To think tube drivers are overpaid as most earn 60-70k and get free travel

[nickiredcar]

Surely they are only paid so much because they run a monopoly and people have no choice. I think it's an argument against unions. Considering lots are semi automatic it does seem too high that they are now out earning pilots.

Apparently they are striking because one of their drivers was sacked for failing drugs tests at work three times

I want to raise the income of many more working people rather than lower it for those paid the most.

@nickiredcar No one here has said everyone should be low paid, quite the opposite.

Neither did I. Correct me if I'm wrong but your whole post is based on the premise that train drivers are over paid and I do not thing they are. If other professions are underpaid then that is a separate post.

You are singling out train drivers. Wayne Rooney earns a fortune and how many lives has he saved or road side open heart surgeries has he performed? Yes, some professions are paid more than others.
Maybe your post should be renamed footballers are paid too much for kicking a ball around when there are other professions who study for years, put their lives on
the line and save our bacon earning less. Why train drivers?

Your 70 yrs comment was in very bad taste and you know it. I reiterate again at my friends inquest the devastation I saw in that drivers face has haunted me to this day and I often wonder how he is. I think if you had any respect at all you would ask
'MNHQ to moderate and remove that comment. Disgusting, ill judged, ill informed, ignorant and offensive to say the least.

My Dh has only experienced one suicide in his whole career of almost 25 years. Some of his colleagues have unfortunately have experienced more than one.

One particular unfortunate guy had a suicide on his first day back from a previous suicide.

They are pretty graphic things. Often some body parts will remain on the front of the train.

@nickiredcar I've reported your comments . Vile!

Become a tube driver then op? Problem solved

Footballers don't disrupt my weekend by calling strikes just so they can get some more time off.

Why does every thread about pay has to compared with footballers. If that bothers you so much start a thread on them. I'm discussing an essential service that causes so much disruption with their union.

There's nothing wrong with pointing out how rare suicides are for tube drivers, it's not nice but it's valid when people keep using that as a reason for their high pay.

OP you do realise tube drivers don't get paid when they strike?

@nickiredcar get on the bus then! Or, as others have said, become a train driver. In any event, stop moaning and wind your neck in. You are starting to put a dampener on my xmas.

Op a quick google has actually got me thinking and I’m usually quite rigid in thought. It looks like the tfl don’t advertise vacancies so actually it is quite a difficult job to get into. Not sure where I stand on this one, I don’t think I know enough.

Of course they don't get paid when they strike, that's the whole point they are paid so much it isn't a big deal to cause missery for others by closing down the network to get another day off.

It's been pointed out many times the flaw in that argument, you're welcome to leave the thread if you don't like it.

The driver failed the drugs test because of hemp oil?

This is such a bizarre thread! They don't enjoy striking, my husband hates it when they do, but he has no choice. A days pay is very much missed in our house.

I'm trying my hardest to see what your real concern is but your posts are all over the place. I've come to the conclusion that you were most likely dumped by a tube driver as you're so bitter.

Or OP failed the entry tests for a train driver. I know a few of these and they are so bitter and nasty towards other drivers.

TheWiseWomansFear
@Clavinova 50 people do not commit suicide in the underground each week... the trains would never run!!!

Indeed, this was a typo - for which I posted an "oops" 8 minutes later!!
50 people per year average (2012 figures).

southnownorth good second choice!

They don't like striking? There's been several anecdotal posts here saying the opposite and that many do.

You've been outed as lying several times. Then just once said it was a typo.

They're overpaid for the job and have too much power, that's my whole point throughout this thread.

Whatsthecomingoverthehill it’s the pension contributions boosting it right up and yes we’re lucky to have such a good pension, but if we are to compare wages we should then include that in anyone’s base salary?
The overtime is extremely negligible, only time there’s overtime is when there’s some sort of incident and we may finish a few minutes late but we get taken off ASAP as we have strict parameters we work within because of fatigue. Voluntary or rest day working is not allowed, with the exception of the very few test track operators who are not driving customers around

Southnownorth I agree with you about people who have failed, in particular those who feel they’re overqualified and too good for the job.

Def Daisy.

My DH is a senior instructor training up the new recruits. The majority of them have only applied because of the 50k plus salary. They are shocked at just how tough it is and many will not pass their training.

But it’s only pushing a few buttons I guess?

Nickiredcar it’s said in training we’re paid for what we are trained for rather than what we do. If the train breaks down in a deep tunnel who do you think fixes that? And if it can’t be fixed who do you think is getting the current off, and making sure it stays off whilst walking you to safety.
In the event of a terror attack who do you think is dealing with that appropriately, most likely completely alone?

Well my husband doesn't like it, and most of his colleagues don't either. A few days pay adds up depending on how long the strike is. That's money which could be put towards other things. Compared to the 6 figure salaries people go on about on here my husbands TAKE HOME PAY of £40,000 isn't actually that much.

I already said the before tax thing was a typo, like I'm the first person on Mumsnet to ever type a mistake

The suicides I can't prove nor would I want to, it's an awful part of the job and not something anyone would lie about.

I'm not sure about the tube but I was told at my interview to be a train driver that if I did 10 years driving I'd likely have one.

I'm lucky to have done 15 years almost without one.

Some of my colleagues have indeed had 3.

Some had one whilst training before they even qualified.

What I would say that everyone single one of them will never forget that incident. Or the feelings of guilt associated with it. Even though logically there is nothing they can do to prevent it.

Some were off track for a long time. They have the inquest to attend. The driving past the place where it happened every day and replaying it in their minds etc. It's something which never leaves them.

By the way OP if you google Aslef rates of pay and view company information you can see the salaries for all the TOCs. Rip all them to shreds as well.

My DH is a senior instructor training up the new recruits. The majority of them have only applied because of the 50k plus salary. They are shocked at just how tough it is and many will not pass their training.

Sounds an excellent argument for advertising all vacancies externally then if most will not pass the training. Sounds like they are not recruiting good enough candidates in the first place.

Well my husband doesn't like it, and most of his colleagues don't either. A few days pay adds up depending on how long the strike is. That's money which could be put towards other things. Compared to the 6 figure salaries people go on about on here my husbands TAKE HOME PAY of £40,000 isn't actually that much.

Its not tube drivers' fault that your husband can't earn a decent salary. Perhaps you should get up from your ass and apply for a job as a driver.