Tube Union parasites want to strike on Royal Wedding Day

[longfingernails]

Why?

Supposedly, the tube drivers want 3 days pay for every bank holiday they work, plus a day off in lieu. Absolutely ridiculous.

It is high time we had a mass sacking of RMT and ASLEF members. No, we don't need 20 useless RMT staff saying "this train is about to depart" or "move right inside the carriages" on the platforms. Automate the trains, like they do in so many other countries.

And there are plenty of people who would be glad of the (rather easy) work, at half the salary and perks.

So LFN, you think an LU train driver's job is both 'cushy' and 'low skilled'? Well I for one do not.

This is someone who is in charge of a large lump of metal filled with people in a hot underground tunnel designed over a hundred years ago, with a complex system of points & tracks and sharing space with a large number of other lumps of metal. Said drivers are responsible for the safety of the people inside their lumps of metal and the chances of having to witness someone jump in front of them are quite high. I'd like to see you climb down from your ivory bloody tower and do it for one single day. But those long finger nails weren't designed for lower-class manual work, were they? Just for typing ridiculous diatribes against people who are no better or worse than anyone else, just (shudder) considered 'low skilled'. You're a piece of work, you really are.

Yes, I do think they are cushy and low-skilled. Trains can be automated - they are in so many other countries.

The Jubilee line extension platform doors are a good way to prevent suicides.

Tube drivers, especially on lines like Victoria, do almost nothing. They choose left or right - and then open the doors. And when they can't even get that right, Brother Bob decides to call a strike.

LFN, it's a very skilled job and you are being offensive.

"There are very few people who can run large banks."

There sure are. The present incumbents not being among them, it seems.

And yes, you are being extremely offensive. Do tell us how you got your information on the skills required to drive a tube train.

On lines like Victoria, which are already automated, the only reason drivers are there at all is because of the RMT.

They are totally unnecessary for operation. And if they are functionally unnecessary, their job certainly isn't highly skilled.

I disagree. I know about signalling systems and you are wrong. BTW, it's possible to have a debate without resorting to suggesting a worker is a parasite and think you should withdraw your comment as extremely offensive.

"Bob Crow is an arse.
A throwback to the Seventies"

Ill drink to that.

"The Jubilee line extension platform doors are a good way to prevent suicides."

Great, let's install them on every line straightaway! And automate everything right now! And how much do you think it would cost to install all this? I thought you were of the opinion that there's no money to spend. Suddenly it appears such things can be done at the click of a finger.

I'd love to know what you do for a living that's so highly-skilled and of deep worth to society, given that you're on here on a Monday afternoon giving us the benefit of your opinion on who you consider to be 'parasites'. I'm not that keen on Bob Crow but your attitudes seem not to have progressed beyond the Tolpuddle-era.

Why don't these idiot drivers give it a rest? they are always striking! they are higher paid than most.

Other cities manage automated underground systems very nicely. Absolutely no reason London should be different.

Here's a thought - why not have periodic online referenda for season ticket holders to vote on terms and conditions? We would see what London's travelling public truly want.

If the regularly travelling public are happy for Tube drivers to earn £45k a year, work in a closed shop, be unsackable even for gross breaches of safety, have 7 weeks of holiday a year, and get free travel for themselves and their family, then I would be happy to abide by the result.

We could also sort out whether the travelling public feel that value is added by having some RMT bod saying "please mind the gap" and "please move right down inside the carriages" on every platform, or whether they would prefer lower fares.

Bob Crow is an arse. I once caught him hailing a taxi and said what about the tube?
and also "all out brothers!" and his reply?

"and sisters too!". I LOL, still don't like him though.

London tube stataions are woefully under-staffed. The ticket office is manned for a few hours a day at ours, no security other than cameras - it's grim.

I don't necessarily agree with the all their unions' demands, but I do not think a'mass sacking' of anyone is the answer, especially not in this climate.

Oh, and which cities?@longfingernails.

Very few cities in the world have such an extensive, heavily used underground system as London does. It is VITAL to the functioning of the city, and so the workers / unions have real power. Unusual in this day and age,. i think its quite interesting, really, watching this all play out....

p.s. I'm pretty happy with the above conditons. Its nothing compared to hundreds of thousands of private sector workers get for performing far less demanding/vital roles.

What's your job, LFN?

excuse poor grammar/typos - typing with two yr old on knee

What Bobthebudha said. It is a very responsible job.

I work as a manager in a mid-sized private sector company in London. Don't want to say any more than that.

I'd love to know what you do for a living that's so highly-skilled and of deep worth to society, given that you're on here on a Monday afternoon giving us the benefit of your opinion on who you consider to be 'parasites'. I'm not that keen on Bob Crow but your attitudes seem not to have progressed beyond the Tolpuddle-era"

Im a Psychiatric Nurse, in a medium secure hospital. I get punched, spat at and verbally abused- I find people almost dead at having tried to hang themselves, I actually remove the ligature quite frequently. I console the women who self harm- shall I go on??
I earn just under 22k a year for my role.

I think I am worth more than that, I dont think deserve I 45K a year but more than 22k, why should an underground driver earn more than me?
I cant strike either by the way.

The reason im on here on a monday afternoon? day off. perk of the job.

Snap heathen!

Ilovemydogandmrobama. Why is LFN being offensive? she is just saying the truth, it's what most think about the train drivers (and Crow as well!).

NannyState A nice page on metro automation

citytransport.info/Automation.htm

I happen to be on holiday today - though, despite this, am working from home.

tiredemma, my comments weren't aimed at you

tiredemma. You prove LFN's point, you're paid 22k dealing with people, in I would think a highly demanding and draining job, the tube drivers are paid 45k to drive a train, you know why? because they can strike and hold us to ransom.

ah- sorry, I thought my comment about Bob Crow had antagonised you.