Is ‘shunter for British Rail’ a working class job?

[Correction]

Been dating a man for 7 months. He was born 1970 just FYI. His parents were both born in 1927 just for context and both long gone from this world.

I know his mum worked in a care home - but I really don’t know her level of seniority- could’ve bern a manager - could’ve had a more routine job - I haven’t asked.

Anyway - I know he was close to his Dad and seemed to be a happy family but had no clue what his Dad did for a living so asked him over the weekend and he said

‘Shunter for British Rail.

AIBU to ask if you’d class it as a working class job?

Working class job yes. But a good job, and skilled with safety responsibilities

Why does it matter?

Is there a reason you’re being so snobby about his parents’ jobs? What does it matter if his Mum was a carer or a manager?

And relatively well paid I see - not BRILLIANT pay admittedly but not low pay - although shunters would no longer be BR employees

Oh no not working class how awful for you!

To be fair I was just stating the facts - I didn’t say I cared and I honestly don’t care !!

Now that’s not fair !!

If you don’t care then why are you asking? It seems a really bizarre thing to be concerned about, there must be a reason you’re asking?

Why?

Just interested

looked online and shunters seem relatively well paid

Ok because shunter sounds like a working class job but I’ve looked online and it’s well paid

Why are you so interested in what someone's dead dad did for a living and how much that would've paid? Serious question.

Another totally bonkers OP.

Most of the UK is working class. The clue is in the name.

Yes, there's a large number of well paid working class ( a lot seen to think that makes the middle class, but if you look at the definition, they're not).

What's your job, OP? (And parents).

Are you wondering if he has an inheritance tucked away

Well it's true isn't it you are questioning a man's heritage and work status being beneath your standards, how is that fair on him?

I’m really curious about why you’re interested in this OP. Has he risen up the ranks and is now CEO of a large multinational?

Yes, a good working class job and relatively well paid.

Why are you asking?

Some working class jobs are well paid. More should be. What a weird question.

Lots of working class jobs are well paid. Class isn’t to do with money. It’s not a “professional” job in the way Dr, accountant etc is. Did you think all working class people were poor???

His mother must have had him extraordinarily late for the time.

It’s 2025 - why on earth are some Brits still obsessed with a class system and sticking other people into class categories? It’s sad and ridiculous the number of threads on here about it.

You’ve basically answered the question yourself as to why I’ve asked -

it sound like a working class job but is well paid when I looked online

We don't know that's why OP is asking. I'd say her tone is more "he claims to be from WC background, but I'm not sure he is."

What is your definition of a working class job? Just poorly paid?

To be honest it's a ridiculously outdated label to put on a job as it implies that if you don't have a traditional 'working class ' job, it's not really hard work

My mum had me at a similar age - I was born 1972 my mum born 1931