• Biggest Tube strike in 10 years next week
    224 replies, posted
[IMG]http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02447/2001-trains-parked_2447141k.jpg[/IMG] Tube staff from the four major tube unions (RMT, ASLEF, TSSA and Unite) will walk out from 18:30 on Wednesday for 24 hours next week in a dispute over pay, rosters and night running (the tube is to go 24hr on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 September) [url]http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/tube-strike-live-july-tfl-london-underground-wednesday-thursday-10364656.html[/url] This is expected to cause major disruption to tube services on Wednesday evening and there will be no tube services whatsoever on Thursday. I am one of the staff who will walk out and join my colleagues on the picket line at my zone 1 station on Thursday! If anyone has any questions about the strike I'll try to answer below. If anyone wants to come and join our picket line, we'd be thrilled to have some extra support on Thursday. My staff pass: [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/ArKYo31.jpg[/IMG]
Obligatory: [video=youtube;0dftDPLAylU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dftDPLAylU[/video] But in all seriousness, strikes are why we need automated trains. Granted there are benefits to having human drivers but with constant disruption from plans like 24hr running which sounds reasonable, as I assume drivers will just do different shifts, I think that for the sake of ease and citizens of London automated trains are the way forwards.
[QUOTE=MissZoey;48114030]Obligatory: [video=youtube;0dftDPLAylU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dftDPLAylU[/video][/QUOTE] This song was written about tube drivers and rather amusingly us mere station staff are now on the same wage the drivers were on when the song was written (my basic salary is just over £30,000)
[QUOTE=Bengley;48113996]If anyone has any questions about the strike I'll try to answer below.[/QUOTE] What's the minimum number of hours a month that you're required to strike in order to work for TFL? Seems like it's quite a lot.
[QUOTE=Wiggles;48114044]What's the minimum number of hours a month that you're required to strike in order to work for TFL? Seems like it's quite a lot.[/QUOTE] We haven't actually striked since February 2014 on stations!
[QUOTE=Bengley;48114055]We haven't actually striked since February 2014 on stations![/QUOTE] Why do you resort to strike action anyway? This seems to be a dispute between all of the unions and not with an outside influence, or at least that's what I read, that all 4 couldn't come to an agreement. I don't think that strike action is the way to do this, or at least isn't the "good" way to do it. A lot of people rely on the tube for work and what about tourism? These massive strikes can't be good for the economy.
[QUOTE=MissZoey;48114090]Why do you resort to strike action anyway? This seems to be a dispute between all of the unions and not with an outside influence, or at least that's what I read, that all 4 couldn't come to an agreement. I don't think that strike action is the way to do this, or at least isn't the "good" way to do it. A lot of people rely on the tube for work and what about tourism? These massive strikes can't be good for the economy.[/QUOTE] If so many staff are unhappy at the proposals TfL have set out (the turnout for the ballots was massive, over 90% turnout with 98% voting yes for strike action) then the company need to realise that something needs to be done. The railways are one of very few industries with strong unions left in this country. If other people are unhappy in their jobs, they should push for better conditions, not just put up with it!
Strikes are just an excuse for selfish lazy people to have a few days off and screw over the general public, there's loads of people out there on minimum wage who work hard for it, you don't see them striking every five minutes, I fucking bet these strikers are not on minimum wage and don't do anywhere near as hard work as what some of us on minimum wage do in shitty dirty factories and warehouses. I have to lug around 20-30kg loads of shit constantly like a robot for 12 hours a night and I'm on £6.50 an hour and only get a 30 minute break, do you see people like me striking constantly?
Only one day after the 10th anniversary of 7/7? Couldn't they have picked a different day?
[QUOTE=Bengley;48114122]If so many staff are unhappy at the proposals TfL have set out (the turnout for the ballots was massive, over 90% turnout with 98% voting yes for strike action) then the company need to realise that something needs to be done. The railways are one of very few industries with strong unions left in this country. If other people are unhappy in their jobs, they should push for better conditions, not just put up with it![/QUOTE] I'm not saying put up with it, I'm saying negotiate until it becomes fully necessary to bring London to a standstill for a day. I do agree that you all need better conditions but I feel for the general public who are now going to have to swelter in the surface heat during the already crammed commute. I also feel for the tourists who will possibly have a day of their holidays ruined.
[QUOTE=steelman111;48114128]Strikes are just an excuse for selfish lazy people to have a few days off and screw over the general public, there's loads of people out there on minimum wage who work hard for it, you don't see them striking every five minutes.[/QUOTE] I find it quite insulting being called lazy. Have you tried working in a tunnel for 8 hours in the sweltering heat, with people sneezing all over you, abusing you, constant queries from passengers, all while trying to maintain a safe environment for hundreds, if not thousands of people every minute at all hours of the day and having no social life as a result? EVERYONE should have the right to a strong union which can put pressure on the company for better conditions. And before anyone says we're paid enough already... £30k in London is not a fantastic wage. I net approximately £1600 a month - try paying rent for a flat in London for that much and afford to be able to have an enjoyable life.
[QUOTE=Jamsponge;48114140]Only one day after the 10th anniversary of 7/7? Couldn't they have picked a different day?[/QUOTE] Jesus, I just remembered how my parents were due to be in London and on the tube on 7/7 but their boss cancelled the meeting. Just a slight off topic thing. muh merge
[QUOTE=Bengley;48114040]This song was written about tube drivers and rather amusingly us mere station staff are now on the same wage the drivers were on when the song was written (my basic salary is just over £30,000)[/QUOTE] 30K Euros = ~40.2K CAD. Minimum wage here is ~$11 making a yearly gross income of ~20K. By this math you are making 2x+ (depending on province) the minimum wage of Canada to drive a train. What are your daily duties when working? Because so far it seems that you're making $22 CAD an hour to operate a vehicle. Which is a rather decent income.
[QUOTE=Bengley;48114162]I find it quite insulting being called lazy. Have you tried working in a tunnel for 8 hours in the sweltering heat, with people sneezing all over you, abusing you, constant queries from passengers, all while trying to maintain a safe environment for hundreds, if not thousands of people every minute at all hours of the day and having no social life as a result? EVERYONE should have the right to a strong union which can put pressure on the company for better conditions. And before anyone says we're paid enough already... £30k in London is not a fantastic wage. I net approximately £1600 a month - try paying rent for a flat in London for that much and afford to be able to have an enjoyable life.[/QUOTE] I don't think maintaining a safe environment is up to you though, I think it's down to the transport police etc. It'd help if we knew what job you were, saying "station staff" is anything from a guy behind the ticket counter to someone who helps you through the gates when your oyster card fucks up.
[QUOTE=MissZoey;48114161]I'm not saying put up with it, I'm saying negotiate until it becomes fully necessary to bring London to a standstill for a day. I do agree that you all need better conditions but I feel for the general public who are now going to have to swelter in the surface heat during the already crammed commute. I also feel for the tourists who will possibly have a day of their holidays ruined.[/QUOTE] They've been negotiating since late 2013. This really is the last ditch attempt at preventing all of the changes which are already happening. There are plenty of buses for people to use (extra buses are being put on) and cycle hire ranks all over the city - people will be able to get where they want to go, it will take longer, but it's only for one day. [editline]3rd July 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Daemon White;48114171]30K Euros = ~40.2K CAD. Minimum wage here is ~$11 making a yearly gross income of ~20K. By this math you are making 2x+ (depending on province) the minimum wage of Canada to drive a train. What are your daily duties when working? Because so far it seems that you're making $22 CAD an hour to operate a vehicle. Which is a rather decent income.[/QUOTE] This isn't canada. London is an extremely expensive city to live in. And I'm not a driver, I'm station staff. Drivers are on £49,900.
[QUOTE=Bengley;48114184]They've been negotiating since late 2013. This really is the last ditch attempt at preventing all of the changes which are already happening. There are plenty of buses for people to use (extra buses are being put on) and cycle hire ranks all over the city - people will be able to get where they want to go, it will take longer, but it's only for one day. [editline]3rd July 2015[/editline] This isn't canada. London is an extremely expensive city to live in. And I'm not a driver, I'm station staff. Drivers are on £49,900.[/QUOTE] Ah, thanks for telling me how long you've been negotiating for. I see why you are striking now. It's good that extra buses are being put on to help, it seems you all aren't leaving London to fend for itself.
[QUOTE=MissZoey;48114178]I don't think maintaining a safe environment is up to you though, I think it's down to the transport police etc. It'd help if we knew what job you were, saying "station staff" is anything from a guy behind the ticket counter to someone who helps you through the gates when your oyster card fucks up.[/QUOTE] My role is safety critical. It includes working on the ticket barriers, doing platform duties (dispatch of trains), responding to incidents on the station, assisting mobility and visually impaired passengers, implementing crowd control when the station becomes dangerously busy (this happens on a daily basis). I'm not saying it's a horrendously difficult job but it's demanding and the shift work is very bad for our health.
[QUOTE=Bengley;48114213]My role is safety critical. It includes working on the ticket barriers, doing platform duties (dispatch of trains), responding to incidents on the station, assisting mobility and visually impaired passengers, implementing crowd control when the station becomes dangerously busy (this happens on a daily basis). I'm not saying it's a horrendously difficult job but it's demanding and the shift work is very bad for our health.[/QUOTE] But what is your actual job description? I always thought safety was down to the transport police, guess I learn something new every day.
[QUOTE=Bengley;48114184]They've been negotiating since late 2013. This really is the last ditch attempt at preventing all of the changes which are already happening. There are plenty of buses for people to use (extra buses are being put on) and cycle hire ranks all over the city - people will be able to get where they want to go, it will take longer, but it's only for one day. [editline]3rd July 2015[/editline] This isn't canada. London is an extremely expensive city to live in. And I'm not a driver, I'm station staff. Drivers are on [B]£49,900[/B].[/QUOTE] The fuck
What kind of training does your job require to start? Do you receive any benefits in addition to your salary? What are jobs with a similar salary for comparison?
[QUOTE=MissZoey;48114236]But what is your actual job description? I always thought safety was down to the transport police, guess I learn something new every day.[/QUOTE] The BTP are rarely on most stations. If things go wrong, it's down to staff to respond. The job description is mainly customer service based, but in training we are trained to respond to all sorts of crap - passengers ill on trains, passengers under trains, we are trained to walk on the track if necessary, spotting suspicious packages and dealing with them safely, stopping and starting escalators safely, fire safety and security checks (and lots more)
Can you explain why train drivers get paid so much? I would happily become a train driver for half their salary compared to my current job if it's anything like how i imagine. I can imagine TfL would also prefer to hire me for £25k/y rather than the £50k which they get paid currently.
[QUOTE=RIPBILLYMAYS;48114251]What kind of training does your job require to start? Do you receive any benefits in addition to your salary? What are jobs with a similar salary for comparison?[/QUOTE] The CSA training is 3 weeks of classroom and practical training plus 2 weeks of shadowing a member of staff at our station. We receive a free oyster card which allows us to travel for free on Tube, Bus, DLR, Overground, TfL Rail and Tram services in London, but not National Rail (as some people think). We get the same for one nominated person at the same address. We do not get any discount on National Rail services so if we don't live in London, like me, the benefits are useless - I rarely go to London outside work.
I heard they're going to start automating the tube trains in the next decade or so.
If you want more money why don't you get more skills and get a better job? lol
[QUOTE=Ishwoo;48114293]Can you explain why train drivers get paid so much? I would happily become a train driver for half their salary compared to my current job if it's anything like how i imagine. I can imagine TfL would also prefer to hire me for £25k/y rather than the £50k which they get paid currently.[/QUOTE] Because they are responsible for the safety of many people and their job requires 12 months training and a very high level of concentration all throughout their shift. They have a very good union who, over the years, has fought very well for them to be at the level they are now. I'd challenge you to find any other job in which a working class person can earn £50k without any qualifications before joining the job! [editline]3rd July 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=X12321;48114317]If you want more money why don't you get more skills and get a better job? lol[/QUOTE] Why should we?
[QUOTE=Bengley;48114325]Because they are responsible for the safety of many people and their job requires 12 months training and a very high level of concentration all throughout their shift. They have a very good union who, over the years, has fought very well for them to be at the level they are now. I'd challenge you to find any other job in which a working class person can earn £50k without any qualifications before joining the job! [editline]3rd July 2015[/editline] Why should we?[/QUOTE] Why should they pay you more? How are you any different from the taxi drivers stomping their feet in France? You want more money go earn it. I'm glad they're replacing you all with robots.
Don't you bastards get paid enough?
[QUOTE=Bengley;48114325]I'd challenge you to find any other job in which a working class person can earn £50k [B]without any qualifications before joining the job[/B]! [/QUOTE] Sounds like they're getting a pretty good deal then.
arent you the guy that made the awkward trespassing video
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