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

A bus driver is never a single person responsible for 1,000 passengers alone, when in an emergency those passengers could be evacuating themselves onto an electrified track, where other trains are travelling at considerable speed.

And that's just one situation. People are so ridiculous with this just sit there and push a button nonsense.

I don't comments on others jobs because I haven't a clue how they do them or what the entail.

Also never mind suicides, what about accidents of people, often kids falling into tracks, how many of these are averted because there’s a driver in the cab who pulls the emergency break.
Eventually yes the job will be dumbed down a bit but they will never be driverless, the system is too deep level for that

Well the obvious solution is automated gates that prevent people getting onto the track, that are already in place at some stations. It will undoubtedly be automated, in the future people apparently won't even be needed to drive cars...

My dp is a signalman and wands £60k, I think it’s overpaid but he says he has thousands of lives in his hands 🙈

Looking at this from another angle, is £55k really such a high salary for someone in London with the cost of housing?
Whether you agree with the fact or not it is a highly skilled job with a lot of responsibility and without that sort of salary I certainly wouldn’t be doing it.
Instead of running down people’s jobs and this race to the bottom wouldn’t it be better to address the issue of the salary of nurses and the police force, maybe working towards them getting more than wishing train drivers get made redundant

Seriously daisy ? Its double the national average....

My son works 50 hours a week in construction management for 45k.

Again, it’s not that the salary is too high, it’s that others salaries are too low. And this is their pay before tax. Nothing to stop you applying to do it and earning that too.

Justkeepswimming, the national average but what about London average?

Jayfee so tell him to apply

Er no, that’s a reasonable amount in London and if we all had a union as strong as theirs we would all be getting that much.

Surely your question should be is it unreasonable how low other peoples pay is in comparison? (eg paramedics, nurses, police officers, teachers who have a similar level of risk and responsibility)

Good for them that they get a decent wage. I’d much rather that than they took on a second job and were so tired they’d have an accident with me on board. With anyone, Obviously, but I use the Tube.

Think how much money could be poured into better transport if it weren't wasted on jobs that aren't needed.

Could be, but wouldn't.

Doing a bloody good job their union!!

Ridiculously overpaid

They provide a vital service and work in poor conditions. The very fact that tube strikes are so disruptive shows how important a job it is. So it’s right that they get a fair wage

I would say the fact that Police Officers are not even allowed to strike by law and it would be a criminal offence if they did, shows their job is far more important..but they don’t earn as much as tube drivers

They have a very strong union which is why on your average tube journey the driver is one of the highest paid on the train!
However, and this is the same for train drivers, I guess the tube drivers have to earn what they can whilst they can. All you need is one jumper, the PTSD kicks in and they can no longer work.

Everyone else is underpaid, that's why you think it's a lot. It should be the average salary for London

I worked in an industry with a closed shop Union. We were paid very well. Then, thanks to management and weak union organisation, pay was cut to half of what I started on. Management upped their dividends and pay, of course. Company is now far weaker and a horrid place to work in. For the ordinary workers, not for the board, obvs. So good on tube unions for keeping it together. Why shouldn’t they get a decent wage? Do a better job than dodgy city traders.

So josiejasper would you rather reduce the salary of a tube driver or raise the salary of a police officer?

When people say 'think how much money could be spent...' do you actually think it would be spent on police? Education? Health?
Of course it bloody well wouldn't be.

When the government and companies like to slash conditions for normal folk (and play to people in order to get the race to the bottom going), the money doesn't benevolently get distributed elsewhere. It lines the pockets of those already comfy.

Good on anyone who fights for their pay and conditions.

So many people away with the fairies that the answer is everyone else should be paid more.

Daisy03 I think that answer is obvious but just to confirm. I would expect many salaries to rise, in particular Police Officers. The Tube/Train drivers should keep their wage. My comment was not relating to their salary (I don’t begrudge them that at all, good on them) but more the comment of how important the role is because of the chaos a strike causes.

josiejasper, thanks for clarifying and sorry for being sharp with you there, I may be getting a bit overly defensive 😊

Daisy03 No problem