Bus strike on First and Metrobus
 

I have a thorough appreciation of what bus drivers do, and am
invariably polite to them whenever I interact with them. I am a member
of L.O.T.S., Cobham Bus Museum and have a huge transport-related
memorabilia collection.

Bus drivers who strike, however, deserve nothing but contempt. I don't
care what their "grievances" are - they are providing a monopoly
public service and the sooner they are prevented by law from striking
the better. There is absolutely no excuse to inconvenience thousands,
probably millions, of Londoners for 2 consecutive days in this way -
pensioners that can't get to the shop, children who can't get to
school (or are late), others who have to get taxis to work etc.

I am self-employed. I don't have the luxury of going on strike if I
don't like my pay or conditions. I chose my career - I either accept
it or go and do something else. What makes bus drivers (or anyone
else) think that anything other than market forces can sensibly
dictate their pay and conditions?

Personally, if I were taking home �30,000p.a. (or anything like it),
I'd be laughing!

Marc.

Bus strike on First and Metrobus
 

On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:31:24 +0100, Steve Fitzgerald wrote:

In message
,
Mizter T writes

T&GWU), who "want a standard £30,000 rate of pay for drivers across
the bus network" (so says the BBC webpage linked to below).

30K? Oh is that all. Perhaps they'd like share options while they're
at it?

Bus driving is for retarded cretins, why should they get 30K for doing
a job a trained chimp could do?


Are you a retarded cretin or a trained chimp?

He/she is a troll. I'd have thought you would have realised that by now.

....and if you didn't reply to his posts, most of us wouldn't have to
see them!

Bus strike on First and Metrobus
 

In message , asdf
writes
On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:31:24 +0100, Steve Fitzgerald wrote:

In message
,
Mizter T writes

Are you a retarded cretin or a trained chimp?

He/she is a troll. I'd have thought you would have realised that by now.

...and if you didn't reply to his posts, most of us wouldn't have to
see them!

Ahem, I didn't - I responded to Mizter T. I didn't see the OP either.
--
Steve Fitzgerald has now left the building.
You will find him in London's Docklands, E16, UK
(please use the reply to address for email)

Bus strike on First and Metrobus
 

On Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:22:36 +0100, Steve Fitzgerald wrote:

In message , asdf
writes
On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:31:24 +0100, Steve Fitzgerald wrote:

In message
,
Mizter T writes

Are you a retarded cretin or a trained chimp?

He/she is a troll. I'd have thought you would have realised that by now.

...and if you didn't reply to his posts, most of us wouldn't have to
see them!

Ahem, I didn't - I responded to Mizter T. I didn't see the OP either.

I know, I wasn't referring to you!

Bus strike on First and Metrobus
 

On Sep 14, 12:40*am, asdf wrote:
On Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:22:36 +0100, Steve Fitzgerald wrote:
In message , asdf
writes
On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:31:24 +0100, Steve Fitzgerald wrote:

In message
,
Mizter T writes

Are you a retarded cretin or a trained chimp?

He/she is a troll. I'd have thought you would have realised that by now.

...and if you didn't reply to his posts, most of us wouldn't have to
see them!

Ahem, I didn't - I responded to Mizter T. *I didn't see the OP either.

I know, I wasn't referring to you!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

My reply was to the person making the stupid comments about bus
drivers being cretins and retarded chimps, although I do agree with
the contempt that should be shown for the drivers who do strike this
contempt is not felt when the tube go,s on strike on a weekly basis
for exactly the same reason and laws have not been put into place to
stop this and we dont see where we are any different as we both
provide a valuable public service and should be paid the same money as
bus drivers endure far more problems and grief than a train and tube
driver ever does.

Our arguement with the bus companies is the recorded profits that have
risen in excess of 44% for the last financial year and the ongoing
lack of improvements within the garages and the working hours that we
are not seeing, this is an ongoing problem that we see every year when
the dicussions for pay rises arise, they hold back on discussions all
the while making more profit and interest on the backpay that we are
entitled to so in theory making money on money that is rightfully
ours, they dangle the carrot every year around christmas time knowing
that by the time we finally do agree to strike it is so near christmas
people need the money they owe us in backpay that we always agree to
whatever they propose just to get the money they owe us.

We have this year decided to make a stand and have agree'd that
industrial action is our only option to show this year we are not
going to roll over and play pussy cat which we feel the companies have
pushed us to as they could have agreed months ago to our demands but
have instead decided yet again to hang it out and force our arm.

Bus strike on First and Metrobus
 

On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 15:16:35 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

this
contempt is not felt when the tube go,s on strike on a weekly basis

Wrong.

Bus strike on First and Metrobus
 

In message
,
writes

My reply was to the person making the stupid comments about bus drivers
being cretins and retarded chimps, although I do agree with the
contempt that should be shown for the drivers who do strike this
contempt is not felt when the tube go,s on strike on a weekly basis for
exactly the same reason and laws have not been put into place to stop
this and we dont see where we are any different as we both provide a
valuable public service and should be paid the same money as bus
drivers endure far more problems and grief than a train and tube driver
ever does.

Perhaps you might like to give us a list of dates that the tube has been
on strike? Tell, you what, just give the last 52 that will cover just
the one year.

Unusually for me (being a union rep) I would say you're being
brainwashed by your union. The bus companies can merrily employ people
on the salaries they currently offer so why should they pay more?
--
Steve Fitzgerald has now left the building.
You will find him in London's Docklands, E16, UK
(please use the reply to address for email)

Bus strike on First and Metrobus
 

In message , James Farrar
writes

On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 15:16:35 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

this
contempt is not felt when the tube go,s on strike on a weekly basis

Wrong.

Mind you I have two days off every week. Maybe he's counting that?
--
Steve Fitzgerald has now left the building.
You will find him in London's Docklands, E16, UK
(please use the reply to address for email)

Bus strike on First and Metrobus
 

On Sep 15, 9:29*pm, Steve Fitzgerald ] wrote:

All I can say is that as a union rep is that you should pull you head
out of your arse and the managers cock out of your arse.

Come do a bus drivers job and see how long you last because I give you
24 hours before your in tears crying for mummy, or threatening strike
action

Bus strike on First and Metrobus
 

In message
,
writes

All I can say is that as a union rep is that you should pull you head
out of your arse and the managers cock out of your arse.

No, union reps also have to have a grasp of the real world. You also
need to understand the real world

Come do a bus drivers job and see how long you last because I give you
24 hours before your in tears crying for mummy, or threatening strike
action

Why should I when I have the wherewithall to have these weekly strikes,
in your view, (obviously at no cost to me!) in my job as a tube worker.
I see you didn't offer dates of all these tube strikes you've mentioned
as requested.

Of course, if you were of that calibre, you too would be earning c£40k
and not winging on an internet news group about poor bus drivers pay!
--
Steve Fitzgerald has now left the building.
You will find him in London's Docklands, E16, UK
(please use the reply to address for email)