Train drivers striking over pay

[Dark Diggler]

So the median wage of just under 60k a year isn't enough for driving a train?

[Mr Tidy]

Apparently not for them - it's not like they even have to steer the bl**dy thing!

[Reamesy]

So the median wage of just under 60k a year isn't enough for driving a train?

That’s just a driver. They are taking action on behalf of all rail workers within their union. The media will always focus on the highest paid to try and shame them.

Regardless of your occupation you have the right to withdraw your labour as do the employers to withdraw your contract. Worth remembering as the media don’t go to these lengths with mass redundancies. Just a thought!

[Pondrew]

So the median wage of just under 60k a year isn't enough for driving a train?

If you get a 'jumper', you get a bonus and unlimited time off for 'PTSD' on full pay, and free counselling for as long as required.

Lots of train drivers get the above as it's the most common form of suicide.

My wife's cousin was a London bus driver who had a 'jumper'. While he was off for 'PTSD' someone suggested train driving, as it pays far better and the 'benefits' are much better.

[pvr]

They are getting paid almost twice the amount as drivers anywhere else in the world. It is a union that needs to be broken or do as Reagan did and sack the lot of them and reset the pay levels and get new staff in.

[Ian J]

They are getting paid almost twice the amount as drivers anywhere else in the world.

And twice as much as my wife who is a nurse and who took four years to qualify for the job

[Dav the wheel nut]

Mick Lynch is just a clone of Arthur Scargill who has his own agenda.

[pvr]

They are getting paid almost twice the amount as drivers anywhere else in the world.

And twice as much as my wife who is a nurse and who took four years to qualify for the job

Don’t … it makes my blood boil, I was exactly saying that to my wife how that can ever be right.

[Reamesy]

Nurses deserve a huge pay rise and it’s the government holding it back.

It’s not just the drivers they are negotiating for but all of their members. They are private sector so nothing to do with the government.

I work in public sector too and have been shafted by this government on my pension.

But I still would want want a better life for others.

This government is all about suppress the masses while the rich get richer. That can’t be right surely.

The 8% was if they accepted job cuts. Longer ours and maintenance schedules halved. Not a pay rise as your hourly goes down as does passenger safety

[Scubaregs]

Private sector, Man tech in the chemical industry, same shift pattern as fire service so 12 hour shifts, 365 days a year, nights, weekends, weekend nights, public holidays etc. Can be in acid suit and full Breathing apparatus on top of a tanker connecting/disconnecting for unloading in all weathers. This particular chemical is fatal upon inhalation, there is no margin for error.

Get paid a bit over half of what has been quoted here for a train driver, have had one pay rise in 9 years. So no, little sympathy from me.

There will always be disparity in the workplace, always be occupations that are paid far less than they are worth, nurses, paramedics, etc and there will always be instances where some jobs are overpaid and driving a train certainly seems to be one of them.

[pvr]

Bet you couldn't retire in your early fifties either on a fully funded pension where you had to contribute 5 pence a month in

[Reamesy]

Private sector, Man tech in the chemical industry, same shift pattern as fire service so 12 hour shifts, 365 days a year, nights, weekends, weekend nights, public holidays etc. Can be in acid suit and full Breathing apparatus on top of a tanker connecting/disconnecting for unloading in all weathers. This particular chemical is fatal upon inhalation, there is no margin for error.

Get paid a bit over half of what has been quoted here for a train driver, have had one pay rise in 9 years. So no, little sympathy from me.

There will always be disparity in the workplace, always be occupations that are paid far less than they are worth, nurses, paramedics, etc and there will always be instances where some jobs are overpaid and driving a train certainly seems to be one of them.

I’ve worked in submarines and spent the last 26.5 years as an operational firefighter. My last four years as an instructor wearing BA up to six times a week for an hour each time in hot fires. I get a fraction of a train driver. My choice but I will not stand in the way of anyone seeking an improvement to their pay and conditions. It’s not just the pay.

Like I said earlier. It’s not just the drivers. There is more accurate info on the RMT website. The media only spin what the want!

[PDJ]

Bet you couldn't retire in your early fifties either on a fully funded pension where you had to contribute 5 pence a month in

My understanding if this is it only the few remaining British Rail staff that have managed to keep their BR contracts

The new starters for the privatised company's have less appealing terms and conditions

Same with the old CEGB staff now working for one of the big six energy companies

My friend drove freight trains his shift start times for a 12 hour shift was normally between 2am and 4am this is due to passenger trains using the train tracks in the day
He now drives passenger trains

One of the unpleasant things that the public (low life sector) do is hang a soapy sponge from a rail bridge not too big a problem in a freight train a bit more off putting in a passenger train at 100mph plus
The sponge is sometimes a brick and they come through the screen at top speed

Even fire men have had their retirement age made latter in life

If you worked for British Steel back in the day you could retire with a full final salary pension at 55 but most steel workers died by 60 to 65 the conditions where harsh (Scunthorpe plant killed around 2 worker a year until the 2000’s) 11 men in 1975 in one accident

British Coal was probably the same

[mr.tourette]

It is odd all the focus is on train drivers when they're actually one of the smallest minority of workers in the railway system but then i guess we wouldn't have the dramatic headlines and agenda for the Conservatives to try and destroy workers rights.. they employ many more low paid support staff who earn sub 25k p.a. that are going to stuggle to make ends meet this winter.

[pvr]

But they are striking as well, despite their salaray, still wanting more. That harms the rest of them more as obvously, everyone will pick on the most ludricous ones.

Not much discussion going on re the barrister's strike though, guess it doesn't impact that many people so isn't really hot news.