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

Nickiredcar it’s said in training we’re paid for what we are trained for rather than what we do.

But that's the same with so many jobs, what about flight attendants on Ryanair earning 16k? The same argument applies to them.

If they have such trouble getting people good enough to train why not stop seeing it as a job where people can progress from other roles in the underground and allow everyone to apply? I'm not surprised a shocking number fail with its closed door system.

In the old BR days when my DH started most did it for the love of the job and he is train geek, the salary was low back in the 90s.

choli please read carefully before insulting people. My husband is a tube driver, I am defending them and his profession!

I would shut the whole system down and hire scabs which I would train up and still pay relatively well.
It's appalling. Where's Maggie when you need her?

Surely though, if you don't want to join in with the strike you just don't?

Seems that the last time they managed to get some staff to go in as the trains began running again (albeit on a very limited schedule.)
No one is obliged to strike?

£40k is a very good salary.

Now your arguing that 40k take home isn't that much I'm pretty sure that puts someone above the 95% best payed people in the county.

X post about opening up positions to all.

OP now who's taking posts out of context?It is a decent salary, I was saying it's not in comparison to the 6 figure salaries people usually brag about on Mumsnet.

And it's you're not your BTW.

And paid not payed.

You definitely won't get a tube driving job with those poor language skills OP.

Nickiredcar as I stated earlier it has been open externally a few times over the last couple of years

I agree with you OP, I think it is absolutely shocking

The mirror and several other articles are all saying the public haven't been able to apply since 2008 www.google.com/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/money/how-you-become-tube-driver-6205254.amp

Another thread where an OP goes 'boohoo someone else has it better than me so I think it's unfair. Why should anyone have decent conditions when my aunty Susan's neighbours cousin was sacked for sneezing and going to get a tissue'

It's not a race to the bottom.

Abacucat the trainees she are talking about are mainly external as new drivers coming to be night tube drivers tend to be. Recruits from within tend to know far better what the job entails

Well if the mirror say it then it must be true. One of the reasons they don’t often hire externally is the poor retention rate of those staff. Many times they come in with the idea that it’s easy, just push a lever, and then can’t handle the job so they leave. Once I’ve finished work I’ll see if I can find the stats provided to me before if the staff retention rates for internal hires vs external. There was a significant difference.

Nickiredcar not for full time drivers no, but for part time drivers doing night tube they have been recruited externally a few times over the last few years, they then go on the waiting list to become full time drivers which takes around 18 months.

Nickiredcar what exactly is your issue, you’ve got many members of staff on here giving you factual information, one even showing you the salary on a payslip yet you continue to contradict and insist you’re right.
You’re free to disagree with the 53k salary but to keep on quoting from the DM and mirror, and minimising suicide doesn’t make you look clever at all

Regarding internal recruitment again isn’t that the same for many industries? I temped in the home office as a student & it was certainly easier to transfer across to other depts once in.

Their pay is okay. Most people are paid too little. This needs to change and we need stronger unions as zero hours contracts and low wages across many sectors is wrong.

In New York City we have a train driver who does it for free. He even provides his own uniforms. He does get arrested from time to time though.

Darius McCollum

Tube drivers are overpaid and underworked.

Yes, YABU unreasonable and from the sound of it a little envious.

cani In local authorities, their equal opportunity policies often say every job should be advertised externally. Because otherwise well paid jobs tend to stay for white men. It is no accident tube drivers are all virtually men.