Why train drivers? I know the op concentrated on traindrivers due to their "good" pay.
Tube Strike -- 9th-11th
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Why train drivers? I know the op concentrated on traindrivers due to their "good" pay.
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Great militant unions more like. It's great when people stick together to protect each others jobs, workers don't get paid when they strike you know so it's not a decision thats taken lightly.
Mate remove bus drivers form that statement!
I am a bus driver and working a 6day week last year i earned £21k not really the same as a train drivers £40k+ now is it?
And consider the job that bus and train drivers do for a moment before you all get on your high horse.
The Bus Driver:- Controls a vehicle 30-67ft long 3.5-35ton in weight on narrow streets (well in bath some are) where cars pull out without signalling, pedestrians amble across the road without looking and then expect the bus to stop within the 2feet gap between said bus and themselves (40ft 17ton bus moving at 30mph will need on average 80ft to come to a complete stop) just so they can get on when there is no bus stops in sight! (I could go on for months about the silly things people do so i will stop now)
The Train Driver:- presses a few buttons and get paid a hell of a lot not to fall asleep in the cab whilst 'Driving'
Who really deserves the £40k?
it's not like they do anything that skillful 
How does militant unions help anything.
they refuse to negotiate
They strike with a "overwhelming mandate" when there a lot of people undecided.
the second management mention pay or redundancy they scream "strike" even if its obvious the status quo is not sustainable.
they offer "compromises" which are unworkable and the employer will never accept to wast time as a negotiate tactic.
thay create hell for no resion what so ever
don't get me wrong, i have no problem with unions that actually represent there members and negotiate sensibly.
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they refuse to negotiate
They ain't the only ones, management are as bad
They strike with a "overwhelming mandate" when there a lot of people undecided.
Those who didn't vote had their chance, thats democracy for you.
the second management mention pay or redundancy they scream "strike" even if its obvious the status quo is not sustainable.
no they don't, you're being over dramatic. striking is a last resort.
they offer "compromises" which are unworkable and the employer will never accept to wast time as a negotiate tactic.
and thats bad because? eff the management I say, eff 'em!
thay create hell for no resion what so ever
they create hell for a very good reason, to show what happens when you take your workforce for granted.
don't get me wrong, i have no problem with unions that actually represent there members and negotiate sensibly.
sell their members down the river you mean?
They ain't the only ones, management are as bad
They strike with a "overwhelming mandate" when there a lot of people undecided.
Those who didn't vote had their chance, thats democracy for you.
the second management mention pay or redundancy they scream "strike" even if its obvious the status quo is not sustainable.
no they don't, you're being over dramatic. striking is a last resort.
they offer "compromises" which are unworkable and the employer will never accept to wast time as a negotiate tactic.
and thats bad because? eff the management I say, eff 'em!
thay create hell for no resion what so ever
they create hell for a very good reason, to show what happens when you take your workforce for granted.
don't get me wrong, i have no problem with unions that actually represent there members and negotiate sensibly.
sell their members down the river you mean?
This tbh. I fully support the idea of unions and think they've made great advances for pretty much every worker in the country in some way. But they do need to be responsible and, to be fair, most are. It's just the RMT that seem to always want more than, it seems, they deserve.
And what did Arthur Scargill's militancy at the head of the NUM in the 80s get them - absolutely **** all - that's what. And the NUJ workers picketing Fleet Street? The same. All militancy does is ****** off the people paying the salaries (and everyone else).
If the jobs don't exist in the first place (as they didn't with the NUM and just perhaps they don't exist now with the RMT), then all they're protecting is thin air.
The UAW in the States behaved in much the same way with the big three car companies. Look what's happened now. So much for that idea then.
Please, get a grip. If the positions don't exist, then protecting them is a complete nonsense. Several hundred thousand people have been in this position in the last year and lost their jobs, so what makes RMT workers so special?
If, however, as AcidHell2 correctly pointed out, there are real safety fears (not just made up ones), then I can accept that possibility.
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The job do exist though don't they? It seems that they're having to take on the jobs from Metronet and with the two coming together they see it as a great opportunity to make cuts.
Royal Mail, where I work are cutting and cutting and cutting and taking more and more and more and we're getting very little for our trouble. I was our union was a strong as the RMT because our job has been ruined and it's too late to go back now.
Royal Mail, where I work are cutting and cutting and cutting and taking more and more and more and we're getting very little for our trouble. I was our union was a strong as the RMT because our job has been ruined and it's too late to go back now.
Given that Metronet went under, do the jobs really exist - or at least do they exist at the salary the RMT are demanding?
As for Royal Mail, I feel for you. The problem they've got is that their remit makes it difficult for them to compete against the bulk carriers (who of course still use Royal Mail for the final mile). Then of course there's the internet. Catching up means lots of efficiency savings (read: job cuts).
As for Royal Mail, I feel for you. The problem they've got is that their remit makes it difficult for them to compete against the bulk carriers (who of course still use Royal Mail for the final mile). Then of course there's the internet. Catching up means lots of efficiency savings (read: job cuts).
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I don't know Metronet inside out but weren't they the "Network Rail" of the Underground? Maintaining the infrastructure and rolling stock is a massive, massive task and I've no doubt that the jobs are needed. And I've no doubt that they aren't highly paid either, plus, being London the cost of living are higher too.
I'm no expert but I'll always side with the strikers because I know what tit takes to make them do it and it's not an easy decision to make.
I'm no expert but I'll always side with the strikers because I know what tit takes to make them do it and it's not an easy decision to make.
The now defunked Metronet who are part of tfl, upgrade and maintain all of the lines bar the Pic, Northern and Jube, which are maintained and upgraded by Tube Lines.
There are Tfl, LU and Tube Lines employees that are members of the RMT. The strike would be LU staff who are drivers, look after the stations, signalling rooms etc, so pretty damn important to the day to day running.
The RMT are out of touch and want more pay, safe jobs with no redundancies, less hours, and more holiday. If they ever got these then they would just demand more in 6-12months time citing bullying, bad management etc etc.
Something needs to be done about this, as the ones losing out are the Londoners and commuters who rely on the tube. Won't help toursim either, especially as foreigners won't have a clue what's going on.
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It's funny, I've been to aunion meeting this afternoon and in our emplyment we feel the opposite is happening. Less pay, more hours, less holiday!
If you don't stand up for yourself you'll lose out in the end.
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I thought I'd drag this up as nothing has happened yet to suggest the strike won't go ahead.
Jeff Lynne, I'm sorry but I don't think you can justify the RMT actions here. From what I've seen these job losses will be back office staff and, what's more, it seems to be duplication which is leading the cuts. Now you could definitely argue that it may also be a cynical attempt to cut costs throughout the back offices.
Guess what, though, we're in a RECESSION. Everybody in the private sector is worrying about their jobs and having to do that little bit more to justify their position. Why should it be any different in the public sector? Surely it should be more so, they're spending our taxes....
The RMT's actions are frankly disgusting and insulting to all of us in the private sector. People are worrying about whether they're gonna keep their job on the same pay let alone get a pay rise, while a lot of people are facing the prospect of reduced working weeks etc (I was on a four day week for just over a month recently). To demand a 5% pay rise and improved working terms against that backdrop or threaten to bring London to it's knees is awful.
Another point to note is that TFL is offering 1% this year and guarenteeing RPI+0.5% for the next few years as well. Seems pretty generous to me considering the economy. Inflation is pretty low at the moment but pretty likely to increase substantially in the next couple of years.
Aaaanyway, enough of that rant, how are people hoping to get to work next week? I'm on a college course currently with exams in a couple of weeks so missing a day or two of classes could really be a hindrence. Unfortunately, without the tube, Clapham to Canary Wharf becomes a 1hr 45 bus journey instead of a 35-40min tube journey
Jeff Lynne, I'm sorry but I don't think you can justify the RMT actions here. From what I've seen these job losses will be back office staff and, what's more, it seems to be duplication which is leading the cuts. Now you could definitely argue that it may also be a cynical attempt to cut costs throughout the back offices.
Guess what, though, we're in a RECESSION. Everybody in the private sector is worrying about their jobs and having to do that little bit more to justify their position. Why should it be any different in the public sector? Surely it should be more so, they're spending our taxes....
The RMT's actions are frankly disgusting and insulting to all of us in the private sector. People are worrying about whether they're gonna keep their job on the same pay let alone get a pay rise, while a lot of people are facing the prospect of reduced working weeks etc (I was on a four day week for just over a month recently). To demand a 5% pay rise and improved working terms against that backdrop or threaten to bring London to it's knees is awful.
Another point to note is that TFL is offering 1% this year and guarenteeing RPI+0.5% for the next few years as well. Seems pretty generous to me considering the economy. Inflation is pretty low at the moment but pretty likely to increase substantially in the next couple of years.
Aaaanyway, enough of that rant, how are people hoping to get to work next week? I'm on a college course currently with exams in a couple of weeks so missing a day or two of classes could really be a hindrence. Unfortunately, without the tube, Clapham to Canary Wharf becomes a 1hr 45 bus journey instead of a 35-40min tube journey
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Im so happy this is happening when I am supposed to be going into london! Joy. Flipping bunch of striking plonkers.
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I'm not trying to justify this case at all, I just say that I always backs someone right to withdrawl their labour. In this case it goes to show how powerful that right can be.
Oh so often the people who are the cogs that keeps society moving get taken for granted and it's lovely to sit back and watch how those that do have to take the hit when the spanner is thrown in the works.
