The hub and spoke mode pursued for so long has been wildly unsuccessful too. They then blame low passenger numbers to cut those routes down with absolutely no sense of self awareness.

It’s a self fulfilling prophecy of sheer incompetence that’s been going on at GNE for years.

(28 Oct 2023, 1:33 pm)54APhotography wrote Stagecoach have the entire country to lean on for buses, driver numbers are the problem.  Stagecoach could do it if they wanted to, seems the old fashioned spirit no longer exists.

Can barely source drivers as it is, even with the closure of Arriva's operations at Walkergate. Drivers have had to be sourced from Slatyford, Sunderland and South Shields - and that's still not covering everything.

(30 Oct 2023, 9:49 am)omnicity4659 wrote Can barely source drivers as it is, even with the closure of Arriva's operations at Walkergate. Drivers have had to be sourced from Slatyford, Sunderland and South Shields - and that's still not covering everything.

And to me, this is why bus companies should proceed with caution when drafting contentious communiques criticising their workforce for striking.

Forgetting the issue of terms and conditions for a minute, GNE could decide to try and force all existing drivers onto new contracts through a strategy of fire and rehire. But ultimately, it won't work as other companies are also desperate for employees to drive their vehicles, so the drivers who take the most umbrage at GNE for imposing new contracts, will end up walking thus leaving GNE in a position where they need to recruit even more drivers to replace the ones who have left. 

Seemingly, it's impossible to get bus drivers for love nor money nowadays, so you'd think there'd be some managers out there who'd reflect upon that and look at different approaches on how to recruit, and more importantly, retain drivers. However, I think there are some managers who have the mindset of "You are lucky to have a job" or "It's an absolute privilege to work for our company", when clearly the opposite is true.

I bet 90% of people who see GNE's "you are not a bus driver" ads think they're saying that as if it's a bad thing, when frankly, being a bus driver for GNE (or even Stagecoach or Arriva for that matter) is probably the last job anyone would want right now.

(30 Oct 2023, 11:37 am)wibblejunior wrote I bet 90% of people who see GNE's "you are not a bus driver" ads think they're saying that as if it's a bad thing, when frankly, being a bus driver for GNE (or even Stagecoach or Arriva for that matter) is probably the last job anyone would want right now.

I'll just leave this here...

If this is considered worthy of a nomination, then public transport is doomed!!!

BBC throwing in some casual gas lighting with the headline here

Nasty union supporting its members,


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-67260104.amp

(30 Oct 2023, 1:41 pm)Ambassador wrote BBC throwing in some casual gas lighting with the headline here

Nasty union supporting its members,


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-67260104.amp

I think it is in the interests of the wider debate and public knowledge that this information is out there. I think it should be known, frankly.

Once upon a time, strike action was unpaid and therefore a risk vs reward position as a last resort (ignoring the politics and rationale around why or if it should even got that far to begin with..!)

Being paid to strike, (tax free too), basically means there is absolutely nothing/minimal financial position to lose in the plight of getting a better deal and therefore why wouldn't you continue to reject forever and a day?

Most people will be 'assuming' that this is unpaid and making a support judgement from that assumption. However, once it becomes more widely known, expect public support to drop like a stone - as it will 'appear' to be a zero risk strategy, in that the only people being hurt from this are the passengers.

We've seen exactly the same thing play out in other locations over the past few years. I'm surprised GNE haven't been 'informing' people about the daily payments in their own press releases.

Those daily payments allow people to fight for a better living

(30 Oct 2023, 3:00 pm)RobinHood wrote I think it is in the interests of the wider debate and public knowledge that this information is out there. I think it should be known, frankly.

Once upon a time, strike action was unpaid and therefore a risk vs reward position as a last resort (ignoring the politics and rationale around why or if it should even got that far to begin with..!)

Being paid to strike, (tax free too), basically means there is absolutely nothing/minimal financial position to lose in the plight of getting a better deal and therefore why wouldn't you continue to reject forever and a day?

Most people will be 'assuming' that this is unpaid and making a support judgement from that assumption. However, once it becomes more widely known, expect public support to drop like a stone - as it will 'appear' to be a zero risk strategy, in that the only people being hurt from this are the passengers.

We've seen exactly the same thing play out in other locations over the past few years. I'm surprised GNE haven't been 'informing' people about the daily payments in their own press releases.

I don't think the article is quite the 'gotcha' moment they think it'll be. The public support will remain largely static, whether that be those who are supporting the drivers in dispute, or those who are against the strike taking place. 

It's a bit of a cynical view to suggest that being paid strike pay, means that those workers in dispute will have no desire to resolve the situation. Nobody wants to be in dispute; it's still a last resort, whether it's paid action or not. What strike pay does do, is it levels the playing field of the dispute, instead of workers effectively being starved back to work and then crushed as a Union upon their return. 

Maybe that's the issue though, because it's effective, companies don't like it.

(30 Oct 2023, 3:00 pm)RobinHood wrote I think it is in the interests of the wider debate and public knowledge that this information is out there. I think it should be known, frankly.

Once upon a time, strike action was unpaid and therefore a risk vs reward position as a last resort (ignoring the politics and rationale around why or if it should even got that far to begin with..!)

Being paid to strike, (tax free too), basically means there is absolutely nothing/minimal financial position to lose in the plight of getting a better deal and therefore why wouldn't you continue to reject forever and a day?

Most people will be 'assuming' that this is unpaid and making a support judgement from that assumption. However, once it becomes more widely known, expect public support to drop like a stone - as it will 'appear' to be a zero risk strategy, in that the only people being hurt from this are the passengers.

We've seen exactly the same thing play out in other locations over the past few years. I'm surprised GNE haven't been 'informing' people about the daily payments in their own press releases.

I don't have any issue with it being known - I'd imagine the majority of people will be aware.

I have an issue with the BBC headline 'Union pays bus staff £70 per day to strike' which then softens when you click in to 'Unite paying striking staff £70 per day'

They are not paying for them to strike. It's a payment that your union dues entitle you to - there is no financial gain from striking, they are still losing money in terms of overtime and the actual wage - it's not a huge amount coming up to Christmas. It's just lazy centre right journalism.

And we keep talking about the court of public opinon, it doesn't matter here.

(30 Oct 2023, 3:24 pm)Ambassador wrote It's just lazy centre right journalism.

BBC reporter Jim Scott, ex Northern Echo.
The guy was an idiot when he worked there too.

(30 Oct 2023, 3:41 pm)RobinHood wrote BBC reporter Jim Scott, ex Northern Echo.
The guy was an idiot when he worked there too.

Always seemed to get the GNE stories when he was there too.

(30 Oct 2023, 4:27 pm)Andreos1 wrote Always seemed to get the GNE stories when he was there too.

One would think, at some point in the past, he'd been rubbed up the wrong way...............LOL.

(30 Oct 2023, 4:29 pm)R852 PRG wrote One would think, at some point in the past, he'd been rubbed up the wrong way...............LOL.

*****

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(30 Oct 2023, 4:29 pm)R852 PRG wrote One would think, at some point in the past, he'd been rubbed up the wrong way...............LOL.

I mean yeah. He could have been. 
Wasn't you was it?

(30 Oct 2023, 10:12 am)MurdnunoC wrote Seemingly, it's impossible to get bus drivers for love nor money nowadays…

Getting a bit more of each from GNE i believe is the entire point.

A good point though, ideology aside, staff are a commodity to run any business. Is it worth running a bus on cheap repairs and maintenance or will it cost you more in the long run in down time and early termination? Some businesses will always opt for the cheapest way without considering value. Same applies for labour.

The GNE strike is another chapter in the story of the death of commercial bus businesses. Factors in and out of the operator’s control have engineered a circumstance where buses will never be profitable. The system nationwide is currently on erratic life support through the umpteen streams of public revenue. 

As in recent years, operators will continue to be sold to pension funds and ‘infrastructure specialists’ who see the writing on the wall. The bus network will be treat the same as our rail, energy and water. Technically privatised but really strictly tendered out with narrow wiggle room and stable management fees to the operators.

It’s franchising in Manchester but it may take other forms across the country. Like it or lump it, there’s a Labour government coming and they’ll accelerate the proposals in Merseyside, West Yorkshire & wherever else because it’ll be a great early goal to repeat the public facing message of ‘we own this’ claimed in Manchester. They don’t own it, but it’s yellow and that’s what matters don’t you know!

Go Ahead don’t give a hoot about the long term network stability of Washington any more than they do about North Manchester where it’s about to be taken from them. They’re just waiting until the franchising gets up to here. Go North East and its junior managers can play around the edges until that happens.

It won’t help them now, but the clever time to strike is after franchising has arrived. Right after local government takes the glory for the operation, demand better working conditions and the public will truly be on your side as they’re ‘our’ bus and ‘our’ lads & lasses driving them. Operators won’t care, they’ll pass the bill onto the combined authority and we’ll all pay for our drivers of our buses. Not that we truly own any of it, but we’re paying for it anyway, just like we are today.

How long till the strike is over, any guesses

my guess is by 25th November

Is the 686 funded differently as I was going out today and saw it turn right onto Prudhoe Front Street from Station Road in service?


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(30 Oct 2023, 9:43 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Is the 686 funded differently as I was going out today and saw it turn right onto Prudhoe Front Street from Station Road in service?


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The 74 ran today, but only the first and last round trips. A driver said all of the 74 trips had drivers assigned so were expected to run. Sadly this wasn't the case.

did Northumbria County Council run replacements for them?

(30 Oct 2023, 9:53 pm)Unber43 wrote did Northumbria County Council run replacements for them?

Howard Snaith and Rural Link have been running a limited replacement during the strikes, but today Go North East ran the 74 and 686, but not all of the 74 trips operated.

(30 Oct 2023, 10:13 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Howard Snaith and Rural Link have been running a limited replacement during the strikes, but today Go North East ran the 74 and 686, but not all of the 74 trips operated.

Highly doubt they'll be running next week. Northumberland CC are on half term this week so assume it's the school bus drivers doing them from Hexham.

(30 Oct 2023, 9:33 pm)Unber43 wrote How long till the strike is over, any guesses

my guess is by 25th November

Both sides seem pretty entrenched. The union have no real motivation to end it quickly with their mandate and I guess it depends on how Ben is directed by the adults on how much GNE can shift

(30 Oct 2023, 10:17 pm)Storx wrote Highly doubt they'll be running next week. Northumberland CC are on half term this week so assume it's the school bus drivers doing them from Hexham.

It was annoying the middle trips didn't run. Apparently they were meant to. Assume Howard Snaith and Rural Link will run them again next week.

Not sure if the 684 ran today.

(30 Oct 2023, 10:56 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote It was annoying the middle trips didn't run. Apparently they were meant to. Assume Howard Snaith and Rural Link will run them again next week.

Not sure if the 684 ran today.

Howard Snaith Coaches YN06 RVV by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Yes it did, here it is at Hexham Bus Station just after coming back in on the return journey.


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Fireworks Shuttle F1 will still run on Saturday (Interchange to Saltwell Park)

No idea if it's agency/managers/picket breakers doing the runs or if its being subcontracted out

(31 Oct 2023, 12:04 pm)Ambassador wrote Fireworks Shuttle F1 will still run on Saturday (Interchange to Saltwell Park)

No idea if it's agency/managers/picket breakers doing the runs or if its being subcontracted out

It's A Line covering for them

(31 Oct 2023, 2:42 pm)Aaron21 wrote It's A Line covering for them

Ah lovely, nice to see the indies getting some work

What buses will they use?

(31 Oct 2023, 5:43 pm)Unber43 wrote What buses will they use?

Probs whatever Daniel can be bothered to give them (jokes Dan)

Probs give them 3 buses that ain't got a logo on yet and is in London colours to make sure nobody at Gateshead is waiting on a bus