Tube strike, London

Unions transformed the lives of working people and in so doing, our very society. Without unions, Health and Safety would not exist. Workers would be exploited wage slaves. Without unions, social mobility would not have been what it was and many of us "middle class" wankers would not be. Too few people belong to unions today. This could have a detrimental effect on working conditions, particularly during a recession. If you perceive that unions are overly political, join and express your voice of moderation.

+1 - your union is only as strong as its 'active' members (key is in the word Union) and not to take part in a democratic decision (e.g. to strike) undermines the whole concept. You may pay a subscription but its not a 'service' .

Go check out their available jobs on the tfl website and come back to point out which ones really are of use

hi greasy, i used to work for the underground and i now work for network rail. i don't drive a train and i sometimes wear a suit. you might now be aware of it but we have a few mutual friends. i look forward to meeting you soon and you can tell me all about how useless i am. cheers!

this thread is full of uninformed opinion

Im going to get myself some uniformed opinion and ask the strikers what they think*

• I'll get my coat
  

good man Mike, I think many people out there were trying to work something round using "uniformed" off that quote..

I want to be a banker, I hear it pays well.

If they weren't able to strike no one would take any notice of them. Bear in mind that their employer is a monopoly and doesn't need to nor does follow any sense of a market economy. They can't take their skills elsewhere. They can only strike. And as for the timing, being paid insufficiently is as bad in a recession as in a boom. Tube prices have not been frozen because of the economic position.

I want to be a banker, I hear it pays well.

Bankers don't ride on the tube. You wouldn't like it.

"Oh I couldn't possibly cycle into work, it's far too dangerous out there these days"
"It's not you I worry about, it's all those drivers"
"It's all main roads, there's no cyclepaths on my route to work"
"The roads will be full of people who can't take the tube today"

Shut up you whinging cunts:

Are people who press buttons when automation fails really responsible for the lives of thousands? you could go on and say the burger flipper in McDs in Oxford St is also responsible for the lives of thousands (those he feeds).

When it comes to pay you get what you negotiate. negotiation is based on what you percieve you are worth against what the market/company believes you are worth plus what available money there is.
They are paid well above the average and it annoys people when they ask for more doing what is seen as a semi skilled job.

Makes it worse when they abuse their position to do this, putting everyones day out of joint.
How would we react if nurses, care workers, police, bin men, street cleaners and security guards all stopped working for a day to get more money? it's a weak way to negotiate

Dailly Mail >>>>>>>

Dailly Mail >>>>>>>

It's a lot closer <<< than that, I fear.

"Oh I couldn't possibly cycle into work, it's far too dangerous out there these days"
"It's not you I worry about, it's all those drivers"
"It's all main roads, there's no cyclepaths on my route to work"
"The roads will be full of people who can't take the tube today"

Shut up you whinging cunts:

+1

Reverting to the interesting part of this thread - the impact of the disruption on cycling - let's hope that more people learn today and tomorrow that cycling in London is easy and safe. After all, the more nodders on the road the smaller the statistical chance of any of us being killed.

Bankers don't ride on the tube. You wouldn't like it.

oh :(

saw this on the bbc website.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8092997.stm

:O

He's not wearing mitts. Not sensible

A few lines are working so why don't you praise tube drivers working today.
.

They are quaintly known as 'scabs' and of course they will refuse to accept any of the gains made from this industrial action in the future.

hi greasy, i used to work for the underground and i now work for network rail. i don't drive a train and i sometimes wear a suit. you might now be aware of it but we have a few mutual friends. i look forward to meeting you soon and you can tell me all about how useless i am. cheers!

FWIW i think the strike is piss weak too. my annual pay increase is linked to RPI and then usually based on a performance review that can move it up or down. as RPI is currently well below zero everyone in my pay band* and above is getting no pay increase this year. apart from some mildy disapointed grumbles everyone here has pretty much accepted that fact as a result of the global economic situation, and made a mental note to be grateful for having a good job in the first place.

*as an aside the top 4 pay bands (including all managment staff) at network rail are getting no pay increase this year but the lower paid bands 5-8 all get 3.5% as standard regardless of performance.

There won't be any gains made that couldn't have been through sensible negotiation. There never is.

Which ones do you think aren't of use?

all of them!
in time they will be replaced by robots.. starting with this!

saw this on the bbc website.

its this sort of imagery that will really encourage people to cycle, its free, its easy, its fun

There won't be any gains made that couldn't have been through sensible negotiation. There never is.

oh I see, so my dad going thro the miners strike was doing it all wrong, if only he sat down with that sensible Mrs Thatcher and chatted about it over a cup of tea then he wouldn't have had to put up with those nasty police charges

FWIW i think the strike is piss weak too. my annual pay increase is linked to RPI and then usually based on a performance review that can move it up or down. as RPI is currently well below zero everyone in my pay band* and above is getting no pay increase this year. apart from some mildy disapointed grumbles everyone here has pretty much accepted that fact as a result of the global economic situation, and made a mental note to be grateful for having a good job in the first place.

*as an aside the top 4 pay bands (including all managment staff) at network rail are getting no pay increase this year but the lower paid bands 5-8 all get 3.5% as standard regardless of performance.

DIT-fucking-O

I busted my ass and lost a lot of my life and health trying to forge a career and got shafted every end of year, i moved companies when it didn't work for me and got my head down when it got rough.
I'd love to throw my toys out the pram and ask for more money so i can graze on M & S finest pork pies while a computer pushes a button for me, but i don't as i am English, carved from the land and fed on stuff of champions English!

oh I see, so my dad going thro the miners strike was doing it all wrong, if only he sat down with that sensible Mrs Thatcher and chatted about it over a cup of tea then he wouldn't have had to put up with those nasty police charges

Finally it's sinking in.

oh I see, so my dad going thro the miners strike was doing it all wrong, if only he sat down with that sensible Mrs Thatcher and chatted about it over a cup of tea then he wouldn't have had to put up with those nasty police charges

better watch those views wayne.. i love Maggie.. this could cause a rift in "Sparkle Motion"!?

oh I see, so my dad going thro the miners strike was doing it all wrong, if only he sat down with that sensible Mrs Thatcher and chatted about it over a cup of tea then he wouldn't have had to put up with those nasty police charges

what's a miner, Daddy Wayne? tries to look sage

yeah, scaring all those police horses, not getting paid, seeing his community being ripped apart - what was he thinking of!!