Rail strike will only hurt passengers

NORTHERN Rail is to be hit by three days of strikes in July.

As so often with industrial disputes in the transport sector, those who suffer from this action will not be the RMT’s members nor the rail company. It will be ordinary customers, commuters and the local economy.

I recognise absolutely the right of union members to strike as a last resort. However, I think people would have more sympathy if unions exercised that right more responsibly and sparingly.

The current dispute over driver-only trains is little understood by the public. My guess is that most passengers do not really care who opens and closes the train’s electric doors, so long as it gets them where they need to be.

The strikes are dressed up by the union’s leadership as a passenger safety issue rather than one of self-interest.

In which case they should perhaps ask passengers whether they think matter warrants the three days of misery the strike will bring. I think I know the answer.

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

NORTHERN Rail seems to be determined to stop people coming to Yorkshire viz their planned strike on Great Yorkshire Show days.

Eventually they will have to talk to the employers but, meanwhile, they are severely affecting their passengers. Why can’t they see that such action doesn’t bring them any supporters?

From: James Murphy, Leeds.

THE Northern Rail strike action is indicative of the forces that will be in play if Jeremy Corbyn and the unions are left running the country. You have been warned.