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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tube drivers and their pay

268 replies

Flashbangandgone · 09/07/2015 18:15

It makes me angry.... Surely tube drivers are paid far, far more than jobs with equivalent levels of responsibility, and they only get away with it because they can hold London to ransom... Do they have no shame!?

OP posts:
railwayworker · 09/07/2015 19:07

PresidentTwonk, I expect they did know what they were signing up to, what's that got to do with it? They weren't signing up to this much night work! I know what I signed up to (not a tfl employee) and made the choice that the salary and pension was worth the amount of anti social hours. If my employer seeks to increase the amount of anti social hours damn right we'll strike too.

Flash, the way to fix the problem of low pay in the NHS is not to cut tube drivers' salaries so they're as low as nurses', surely that doesn't need spelling out.

So many of you truly want a race to the bottom. Or you do until it hits your industry, I suspect.

ChunkyPickle · 09/07/2015 19:07

How much do pilots get? Responsible for similar numbers, in a similar situation re-escape - tube drivers better as they can't fall out of the sky, and I assume there's more training for being a pilot as you need to be able to take over if the computer fail, so a lower salary - but more than a train driver as whilst they have the same number of passengers, they are trapped underground. Perhaps somewhere between the two? Which I think, is probably roughly what they are paid.

irrelevant though, because this is about a change in conditions. You're allowed to negotiate over conditions, and the only action available to them is to strike. I can't fault them for it.

strangechild · 09/07/2015 19:09

I'm looking forward to driverless trains.

TheChandler · 09/07/2015 19:10

What qualifications and experience do tube drivers need to justify their 46k pa salary?

Does anyone know?

On a related note, does anyone know the proportion of male: female tube drivers?

lagirafe · 09/07/2015 19:10

I must admit I was shocked when I heard how much they earned but then I thought good on them!
I don't think they need to be paid less, I think most people need to be paid more! We have an awful culture of low wage employment in this country and sometimes whole towns / areas are saturised with low pay/condition jobs.
Something needs to change.
I don't think they should be forced to change their whole working pattern - not many of us would agree to that surely Hmm. They need a work/life balance too and most of them probably have families.

DonnaKebab66 · 09/07/2015 19:12

I'm a nurse in an outpatient setting.They're considering making our job shift work. If I'm forced into weekend and in particular night shifts, too damn right I'd strike too. That's why I got off the wards!

Original poster
Flashbangandgone · 09/07/2015 19:13

I'm not arguing that tube drivers' pay should be reduced to nurses levels... If they could be evened out, that would be fairer.

As for this utopia of strong militant unions controlling the country. You hark back to the 70's if you want to - heaven on earth wasn't it!

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 09/07/2015 19:13

At least their unions are properly engaged in fighting for decent conditions. Shame on those who've allowed their unions to become powerless.

caroldecker · 09/07/2015 19:13

Most subways are fully auomated link. London tube drivers do not even drive the train, but are responsible for door closing.
It should become fully automated.

exLtEveDallasNoBollocks · 09/07/2015 19:14

"Everyone has the right to strike" - The Forces don't...and very few are on 46k a year.

DonnaKebab66 · 09/07/2015 19:14

Also I agree with those saying we should be levelling up, not down. I'm a firm believer in strike action when necessary, and is the main reason why I have always refused to join the RCN as they won't go on strike.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 09/07/2015 19:15

I read the average salary for a tfl employee is 17k (that's all employees not drivers alone though) which isn't the fortune it's made out to be assuming most live in London. All employees voted for the strike due to changes in conditions, mainly the night shifts it seems. Tfl have to publish their spending so I'll try and find a link to the salary information.

ChuffinAda · 09/07/2015 19:17

Its also illegal for the police to strike or form a union

TheHormonalHooker · 09/07/2015 19:18

Everyone has the right to strike

DH & DS1 don't. It's taken DH almost 29 years to be on similar pay in the Forces.

hotfuzzra · 09/07/2015 19:19

Thanks beautifulhorizon I was going to say that.
Our current shift pattern gives officers one weekend off in 10 weeks. But as PPs said, when you apply to do a job with unsocial hours you know what to expect. At least they get Christmas or Boxing Day off (I stand to be corrected). I've worked the last 5 out of 6.
I also go to work where not only do I have to deal with suicides but frequently similarly distressing jobs, with a high risk of personal assault. We don't get 45k, I think even inspectors (2 promotions) only just start on that.

Original poster
Flashbangandgone · 09/07/2015 19:21

Typical TfL worker on £17k with drivers on £48k!!! Not sure how true but even if halfway true that's a disgrace, and reinforces my view that the 'profession' is parasitic!

OP posts:
AbbeyRoadCrossing · 09/07/2015 19:27

The annual report and accounts are on the tfl website for those interested, can't download on the dodgy WiFi I'm on, but I'm pretty sure drivers (once fully qualified) earn more than station staff. Although there aren't many station staff now, but that's a whole other thread
Purely anecdotal but I once applied for an office job at tfl (didn't get it, was an annoying close second!) and I'd say the salary was average for what I do but the other benefits looked great, free travel etc.

DoctorTwo · 09/07/2015 19:28

I see you've bought the lie that this strike is about pay. It isn't. It's about Boris and his unilateral decision to run weekend night services without consulting the unions, and actually seeking to reduce staff numbers increasing duty rotas for that reduced staff membership. So all staff have to increase their hours. Fair enough, they're paid hourly, but most of them have family lives, why should they not be allowed to see them.

ChuffinAda · 09/07/2015 19:31

As a major holiday destination and major centre for finance it's about time there was a 24/7 tube service in London.

JohnFarleysRuskin · 09/07/2015 19:34

What's wrong with working weekend nights? We should have had this years ago.

OrangeVase · 09/07/2015 19:39

Everyone has the right to strike. I was affected but I support them and wish more of us would stop getting at each other and raise wages and conditions generally.

Ilovecrapcrafts · 09/07/2015 19:39

Good for them. Shame comparable workers don't have as much power over their employers, but that's not tube workers fault or problem.

A few years ago the drivers on what was first capital connect worked to rule. I hadn't realised but the company were running about 50% of their timetable on overtime. The nightmare disruption went on for about 4 months whilst FCC recruited and trained new drivers, the old ones never got what they wanted. Why couldn't TFL do similar if drivers are so dispensable?

I work in a completely none unionised environment and am dreaded management they'd be striking against even if I did but I understand in a heavily unionised environment this is the cost of doing business.

ChuffinAda · 09/07/2015 19:44

No. Not everybody has the right to strike, as several of us have mentioned the police can't and their pay and conditions are a lot worse than someone who sits on a train pushing a lever and a button all day

PatriarchalHandmaiden · 09/07/2015 19:45

Good on them for utilising the means to make sure that their working conditions are ones that they are happy with. More people should do likewise.

lagirafe · 09/07/2015 19:47

It's hardly the tube drivers fault that the police / armed forces cannot strike? I really don't get that argument!

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