Is j on holiday? Only it feels a bit pointless having a go at unions and tube drivers without him

[Berni]

here to bite, tbh. :-(

[Luis Anaconda]

Generally couldn't believe some of the stuff I was reading about what they want yesterday. Surely no one takes them seriously any more?

[Berni]

Whereas j would defend them if they were demanding the sacrifice of every third person's firstborn, which makes it more fun.

Unfortunately, we don't seem to have a choice about taking them seriously, since they can hold the Underground to ransom. On the plus side, they do enormous damage to the public image and popularity of the union movement, so it's not all bad.

[Mo Britain less Europe]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

It may not be the most reasoned or logical, but needs must.

[Ashberto]

at 24 hours notice, and to make you work 17 weekends in a row.

At least, these are some of the claims I've read. Not sure if they are true, but given my experience of arrogant, ignorant and bullying bosses making stupid decisions without considering the effects on staff it wouldn't surprise me.

[Mo Britain less Europe]

controllers tried to hold the US to ransom.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

You forgot to mention Thatcher.

[Berni]

No, I'll just have to make do with the cricket today.

[Ashberto]

Maybe the strikers have a point that these changes are being badly introduced.

[Rich]

do) being asked to work different shifts at short notice.

I'll tell you what, A - if they don't f**king like the new rules, I suggest they quit and get a job in Asda because they're qualified for f**k all else.

I suggest they keep their big, fat, gobs firmly **** and continue to gobble away from the hand that feeds them so generously.

[Ashberto]

was definitely the result of 70 years of Thatcherism. :nod:

"There is no such thing as society".

[Luis Anaconda]

Might be a good toss to lose. Australian machismo will probably force them to bat first in bad conditions

[Pokster]

the pitch certainly looks green

[Ashberto]

I may have mentioned this already. This is not a drivers strike, and it is supported solidly by the whole workforce, most of whom do not get the much-vaunted 50 kilopounds a year.

The fact that few people are aware of this indicates that coverage of the dispute may not be entirely even-handed.

[Berni]

In return for which, it is by no means unreasonable to ask them to work different shifts in order to provide a better service. And, since they are being offered a nice payrise in return for this, that is also not unreasonable. The extreme examples you quote are unlikely ever to happen and certainly do not require strike action to prevent them. Ultimately, we all know that what they actually want is yet more money and yet more time off, at which point these 'concerns' will magically disappear.

Finally, whatever merits their case may or may not have, these unions simply have no credibility, since they have shown themselves equally ready to strike on footling issues - such as in support of a driver who failed a breathalyser test.

[Luis Anaconda]

[Snin]

:-)

[Berni]

ie it's inefficient, self-righteous and has no place in the modern world.

[Pokster]

earning a decent salary.

I agree with you on this one, it's not just about the drivers in this case

[Ashberto]

It's almost as if some people can't bear the thought of unskilled workers being anything but dirt poor.

[Berni]

shop enjoying a vastly inflated salary for a job that in many cases isn't really necessary - not to mention 40-50 days' holiday a year, etc, etc. And what those people are also objecting to is that they are paying for these people to enjoy these privileges through their fares and are getting a fairly pisspoor service as a result (no aircon on most rolling stock, no nighttime service, etc) - all because the money is going to people who don't really earn it.

And then, whenever these people want more money or more time off, the people who pay their inflated wages are inconvenienced by strike action. That's what really grits people's ****. Nothing whatsoever to do with class.

[Ashberto]

And cycles do have a place in the modern world - just not on the f**king pavements please.

[IUFG]

[Berni]

salary for a job at that level. However, as I say, that is the first rung, from which you are then able to progress to become a driver if you so wish. That is how it works - there is little or no external recruitment for the better-paid jobs. It's a closed shop.

[Snin]

4K carbon bikes with ALL the gear..or mountain bikers..or bmx's...there is not many hippy dippy cyclists bout now im glad to say and they easy to spot as often too much dayglo, too many panniers, 1970's kagools etc.. most cyclists tho are def not stereo type hippy

[Ashberto]

There's yer red heron.

This is about a poorly-implemented night shift plan by management. Is there actually a viable demand for running the tube at night anyway?

[Luis Anaconda]

exorbitant cost of the transport system :rubchin:

[Berni]

entitled to two extra 'rest days' - this was posted by a tube driver who called himself 'Marked' on the link Monty put up yesterday if you don't believe me.

And like I say, I bet that - if they get offered more money/time off - that will resolve it. Funny that, isn't it.

[Pat Vegas]

shop and that's the only way in.

[Ashberto]

A lot of people seem to spend as much in Starbucks as they do on their daily tube fare.