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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

444 replies

nickiredcar · 17/12/2018 10:04

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 Confused

OP posts:
Daisy03 · 17/12/2018 14:35

Actually since the introduction of night tube vacancies have been advertised externally, it’s now pretty much the only way to get to be a full time operator, and most internal candidates can’t afford to take the pay drop to night tube, and have to wait a year or two for a full time vacancy.
When the role is advertised there is always understandably a huge interest and applications close down quite quickly so really people have to be looking all the time.
Night tube is around 24k for working every Friday and Saturday night.
Yes it’s a good salary for 16 hours a week, but highly unsociable and inflexible. You can’t change the nights you’re working, and you get 7 weekends off a year which are allocated to you.
Also not so pleasant are the clientele overnight on those nights

Daisy03 · 17/12/2018 14:38

Also this info is from like the daily mail and people here should know better, basic salary is 55k and it’s only a tiny few test track operators that can do overtime, the rest of us aren’t allowed for health and safety.
To add on our pension contributions and value of our free oyster to our salary, then compare it to a basic minimum nurses salary is not a fair comparison.
I hate the comparison to nurses though it’s not a race to the bottom and we have completely different jobs

treaclesoda · 17/12/2018 14:39

I don't live in London so have no idea about cost of travel but public transport is extortionate where I live. If I could find a job that had free transport as a perk that would be worth thousands to me.

And if its unlimited, then presumably its an even bigger perk in London since you have transport available every few minutes instead of every few hours.

But I think its a pretty fair perk for someone who works for a transport company.

AbsoluteBeginners7 · 17/12/2018 14:57

I'm not earning the 'starting wage'. How funny you think you know more about it than an employee! 55k is the wage for Train Ops regardless. 57k for Instructor Operator. If you look at the table I posted you will clearly see that. I've been driving tube trains for 11 years.

A test train operator is a different role, there are only a handful of these positions and they have to know every stock, every line, every defect. Their salary is a fair bit higher as it's a specialist role. They never drive trains in passenger service. I was going to apply for Test train vacancies but I can't be arsed to travel all over the combine when my current depot is close to my home.

Original poster
nickiredcar · 17/12/2018 14:57

You can support everyone getting a fair wage while also being unhappy that a small amount are overpaid due to their unique position that allows them to hold people to ransom.

OP posts:
whatsthecomingoverthehill · 17/12/2018 14:58

I hate the comparison to nurses though it’s not a race to the bottom and we have completely different jobs
Yes, you have a job that requires less training, entrance requirements etc than nurses. It is by virtue of the impact you have when you strike that you get paid what you do.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 17/12/2018 14:58

I haven't seen anyone counter the argument that they get paid what they do because of the disruption they cause when they go on strike

I doubt you're likely to as it seems unarguable

BTW, since someone mentioned management pay, aren't they in a different union? I thought it was broadly RMT/Aslef for the drivers and TSSA for "deskbound staff" but am ready to be corrected

Original poster
nickiredcar · 17/12/2018 15:01

I do seem to know more than many employees because ive read a detailed report by the times based on a FOI request.

Where has the poster gone that kept claiming her DH earnt way less than the basic tube driver wage and witnessed 2-3 suicides every single yearShock

OP posts:
Ated · 17/12/2018 15:04

tentative3: Because I've worked alongside them, tried to educate them and noted their attitudes over 30 years. I also check qualifications, check legislation, rules, directives, procedures and write a lot of them as well.

canigetaliein · 17/12/2018 15:07

nickiredcar Sorry I didn’t mean that lots of companies offer free tfl travel but discount in general eg Asos gives you 50% off. A monthly 1-3 travel card is about £150 from memory. I think tfl workers should be entitled to tfl discount.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 17/12/2018 15:07

Our managers who deal with competence are all ex-drivers. They have to be. Therefore they do earn more than us technically. That is for a 5 day week though and we do a 4 day week.

They can remain in ASLEF up to a certain level but most choose not to here.

Our managers that deal with allocating jobs, sickness etc do not have to be ex-drivers and all earn less than we do.

Once you become a manager you are subject to being moved area, working over time unpaid and when the TOC changes franchise, not having a job at all.

AbsoluteBeginners7 · 17/12/2018 15:16

Right, so you've said that you know more about it that LU employees. Can you let me know when me and the 80-odd drivers at my depot are going to be given our pay rises please?

I've done 11 years on your so called starting wage. I've got colleagues who have done over 35 years on your so called starting wage!

Can you tell us when we are getting the rest of our cash, as you seem to have all the info. Thanks!

Bunbunbunny · 17/12/2018 15:17

I don't see any problem that they're paid a liveable London wage, they're essential for the running of the city. I would never begrudge someone for earning a decent salary. £55k isn't a huge income in London, especially if you are a home owner or living in the private sector.

What would be acceptable? £30k? £20k?
It's a skilled job, they are responsible for 1000s of people everyday. Who is the OP to say they are overpaid? If you're so worried about the bus driver salary go and demand more.

GabsAlot · 17/12/2018 15:19

the great bob crow the man who c alled a strike over anything and wouldnt leave his council house even though he was earning 100k-yeah great man

RandomObject · 17/12/2018 15:23

I can completely believe the hemp drink story - I heard of a whole cohort of soldiers being kicked out of the army because their protein powder had been laced with trace amounts of amphetamines. Never know what's in anything these days.

You ABU OP, and seem to have a massive chip on your shoulder.

JustKeepSwimmingJustKeepSwimmi · 17/12/2018 15:25

55k to drive a train is an incredible salary. Certainly not one bus drivers do. And more than qualified teachers, nurses, social workers.

Im genuinely amazed its so much.

whatsthecomingoverthehill · 17/12/2018 15:30

Absolute, it is the salary you started on, so is a starting salary. Some people can progress to higher paid roles, for many it is also their finishing salary. What is the issue?

southnownorth · 17/12/2018 15:32

On the contrary justkeep, I don't think 55k is enough.

What figure should it be?

nancy75 · 17/12/2018 15:34

Ive got a lovely story about Bob Crow & his buddies. His union used to hold weekly meetings in my partner’s place of work. The cleaning lady used to do them sandwiches & refreshments every week to make a bit of extra money ( about £15 a week). Week in week out without fail the union people ‘forgot’ to pay her. It went on for weeks, until they owed her about £150 (not a lot of money for them but considerable for her) whenever she asked for the money they fobbed her off with a promise of paying next week/ had the attitude of it only being a few quid why did she keep moaning...
Imagine what Bob Crow & friends would have done if their members weren’t paid for weeks.

PostmanBos · 17/12/2018 15:48

If Bob Crow had been negotiating the Brexit we would own France by now and they'd be paying us to take it off their hands.

Original poster
nickiredcar · 17/12/2018 15:48

Absolute do you understand what a starting salary is? It's the wage everyone starts a role on and the minimum, of course if you haven't progressed Futher and taken on more responsibility this is what you will earn.

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 17/12/2018 15:53

But not all jobs have different grades or progression within a grade.

Sometimes everyone gets paid the same whether they have done the job for a few months, a few years or a few decades.

When Absolute posted the pay levels for tube drivers, it had a few different jobs, but most qualified 'train operators' all appeared to be on the same salary.

It does look like they get an annual cost of living increase, but otherwise, unless they are a trainee, or an instructor, all tube drivers get paid the same, for standard full time hours.

Boohooyouho · 17/12/2018 15:53

It doesn’t really work like that though. It’s the only salary for the grade of train operator. You can apply to one of a hand full of instructor operators or even less in number of test train operator. So it’s not a starting salary in the sense of those who work on pay scales.

Boohooyouho · 17/12/2018 15:54

Anyway, it’s payday on weds and I’m looking forward to my salary almost doubling. Very handy this time of year

GodrestyemerrySchadenfreud · 17/12/2018 15:59

Hardly any interaction

That would be the clincher for me Kemer

I am an anti-social bugger at the best of times . . .