RMT to ballot for strike action.

[The_Abyss]

Ignorant OCUK posters in 'train drivers earn too much' shock!

You have no experience of doing the job yourselves yet feel empowered to vilify everyone who does it.

You've read a web page and feel that tells you what it's like to get up at 02.00 and drive a packed commuter train on a Monday morning after finishing work at 02.00 the Saturday before? To shoulder that responsibility? You have no right to be taken seriously unless you have done the job yourselves. And driver-less trains? Will not happen on the overground network in our lifetimes so wish away if you like - not going to happen

Several people in this thread, myself included, have asked for experience of why the job justifies so much more pay, and this is the first answer that's actually been given - unsociable hours.

I've gone to bed at 2 am on Sunday and then been a passenger on one of those packed commuter trains Monday morning. And then done a job once I've finally arrived. Try doing that

 

[Nutella33]

You've read a web page and feel that tells you what it's like to get up at 02.00 and drive a packed commuter train on a Monday morning after finishing work at 02.00 the Saturday before? To shoulder that responsibility? You have no right to be taken seriously unless you have done the job yourselves. And driver-less trains? Will not happen on the overground network in our lifetimes so wish away if you like - not going to happen

aircraft mechs can do a 3x12 hour day shift, swing (so finishing at 6am, going to work at 6pm the same day) and 2x12 hour night shift, so 60 hours in 5 days and are responsible for repairs, aircraft prep, final pre and post flight checks and work around highly explosive material/radiation and electrical risks in this time in all weathers and get paid 18k to 28k.

done that job thanks. Getting paid 2/3x that and having to sit in an aircon cabin, away from the weather and respond to signals, watch where I'm going and working a tannoy would be a joy. I'm also of the opinion the bus drivers have to do a lot more, in much worse conditions (ie dealing with the public, driving on congested roads) and I cant see the justification of the higher wage in tube drivers either.

 

[Sasahara]

Ignorant OCUK posters in 'train drivers earn too much' shock!

You have no experience of doing the job yourselves yet feel empowered to vilify everyone who does it.

You've read a web page and feel that tells you what it's like to get up at 02.00 and drive a packed commuter train on a Monday morning after finishing work at 02.00 the Saturday before? To shoulder that responsibility? You have no right to be taken seriously unless you have done the job yourselves. And driver-less trains? Will not happen on the overground network in our lifetimes so wish away if you like - not going to happen

Train Drivers managed to do it on a lot less pay 20+ years ago before privatisation with inferior trains and less automated protection systems.
Or are you saying drivers from that era weren't any good?


As for the RMT on this issue, they always bang on about safety when it suits them, but keep every quiet about it when it doesn't.

 

[Hades]

Ignorant OCUK posters in 'train drivers earn too much' shock!

You have no experience of doing the job yourselves yet feel empowered to vilify everyone who does it.

You've read a web page and feel that tells you what it's like to get up at 02.00 and drive a packed commuter train on a Monday morning after finishing work at 02.00 the Saturday before? To shoulder that responsibility? You have no right to be taken seriously unless you have done the job yourselves. And driver-less trains? Will not happen on the overground network in our lifetimes so wish away if you like - not going to happen

What a hardship it must be to have to be in work a whole 48 hours after the end of the last shift.

 

[Tefal]

I don't have enough information on the case in question to form a concrete opinion, however, on the information that is available, I would assume that the ballot is being used as a tool to put pressure on an intransigent employer in order to open negotiations with a view to reaching a mutually agreeable resolution.

I doubt there is any intention of following through with a strike at this stage and the ballot is simply being used as a negotiating tactic due to the limited other means employees and unions have in initiating dialogue with bad employers.

Under the influence and about to drive a train full of hundreds of people.

Sorry but the only mutually agreeable resolution is to sack him.


He'll the union should be supporting the decision given their whole stance against driverless trains is on safety grounds so they need to be demonstrating that drivers are the safer choice defending drunk drivers (and I ire in the past drivers who disabled safety mechanisims) is pretty counter to their point.

 

[Tefal]

Ignorant OCUK posters in 'train drivers earn too much' shock!

You have no experience of doing the job yourselves yet feel empowered to vilify everyone who does it.

You've read a web page and feel that tells you what it's like to get up at 02.00 and drive a packed commuter train on a Monday morning after finishing work at 02.00 the Saturday before? To shoulder that responsibility? You have no right to be taken seriously unless you have done the job yourselves. And driver-less trains? Will not happen on the overground network in our lifetimes so wish away if you like - not going to happen

I imagine it's a lot ****ing easier than going to work at 8pm and operating heavy machinery and tools after finishing 6 am the same day.

You know like literally thousands of night shift workers do every day of the week.

 

[Woden]

I work 4pm to 2am (yea I'm still in work ) Monday to Friday. And do 6am to 2pm 3 Sundays on 4.

My heart bleeds for you mate.

 

[soundb0y]

Everyone asking to be enlightened yet you keep telling them to search online. Well I, and I'm sure others have tried yet after a few pages of Google can't find anything to back you up but lots of info to the contrary.

 

[Mr Jack]

It appears that he had a declared medical condition that can often produce false positives (I have training on the type of alcohol breath test they use and this is explained to us, diabetics can indeed have acetone which shows a false positive) in which case he should have been tested via a urine sample for alcohol, which they failed to do. Instead they summarily dismissed him based solely on a flawed test.

Yes, quite, and - as usual - TFL have lied and misrepresented both what happened and why the union are actually calling for strike action.

 

[Scania]

I
what it's like to get up at 02.00 and drive a packed commuter train on a Monday morning after finishing work at 02.00 the Saturday before?

I wonder how that compares to driving a 44ton artic starting at 3am for anything upto 10hours over a 15hour shift that could we'll end at 6pm to start again at 3am (note I say start again, not get up) to do the same all over again?

9 hours off between 15 hour shifts is normal in my line of work, for the remainder of thf time you get 11hours off if you've done a 13hr shift.

Sorry,but you guys are on a damn good screw IMO!

 

[Orionaut]

Not sure that I am any more happy with the idea of a diabetic train driver than I am about a drunk one frankly. (Probably less so in fact)

And, before anybody starts banging on about how diabetes is not a problem if you keep to your med/dietry regieme. Yep that is true.

But if he had enough acetone in his breath to fail a breath test he was likely failing to do so and is therefore unfit to drive a train anyway, even if he was "Sober"

In any case, I'd rather keep "Typhoid Mary" out of the kitchen altogether rather than having to rely for my safety on her washing her hands!

There are plenty of other jobs a diabetic can do that doesn't put the lives of hundreds of people at risk if it all goes pair shaped!

 

[robgmun]

The LU Union and the Teaching Union needs a right good kicking Maggie style

 

[ShortWarning]

Oh dear...

http://www.lbc.co.uk/rmt-boss-loses-the-plot-on-lbc-over-tube-strike-104734

 

[Tefal]

Not sure that I am any more happy with the idea of a diabetic train driver than I am about a drunk one frankly. (Probably less so in fact)

whats funny is being diabetic bans you from most confined space work for safety concerns i am seriously surprised you can be a train driver.

 

[Tefal]

I wonder how that compares to driving a 44ton artic starting at 3am for anything upto 10hours over a 15hour shift that could we'll end at 6pm to start again at 3am (note I say start again, not get up) to do the same all over again?

9 hours off between 15 hour shifts is normal in my line of work, for the remainder of thf time you get 11hours off if you've done a 13hr shift.

Sorry,but you guys are on a damn good screw IMO!

is there anything a train driver can actually do to prevent an accident?


like say car on the line, small child, ww2 panzer tank flying a pirate flag, can they actually stop in time from the point they see it?

cause i always thought thier stopping distance was well beyond thier visual range in most cases?

 

[gobbo]

Oh dear...

http://www.lbc.co.uk/rmt-boss-loses-the-plot-on-lbc-over-tube-strike-104734

Wow, that is simply stunning.

I'm guessing he has never been told how to speak to the press.

 

[Tefal]

Wow, that is simply stunning.

I'm guessing he has never been told how to speak to the press.

or just people in general.

 

[Judgeneo]

Indeed.


London underground driver pay: £42k - £52k
London bus driver pay: £17k - £30k

One has to monitor passengers, dodge vehicles, and respond to quickly changing events.
One has a support team to monitor passengers, makes a few announcements, and moves in straight lines.

I've since done a little more research, but the only extra responsibility I can find for tube drivers is a mechanics check of the train at the beginning of the shift.
What am I missing?

 

[John40]

is there anything a train driver can actually do to prevent an accident?


like say car on the line, small child, ww2 panzer tank flying a pirate flag, can they actually stop in time from the point they see it?

cause i always thought thier stopping distance was well beyond thier visual range in most cases?

Of course they can stop if they're going slowly enough, but at 125 mph no chance, it's all to do with speed

 

[Trifid]

I've since done a little more research, but the only extra responsibility I can find for tube drivers is a mechanics check of the train at the beginning of the shift.
What am I missing?

I would expect a bus driver to have to do that too, along with all other professional heavy goods drivers. Granted they only have 1 'carriage', but it is still a fairly standard duty.