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@hoonz
I think they probably are taking the piss a bit (RMT) but thay have the upper hand in this one and are taking advantage. Given there is no way TFL is going to fold, and tubes will only get busier I'm not surprised they are stiking given 1000 jobs will get the chop. There's not much work out there and these 1000 will have families to support etc. From reports it does sound a bit unreasonable of them on a few issues, especially with those 2 mug drivers but we're probably not getting the whole story as per usual.
Working on the tube would have to completely suck arse - stuck down a stinky dark dusty tunnel all day or dealing with idiot commuters at a ticket barrier. Great fun. They should be paid properly as they indeed are, it's not really a great job. London is expensive, and seeing as they all need to live in London to work there, and it will no doubt be a job for life the pay must refect that, there are houses to buy and mouths to feed, and 40k doesn't go all that far TBH.
As far as unions go there is not really as much need for them today as it was the unions who got you all the priviledges and pay and conditions that you currently enjoy. They were formed in the first place because the employers were taking the piss, primarily with peoples lives. Without their hard work in the early 20th century working conditions and pay would still be abismal, dickensian even.