Train drivers' strike

[fbg40]

Any strong opinions out there ? I would ask the following question : " Do Nurses, Policemen, Firemen, Ambulancemen, Armed Forces, (and everybody else who works on Boxing Day ) get TREBLE time and a day off in lieu for working Boxing Day - NOOOOOOO ! Are the train drivers just being greedy - I think so. No doubt I have opened a can of worms here, but nevermind - it's Christmas !!
FBG40

[gonan]

Last time I was in London, Some years ago, I rode on a driverless train! Beware drivers you do not over price your services. Technology is expensive but may be waiting for the price to catch up.

[emmie]

will price themselves out of a job before long. some seem to think that it's ok to inconvenience the general public by not running a train service on a bank holiday. There are already driverless trains and once technology is fully in place, not sure when, suggest all trains could be run without the need for a driver. So what the market can stand, pay exorbitant wages, then see jobs go west, haven't we been there before....

[venator]

Their mindset is clear from the Union's name - Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen.

I hope we aren't still still paying firemen?

[venator]

".... the likes of Bob Crow are as rare as hens teeth."

Not quite - remember Arthur Scargill? He tried to hold the country to ransom, too.

[emmie]

Venator, and where is comrade scargill these days, still living off the miners union perhaps?

[venator]

He seems to have feathered quite a nice little nest for himself

http://www.dailymail....nch-legal-action.html

[venator]

Mind you, Mr Crow seems to be doing quite nicely, thanks, and I believe he has a gold plated pension, too

http://www.dailymail....E-salary-package.html

[emmie]

as they all do, biting the hand that has fed you all these years.

[jno]

they live in a dog-eat-dog world. Their employers will sack them all as soon as they can, so they have to make as much money as they can while they are still able. This is the market economy at work. If you want notions of people working for the public good, you need to return to socialism. Anyone?

[fbg40]

Thanks for all the views ABers, Have a feeling that the majority are in agreement with me, many thanks. New Judge, the best reply ever. Happy Christmas to one and all !!
FBG40

[anotheoldgit]

Just another example of the Unions holding the country to ransom.

Time they made it illegal for all those jobs that effect the general public directly, to go on strike.

[jno]

and transport the strikers to Australia... just like the old days, except that the strikers would probably think that wasn't a bad result.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

We need to get Maggie back...she sorted the whinging miners out so Casey Jones and his mates wont be a problem!

[fbg40]

As a post script to this, have just watched a program on TV with a well known TV actress spending time with the Ambulance Service. What they have to put up with these days is deplorable, drunks, violence, abuse etc. They even wear stab vests in London. They do their job because they love it, no more no less. They don't demand treble pay for working Boxing Day !!
Happy Christmas all.
FBG40

[China Doll]

I usually tend to have a lot of sympathy with strikes/strikers but I have absolutely no interesty or sympathy for the tube drivers and haven't had for some time. Whilst I can see the argument for union people getting the best deal for their staff... I still think they're all taking the proverbial :c)

[B00]

<<<is working Boxing day, no double (treble? Hah!) pay or a day in lieu either.

[Lonnie]

I was, until last March, (retired after close to thirty years) a driver on both the District and Central Line, and was a member of Aslef.

I only ever went on two strikes in that time, and that weas when, in my opinion, certain jobs were threatened unjustly, never for pay, because I've always thought we were well payed compared to certain outside jobs.

This strike is unjustified, and I think it'll come back and bite them in the not too distant future.

Now, I read in a previous reply about redundancies, it'll never happen, there is a 'No Redundancy' clause written in to the drivers contracts, Only the drivers.

[emmie]

lonnie, what other business has such a clause, santa perhaps....

[fbg40]

Well said Lonnie.
FBG40

[Carakeel]

My ratter works as a Senior Carer in a residential home for elderly, mostly with severe dementia. He is working on Christmas day, from 5pm-10pm and a normal 8 hour shift on Boxing day! He doesn't get anything other than his normal hourly rate for this which is barely above the minimum wage! Considering the amount of work he does, the high level of responsability his job carries (dealing with medication for a large number of residents, bereaved or sometimes difficult families, doctors, nurses, deaths, training and overseeing staff, putting care plans on computer and keeping them updated, not to mention all the problems associated with different dementias the residents have etc.). Working with people with severe dementia is not exactly the easiest job on the planet and he is totally dedicated to his residents! It does annoy me how badly even highly trained, dedicated care staff such as him are paid! I do think the train drivers are being greedy when they demand trebble time and a day off in lieu for Boxing day! There are many who have equally important jobs and have to put up with far less pay and benefits!! I am so proud of my ratter, because despite all of this, he would never let his residents down, go on strike or even pull a sicky!