow?
Any other possible strikes?
thank you!
Suzanne
Suzanne, while I can’t offer advice about pre-scheduled strikes in England, I can assure you that in France, strikes are carefully planned around holidays, to maximize time off work.
In whichever country, though, angry workers must not be too angry, or they’d strike immediately, rather than finding a convenient time in the future. Maybe, though, they don’t want to inconvenience the public too much, or it’s their duty to not create too much of an interruption.
14 days is the minimum notice period for any strike.
oh they are angry. But they have to have a democratic vote with lots of protections which takes quite a bit of time, and then must give 14 days notice.
With inflation in double digits thanks to rising energy prices and pay settlement offers at significantly less than half that in many sectors, it could become a summer/ autumn of discontent, so yes there maybe transport strikes across all forms of transport and more. Teachers and health care workers are unhappy with their pay offers.
We were discussing yesterday the prospect of civil unrest as people can’t afford to pay their doubled/ tripled heating bill come the next rise to the price cap in the autumn.
Earlier in July the pending strike by British Airways check-in staff at London’s Heathrow Airport was averted when British Airways agreed to an 8% pay raise. At the same time, the pilots at BA have yet to see such a pay raise offer in their negotiations. In 2020 the pilots agreed to a 20% pay cut when Covid shut down the airline industry. Now that travel has returned, the pilots have yet to see their pay restored to what it was two years ago. So now, the British Airways Pilots Association (BALPA) is ready to have their members vote to authorize a strike after seeing it was only when the check-in staff at Heathrow Airport was on the verge of striking that BA management finally conceded the eight percent pay raise. If the vote to authorize a strike is taken, then the wheels will be set in motion for a possible strike at British Airways.
If ever there was a year to buy travel insurance with trip delay and trip interruption coverage, it is 2022.
Thanks for this information! I am so looking forward to England, and as I prepare for possible challenges ("summer/ autumn of discontent, yes there maybe transport strikes across all forms of transport and more") it is very reassuring to know that I'll have 14 days notice to make alternate plans. Although the canceling of flights if British Airways shuts down is quite daunting.
Fingers crossed.
Suzanne
Thursday August 18 is a strike day as are Saturdays 13 & 20th. Presumably they are choosing Saturdays in order to cause most annoyance to passengers as this is the day of the week when many go to./from holiday destinations. Another factor is that the drivers, guards, etc. volunteer to work on Sundays and if not enough volunteer, then the train company cannot run a service. If a match takes place the day before or on the Sunday, then it can be expected that cancellations will take place on the Sunday. This is no way to run a railway using regulations set up in Victorian times - presumably so that they can go to church? They are even paid more money to work Sundays. This is one of the main reasons for the strike as the employers wish to make Sundays a normal part of the working contract.
Rumour has it that GWR won’t be running any trains on the north Cotswold Line on Sundays 13 & 20 August as they concentrate those that are prepared to work to their most important lines.
