(02 Oct 2023, 3:43 pm)Bazza wrote This got me thinking.
Perhaps GNE / Go Ahead are happy to let the strike run and then hope to break it, They then will have a workforce that is cheaper with poorer conditions of service than the other two large operators, and they can underbid them for the franchises.
During the strike, they will not be paying wages of those on strike, and don’t have the running costs of providing commercial services (obviously with the exception of fixed costs)but are still receiving some income from the contracts they are running.
They will certainly be losing money, but apparently they are anyway, and does public perception of the company matter come franchising? The travelling public won’t care who is running the buses then as long as the fares are cheaper and the service is better.
Any routes won from other operators would likely lead to staff being TUPE’d over, maybe easing any staffing issues.
I'm not sure why you would? If you can't get people to work for you (and stay!) on the current pay and conditions, what hope have you got by further drumming them into the ground?
I think it'll depend on who is running the NEMCA and issuing contracts, on whether public perception will matter or not. Remember, in North of Tyne, they operate a 'Good Work Pledge'. I somehow don't think you'd qualify with a track record that a certain MD has, unless ideas are sharply bucked up...