So Tube Drivers now earn £50k a year?

[TW]Fox · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:04

Why are you guys not applying to be a tube driver? Easy, great money, why not?

smit101 · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:07

DAIR said:
Serious?

****ing right I'm serious!

shine · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:08

smit101 said:
Why shouldn't someone such as a tube driver who has huge responsibility, (peoples lives) earn more than someone who sits on his arse all day tapping away at a keyboard?

By that logic why are tube drivers paid more than the emergency services?

jas72 · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:09

tell you why fox because they'd rather everyone was paid the same as tesco workers however we rarely see any threads here about how much sports personalities get paid or tv presenters or directors of said tube workers. People always want to take from others instead of fighting to get a better deal themselves.

smit101 · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:11

shine said:
By that logic why are tube drivers paid more than the emergency services?

Because the emergency services are grossly underpaid.

[TW]Fox · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:12

The only comparison here worth making is against that of other people with similar skills.

Tube drivers do appear to get paid more than conventional train drivers. I would argue that conventional train drivers have the higher risk job.

C.R.A.Z.Y · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:12

shine said:
By that logic why are tube drivers paid more than the emergency services?

Because they have a strong Union with Bob Crow :-)

Of course nurses, emergency services .etc are underpaid but how can you use that to imply someone else is over-paid

It's pretty pathetic how bitter and jealous some people can be, sour grapes tbh!

avec · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:17

In reality everyone should get a pay rise that matches inflation (at minimum), it's just that Bob Crow and the RMT seem to be the only set up that can get that out of the 'higher ups'.

[TW]Fox · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:28

avec said:
In reality everyone should get a pay rise that matches inflation

What do you think would happen to inflation if this was the case?

Brookert · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:32

The days of drivers are numbered.

You wait untill the day we need to lay off all the tube drivers, they will be demanding a golden handshake that costs the Earth

Edrof · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:34

Knowing nothing about this (apologies) I have a question: isn't this similar to the 'footballer's wages' debate? The train drivers are paid that much because someone is willing to pay them that much, thus that is what dictates their 'wage-worth' and not a comparison to other occupations. Afterall, almost no job out there is paid what it 'morally' should be paid, otherwise excellent teachers would be on 100k and estate agents would be paid 20k or less.

DAIR · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:43

[TW]Fox;20802991 said:
Why are you guys not applying to be a tube driver? Easy, great money, why not?

I've read it isnt an easy career to get into.

Not sure why because all they do is push buttons and pull some levers....

Nitefly · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:44

Wow, that is a lot.

lrlcr · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:48

DAIR said:
I've read it isnt an easy career to get into.

Not sure why because all they do is push buttons and pull some levers....

To keep demand high and allow them to force higher wages.

If anyone could just sign up then they wouldn't be paid so much. It's the same as what debeers do with diamonds.

DAIR · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:52

lrlcr said:
To keep demand high and allow them to force higher wages.

If anyone could just sign up then they wouldn't be paid so much. It's the same as what debeers do with diamonds.

Perhaps....

Oh and read signals..... And make announcements.

lrlcr · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:55

So they can read and speak...

EDIT: just to make my position clear; it's ridiculous how much they get paid, however you have to have a grudging respect for them being organised enough to get such a deal.

DAIR · 15 Dec 2011 at 13:03

lrlcr said:
So they can read and speak...

EDIT: just to make my position clear; it's ridiculous how much they get paid, however you have to have a grudging respect for them being organised enough to get such a deal.

Have to agree. Strong sense of community among them...... Will strike at the drop of a dime. And back anyone who they'll believe has been wrongly sacked.

lrlcr · 15 Dec 2011 at 13:07

It's the same as the bankers really, they're in a position through hard work to be able to bend over the general public in order to get loads of money.

That said, i'd much rather they strike all the time as I NEVER use the tube.

alx · 15 Dec 2011 at 13:10

DAIR said:
Sooner or later they will no doubt hand the job over to systems and hire people to just keep watch. When they happens a lot of these drivers will be let go.

I for one will have no sympathy for them. Every year they want to hold the city to ransom

Technically they can get trains that will drive themselves and just have someone in a control room to supervise. Problem is getting rid of the drivers without the union throwing a hissy fit....

Dave M · 15 Dec 2011 at 13:12

Edrof said:
Knowing nothing about this (apologies) I have a question: isn't this similar to the 'footballer's wages' debate? The train drivers are paid that much because someone is willing to pay them that much, thus that is what dictates their 'wage-worth' and not a comparison to other occupations. Afterall, almost no job out there is paid what it 'morally' should be paid, otherwise excellent teachers would be on 100k and estate agents would be paid 20k or less.

Teachers hah, sure.

Regarding footballers and tube drivers though it's not a fair analogy, if all football players were in a union and the union threatened to strike if all wages were not increased to a minimum of 1 million per annum then it would be the same.

But they aren't, and if a single player wants more money he has to be worth it to somebody or they'll find someone just as good cheaper.