London pre-games strikes?

Yikes! Nigel, I always enjoy your insightful posts, but this one...not so much. We'll be in London from 4 July (Wed.) until 7 July (Sat.), when we are booked on the train (First Great Western) from Paddington to Bodmin Parkway. So.....what does an Underground Control room strike consist of? Is our trip by train in jeopardy, in your opinion? And, what can we expect at Heathrow upon arrival on the 4th of July? Many thanks for the head's up!

Roy - The situation is this: in the run up to the big sporting binge transportation workers are being asked to do lots more, and to deal with much bigger crowds and extra services. For that they ask compensation. Some companies have agreed, some haven't. Those that haven't are experiencing strikes to encourage them to do the same as the other companies. That's what is behind the bus drivers and tube drivers strikes, and the baggage handlers - although the baggage handlers have other issues too. The Piccadilly line strike next Thursday is about a joint reaction to the firing of a driver. The train company strikes are again about the Games payments and working conditions. They have not been called but are at the ballot stage and one would expect either the companies to agree (likely) or the strikes to happen (possible). So, what about your specific train ride? The date has not been set and they must give 7 clear days notice.
Don't know how it will go with you, but usually some trains get through even if the strike is well supported and you are probably early enough. The Underground Control Room are the people who control the trains and who make decisions when the trains run into difficulty. It will be difficult to run trains with a closed Control Room but managers may fill some posts. I haven't heard anything about any chance of a settlement and have no idea what would happen to train running. A similar baggage handler strike (same company) at Stansted last month didn't affect travel much because RyanAir the prime airline affected simply said "no checked baggage" and people had to only take carry on. Now that it has spread to Heathrow the same tack won't work and it may be more difficult on the ground. Who knows? The pressure on all these companies is to settle. Olympics can be expensive.

Thanks, Nigel...I guess we'll just take it as it comes. I know the British strikes are legendary...we've just never been caught up in them before. I guess it was our time :(

FYI, I just got an email from Orbitz warning about the potential Heathrow strike: "We wanted to let you know that the union representing some cargo handling and other support services at London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) is planning a three day strike from June 27 to June 30. If the strike cannot be averted, some cancellations and delays are likely." If the strike is supposed to finish by 6:00 am on Saturday, June 30th, like Nigel said above, we might be out of the woods, since our plane arrives at 10:00 am that morning. I guess we'll see! (My luggage is carryon size, but my mom's isn't.)

as of yesterday afternoon, the Piccadilly Line underground drivers strike tomorrow has been called off. The Control room strikes and the baggage handlers' strike are going ahead. No news on the railways.

new update - as of today, 27 June the bus drivers have threatened today additional unspecified strikes in the lead in to the Olympics because the bus companies haven't agreed to pay them for their Games work...

Thanks Nigel. Keep the updates coming. I fly out on Friday AM. ; ) I did just see this on BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18595484 Pam

Thanks Pamela. Baggage handlers strike cancelled.