'Train drivers' strike could ruin our trip to Olympics, say Leicester families
Rail services during the Olympics could be severely disrupted if planned strikes go ahead.
East Midlands Trains (EMT) drivers are set to walk out in a row over pensions.
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East Midlands Trains drivers are set to walk out in a row over pensions
The strikes are planned for August 6, 7 and 8, when gold medal favourite Usain Bolt defends his 200m crown and British hurdling hopefuls Dai Greene and Perri Shakes-Drayton compete for gold.
EMT condemned the move by drivers' union Aslef and said it would do what it could to reduce disruption.
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Among those who may have to change their travel plans are Margaret Taylor, from Humberstone, Leicester, and her family.
Mrs Taylor, 68, said: "Six of us – my son and four grandchildren – have tickets to see the decathlon on August 8. We were planning to leave Leicester at 6am to get there in time for the start.
"We have been planning this since last summer and all of us are very excited to be witnessing such an historic event.
"I have sympathy with the train personnel and their pensions as a pensioner myself.
"We will all be very disappointed if this goes ahead and potentially ruins our day."
Amanda Fitzgerald said: "I have already bought rail tickets for myself, my five-year-old and three-year-old to watch the triathlon on August 7.
"What on earth will happen to these? It will already be stressful enough travelling to London on my own with two small children, but this is now adding extra worry. I could cry.
"I've spent money on rail and underground tickets and a sightseeing tour.
"If we can't get there, I'll have lost more than £100 and have two extremely upset little boys.
"As someone who was made redundant in November, I think these drivers should be grateful to still have a job."
The call for more strikes came only days before planned talks aimed at resolving the issue.
David Horne, managing director of EMT, said: "This is yet another example of Aslef playing games and is a real kick in the teeth for our customers.
"We're particularly surprised that Aslef has announced further strike dates rather than putting the offer, that was accepted in principle in June, to their members.
"If the strike action does go ahead, we will be pulling out all the stops to ensure people can still travel by train."
The union is opposing proposed £500 cuts in the contributions to each worker's annual pension.
The company and an independent auditor have said this would not impact on drivers when they retire.
The Mercury attempted to contact Aslef to ask about the timing of the proposed action but nobody was available to comment.
However, Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: "To cut pension contributions in the current climate is highly irresponsible.
"This is simply storing up trouble for the next valuation and the future of the scheme."
He said the current owners of the East Midlands Trains franchise might have no responsibility for the pension fund in a few years.
He said he feared that his members could face the prospect of either cripplingly high contribution rates or reduced benefits.
Comments
by Neil0123
Sunday, July 22 2012, 10:14AM
“I went to Blackpool yesterday, including a trip up the tower.
A though crossed my mind when I was at the top of the tower.... Lets take some of the ASLEF members for a similar trip and then, when they are at the top of the tower, call the lift operators out on a 3-day strike. see how they would like the inconvenience!
(Obviously, being true union people, they would be quite happy to support this, wouldn't they)?”
by sydney11
Friday, July 20 2012, 8:31PM
“You are lucky you have tickets for the OlyIpics - I am in my early 60's and have worked all my life for the NHS - I do not have tickets and now never likely to be able to see the olympics - so count yourself lucky - and if the trains don't run you will get your money back on your train tickets -
By the way trains are not the only means of transport!
I am surprised you could afford to go to the Olypics if you were made redundant !!”
by FOXFAN99
Friday, July 20 2012, 2:08PM
“If the union and the company came to some sort of agreement in June, then surely the union have a duty to inform their members as to what this agreement was. I know train drivers have a very responsible job, a friend of mine does the job (for another train company) so I know a bit about it. But if these drivers can seriously afford to lose around £500 out of one week's wages by striking then they are obviously earning far too much money in the first place.”
by westleic
Friday, July 20 2012, 1:27PM
“This is another reason to give up on public transport and just buy a car. I've never looked back!”
by garyb2011
Friday, July 20 2012, 1:03PM
“Well done to ASLEF - this will result in the rule on strike ballots being changed.”
by p2010
Friday, July 20 2012, 12:52PM
“Giving the money grabbing sponsors at the Olympics i am only suprised that they are not sponsored only allowed trains to run during this non-event for people outside London.
It's only blackmail if you perceive the Olympics to be of any importance.”
by Hamilton_Paul
Friday, July 20 2012, 12:16PM
“Well obviously the drivers did not think much of the retirement issues as only 20% bothered to vote and then 57% voted in favour. So that works out about 12% of the work force voted in favour of strike action.
Also the union does not seem to have explained or argued that the the workers pensions will be worse off in the long run.
It is fat cat union chiefs who are trying to take on a government because they are of a different political hue.”
by f007e
Friday, July 20 2012, 12:00PM
“Which is more important - a nice day out costing probably £100's of pounds, taken by those lucky enough to have that spare. Or someone's pension?”
by llamalamb
Friday, July 20 2012, 11:59AM
“What's a ruined trip when compared to a ruined retirement?
The government need to know that they can't interfere with pension rights that are embedded as conditions of employment.
How would you feel if you travelled down to the Olympic stadium to attend your event and were told sorry you can't come in - the government have changed the conditions of entry and your ticket is no longer valid.
Think about it.
If you've paid into a person scheme all of your working life then you deserve to get the full person that your entitled to.”
by Hamilton_Paul
Friday, July 20 2012, 10:03AM
“The ASLEF official talked last night about ordinary working people on the Radio last night, but all this effects is ordinary working people who want to see the games.
People have saved money for tickets for the games and the trains will be very disappointed.
I bet the people who made this decision do not even live in the East Midlands.”