European Railroad Discussion > Eurostar Strike Begins

Eurostar says there will be few cancellations.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-37049260

 

Eurostar strike suspended

That was quick.

So many strikes in Europe. They call it "Industrial Action."  Clearly a result of Unions with too much power and the  socialist governments who tolerate them because of their electoral support. Thus the traveling public are the Innocent pawns. Would you trust your travel plans with Lufthansa or Air France?  Or any trains in Italy? Didn't think so.

The strike at Southern was also suspended to allow for more talks. Virgin East Coast is the next to experience rotating strikes later this month.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-37058849

 

andersonb109 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So many strikes in Europe. They call it
> "Industrial Action."  Clearly a result of Unions
> with too much power and the  socialist
> governments who tolerate them because of their
> electoral support. Thus the traveling public are
> the Innocent pawns. Would you trust your travel
> plans with Lufthansa or Air France?  Or any
> trains in Italy? Didn't think so.
 Do you know the reasons for the action ? It is not taken lightly I can assure you.
Andy

Strikes are the downside of European travel. In only three trips over there I was nailed by East Midlands Trains in 2014 for a day. More recently in Germany there were rolling warning strikes for city transit workers that kept following us around. If you ever thought about getting travel insurance with the provision for having to adjust a trip due striking and you are going to Europe I say pay the extra and do it. I didn't bother in 2014 and maybe could have been reimbursed for the hotel room in Doncaster. I could have lied to the trip insurance people and claimed I didn't have a good time looking at semaphores in Norfolk the day I should have been in the Midlands.

Jim

andersonb109 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So many strikes in Europe. They call it
> "Industrial Action."  Clearly a result of Unions
> with too much power and the  socialist
> governments who tolerate them because of their
> electoral support. Thus the traveling public are
> the Innocent pawns. Would you trust your travel
> plans with Lufthansa or Air France?  Or any
> trains in Italy? Didn't think so.

Yes, "clearly" the result of that darn Tory socialist government in the UK.

Seriously, though: Did it ever occur to you that maybe a majority of the electorate is willing to tolerate said industrial action? And (setting aside the UK government, which under Conservative rule can hardly be described as socialist) perhaps it's not a treacherous government imposing its socialist will on the populace, but rather the populace supporting social democracy results in those governments being elected? Or should entire societies abandon their values so that you are not delayed on one of your occasional visits to take train pictures?

pennengineer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> andersonb109 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > So many strikes in Europe. They call it
> > "Industrial Action."  Clearly a result of
> Unions
> > with too much power and the  socialist
> > governments who tolerate them because of their
> > electoral support. Thus the traveling public
> are
> > the Innocent pawns. Would you trust your travel
> > plans with Lufthansa or Air France?  Or any
> > trains in Italy? Didn't think so.
>
> Yes, "clearly" the result of that darn Tory
> socialist government in the UK.
>
> Seriously, though: Did it ever occur to you that
> maybe a majority of the electorate is willing to
> tolerate said industrial action? And (setting
> aside the UK government, which under Conservative
> rule can hardly be described as socialist) perhaps
> it's not a treacherous government imposing its
> socialist will on the populace, but rather the
> populace supporting social democracy results in
> those governments being elected? Or should entire
> societies abandon their values so that you are not
> delayed on one of your occasional visits to take
> train pictures?
Thank you and well said.
Andy

andersonb109 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So many strikes in Europe. They call it
> "Industrial Action." 

I am not sure what else you would call it!

Clearly a result of Unions
> with too much power and the  socialist
> governments who tolerate them because of their
> electoral support. Thus the traveling public are
> the Innocent pawns. Would you trust your travel
> plans with Lufthansa or Air France?  Or any
> trains in Italy? Didn't think so.

As for socialist governments, I can't think of a single European government which could ever be called "socialist" , even as an insult. More's the pity. But of course  we shouldn't stand for these governments who insist upon following their voters, rather than doing what they "know" is the right thing.

Perhaps, of course, the travelling public are those very same voters. Just imagine that!

PS I have travelled for over forty years on thousands of trains in Italy with the worst delay being less than an hour. This is less than the minimum I have ever experienced at the hands of Amtrak. Likewise eith Lufthansa and Air France. At least our intentional homicide rates are less than 25% of those in the US. I am not saying this to be smug, it is just that there is more to life than the occasional delay.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/16 14:48 by spflow.

Biggest issue in the UK seems to be of driver only trains. Think I would protest the aboliton of my job to!
Andy

Canada and the US have Federally mandated mediation and arbitration of "Industrial Action" in the transportation industry, plus both the US President and the Canadian Prime Minister can and do intervene before or when work stoppages occur.

​These powers vested in Government date back to World War 2, when labour peace was essential to the war effort.

​Like many other areas of North American life, this has resulted in a whole branch of the legal and paralegal professions, mediation and arbitration lawyers.

European law is different and perhaps life is simpler when it comes to "Industrial Action".