It’s strike season in the rail industry
Rail workers all over the world have organised and are organising multiple strikes to grab the industry’s attention on the issues they deem more important. The rail sector, and therefore rail freight, is in fact...Read more
Strikes in Spain lead to 200 cancelled freight trains
Around 200 freight trains are cancelled today Friday due to strike action by a minority union. Spanish rail operator Renfe has said that the strikes are going ahead despite the recent signing of a new...Read more
UK transport policy in meltdown
Never mind the prime ministerial resignation. GBR could be scrapped. Strikes could be outlawed. Such is the febrile level of disarray in the UK government that not one, but two major transport policies, both worthy...Read more
UK strikes: union announces widespread November strikes and ballot for further action
The summer of discontent on the British railway network looks set to continue throughout the winter. In an escalation of action, the RMT trades union (Rail, Maritime and Transport) has just announced the most disruptive...Read more
More rail unions vote in the US, a reason to smile?
After the first and only so far disapproval of the US government’s deal to resolve the dispute between railway carriers and unions, six more votes show that railway workers might, in the end, accept the...Read more
First rejection of Biden’s deal brings strike clouds on the US horizon again
The tentative deal proposed by US president Biden to resolve a labour dispute between railway carriers and unions has received its first rejection. More than 50 per cent of BMWED’s members, the country’s third-largest rail...Read more
South Africa’s turn for strikes: do they impact global supply chains?
Port and rail strikes are becoming a global trend lately and another burden or maybe a necessary evil for the supply chain. Following the massive UK strikes in August and September, South Africa faces the...Read more
Britain’s autumn strikes loom but signs of resolution in the air
The change of monarch is now complete. The changes at the head of government are underway. After a September hiatus, Britain is back to the reality of dealing with a cost of everything crisis, and...Read more
US strikes warded off, for now
A railway strike in the US has in all likelihood been warded off, as a tentative deal was drawn up by railways companies and unions and the Biden administration on Thursday morning (local time). A...Read morePresident Biden seeks to ward off national strike by US railway workers
US President Joe Biden is seeking to ward off a national strike by railway workers, which could begin later this week and potentially wreak havoc on the country’s supply chains.Read more
Fresh round of strikes in the UK affects freight
STRIKESTwo UK trades unions have called a fresh round of strikes for later this month. There has been a failure to find any resolution to the wide-ranging disputes over pay and conditions. The Rail, Maritime...Read more
Still no clear route out of Britain’s rail disputes
Saturday in Britain passed off … quietly. Quietly, especially if you happened to be around London Euston or Birmingham New Street. Both of these major passenger terminals were completely closed. The latest strike on Britain’s...Read more
Surprise political casualty as new British rail strike announced
The state of industrial dispute that currently grips the British rail network has claimed a high-profile political casualty. Surprisingly – shockingly for some – the socialist opposition Labour Party sacked their shadow transport secretary Sam...Read more
British weather cools down but strike climate heats up again
Britain faces a fresh wave of strikes across the rail network, starting this Wednesday with an all-out stoppage by the biggest union in the sector, the RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport). Then, just when you...Read moreUS Emergency Board seeks resolution to rail freight disputes
Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) order signed by US President Joe Biden last month has averted the immediate threat of strikes in the sector. Still, longer-term, there appears to be little sign of a resolution to...Read more
Is a settlement for German train drivers within reach?
In an effort to prevent further strikes, the German train drivers’ union GDL has put forward a new, improved proposal. According to HR manager Martin Seiler, there is a workable offer on the table.Read more
Is DB Cargo able to handle the impact of strikes?
ANALYSIS – One can only guess after the damages suffered by DB Cargo after three rounds of strikes among train drivers in the last five weeks. But one thing is certain: there will be damages...Read more
German strikes continues despite DB’s court effort
German railway drivers continue their strike until at least Tuesday 7 September. Labor organisation GDL has also asked staff in maintenance and on stations to join the strike, although this had not yet led to...Read more