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Bus strike on First and Metrobus
Bus drivers and supervisors who work for First Group and Metrobus are
going on strike tomorrow - at First Group they're striking for 48 hours, at Metrobus for 24 hours. The strike has been called by the Unite union (the result of the 2007 merger between Amicus and the 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). A list of the affected routes can be found on TfL's website here... http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravel...s/default.html ....and on the BBC London webpages here... http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/..._feature.shtml I don't know whether either company will attempt to run any of their services using non-union staff - running a skeleton service on certain routes might be a recipe for more of a disaster than not running a service at all. Any resources could I suppose be concentrated on running a P.S. Been absent from usenet for quite a while (not even lurking), though I must admit for my sins that I crept back to uk.railway before I came back here - my excuse is that there's so much going on in the arena of transport in the metropolis lately (though isn't there always) that I was wary of getting sucked into some kind of utl black hole! |
Bus strike on First and Metrobus
Argh, that last post got posted prematurely, as I hadn't finished yet!
(Perhaps my presence here on utl is just not meant to be!). I will continue... On 11 Sep, 23:53, Mizter T wrote: Bus drivers and supervisors who work for First Group and Metrobus are going on strike tomorrow - at First Group they're striking for 48 hours, at Metrobus for 24 hours. The strike has been called by the Unite union (the result of the 2007 merger between Amicus and the 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). A list of the affected routes can be found on TfL's website here...http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravel...s/default.html ...and on the BBC London webpages here...http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/.../bus_strike_fe... I don't know whether either company will attempt to run any of their services using non-union staff - running a skeleton service on certain routes might be a recipe for more of a disaster than not running a service at all. Any resources could I suppose be concentrated on running a ... ....proper service on one or two routes. I'm intrigued to note that it's only staff at First Group and Metrobus going on strike, and not at any of the other bus companies (given that the desire is for a London-wide rate of pay regardless of company). One wonders if Unite have a particularly strong presence in those two companies? If my memory serves me right then First Buses in London does appear to have a somewhat more turbulent history of industrial relations than other bus companies. Is the management there more intransigent? Is there more of a history of union militancy at those garages? Obviously to an extent those two factors can interplay with each other in a chicken and egg scenario when trying to work out where it all began. With regards to the actual issue, well I'm at all clued up on all the ins and outs of it all, all I will say is that I do think driving a bus in London is a fairly testing job. But I never find it easy working out the relative merits of various jobs and what they should pay. P.S. Been absent from usenet for quite a while (not even lurking), though I must admit for my sins that I crept back to uk.railway before I came back here - my excuse is that there's so much going on in the arena of transport in the metropolis lately (though isn't there always) that I was wary of getting sucked into some kind of utl black hole! (Perhaps the black hole is sucking me away from utl!) |
Bus strike on First and Metrobus
Mizter T wrote:
Bus drivers and supervisors who work for First Group and Metrobus are going on strike tomorrow - at First Group they're striking for 48 hours, at Metrobus for 24 hours. The strike has been called by the Unite union (the result of the 2007 merger between Amicus and the 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). The odd thing is that Unite (formed from the merger of Amicus and the T&HWU), First London and Transport for London all seem to have different ideas as to when the strike is taking place. According to First London, it'll be a 48 hour strike from 00:01 today (Friday) and affect both sides of their London operation (First CentreWest and First Capital East). According to Unite, it's a 24 hour strike from 03:00, affecting Metrobus (who concur with the timing) and First CentreWest. And according to TfL, strikes MAY take place on Friday and Saturday, affecting both Metrobus and First London. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what actually happens in the morning. Cheers, Barry |
Bus strike on First and Metrobus
On Sep 11, 11:53 pm, Mizter T wrote:
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? B2003 |
Bus strike on First and Metrobus
On 12 Sep, 10:01, Boltar wrote: On Sep 11, 11:53 pm, Mizter T wrote: 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? |
Bus strike on First and Metrobus
On Sep 12, 6:21*pm, Mizter T wrote:
On 12 Sep, 10:01, Boltar wrote: On Sep 11, 11:53 pm, Mizter T wrote: 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? You obviously are a retard and have the brain cells of a chimp to post a comment like that for all to see! As a bus driver it takes approxamatley 8 - 12 weeks on meger pay to actually gain the license and the we have to put up with arseholes like yourselves on a daily basis, this does not include the black cab drivers the mini cab drivers and the so called other road users who seem to enjoy playing russian roulette with a 12 tons bus and then wonder why the driver gets irrate and when we do have an accident its always the bus drivers fault that the idiot in the car pulled out in front of them or cut them up or jump the lights or cut in front of them. We run the daily guanlet of abuse from idiot passengers who think you are tourist information and then get abusive when you cannot help them plan a route around the country for them, and the idiots who think TFL run a free service and you are there daily taxi and not a bus service, then the kids who seem to think that just because they have a reciept from the post office to say they have applied 6 months ago for an oyster card this gives them the right to yet again abuse the poor driver as they think they can travel for free with a reciept because the idiot at the post office said they could when infact they cant. We deserve danger money let alone 30k a year for providing a service that should we all decide to go on strike the underground would not be able to cope and London would be brought to a stand still, if thats what it takes then that is what we are willing to do to be appreciated for the job that we do. |
Bus strike on First and Metrobus
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. -- 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 12 Sep, 19:25, wrote: On Sep 12, 6:21*pm, Mizter T wrote: On 12 Sep, 10:01, Boltar wrote: On Sep 11, 11:53 pm, Mizter T wrote: 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? You obviously are a retard and have the brain cells of a chimp to post a comment like that for all to see! As a bus driver it takes approxamatley 8 - 12 weeks on meger pay to actually gain the license and the we have to put up with arseholes like yourselves on a daily basis, this does not include the black cab drivers the mini cab drivers and the so called other road users who seem to enjoy playing russian roulette with a 12 tons bus and then wonder why the driver gets irrate and when we do have an accident its always the bus drivers fault that the idiot in the car pulled out in front of them or cut them up or jump the lights or cut in front of them. We run the daily guanlet of abuse from idiot passengers who think you are tourist information and then get abusive when you cannot help them plan a route around the country for them, and the idiots who think TFL run a free service and you are there daily taxi and not a bus service, then the kids who seem to think that just because they have a reciept from the post office to say they have applied 6 months ago for an oyster card this gives them the right to yet again abuse the poor driver as they think they can travel for free with a reciept because the idiot at the post office said they could when infact they cant. We deserve danger money let alone 30k a year for providing a service that should we all decide to go on strike the underground would not be able to cope and London would be brought to a stand still, if thats what it takes then that is what we are willing to do to be appreciated for the job that we do. I do hope that you actually intended to direct your venom against Boltar rather than against me - my comment that you replied to was a mere one line riposte to Boltar's comments. You will see from my earlier comments that I do have some sympathy with the bus drivers for the trials and tribulations that they must endure. |
Bus strike on First and Metrobus
I notice that one of the East London Line replacement services was wiped out by the strike. Is this the first time a railway replacement has been hit by a strike? |
Bus strike on First and Metrobus
On 13 Sep, 04:13, "John Rowland" wrote: I notice that one of the East London Line replacement services was wiped out by the strike. Is this the first time a railway replacement has been hit by a strike? That would be the ELW service operated (or not) by First that serves Wapping, Shadwell, and Whitechapel (and also Shoreditch during certain times but only with a half-hourly frequency now I think). No idea whether this is a first or not... (no pun intended!). |
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
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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
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