Translink/Metro Strike 30th November

A.L.D.A

D.A. wrote: »

The railways here have no hope at all, since the DRD is fixated on road building, and Translink is fixated on buses.

Agree.

Rail has its limitations, but is a much better way to travel as it totally avoids road congestion. It needs us to plan development around a viable network. That is a Planning issue. Countries that do that have well used viable rail services.

It is refreshing to visit other parts of Europe where they have double decker trains and where buses actually stop at rail stations and are coordinated into the rail time table. On a few occasions I have ventured out of Cushendall on a bus to Larne with the intent of catching the train. On the way back the bus does not stop at the train station, it does on the way out (rail feeds buses and not the other way round). It drives right past to the bus station and by the time you walk back you have missed the train.

belfastgirl23

Anyone know if airports are likely to be affected at all? DH has a meeting in Manchester that day!

AJQ1506

code601 wrote: »

Absolute disgrace

Strike for an hour or something once a week. Unite should be ashamed for taking such selfish action.

Wonder how many unemployed bus / HGV drivers are just sitting around begging for a job hummmmm.

How would it help unemployed bus / HGV drivers if public sector workers don't exercise their fundamental right to withdraw labour?

It's the bankers and the richest people in the country who are responsible for the deficit, not working class people.

Why should public sector workers allow their pensions to be robbed to pay for a situation they didn't create?

jeffer

cooki2222 wrote: »

Awful excuse for a bus company anyway!!
Should really take note on how buses are run down south or in england! Much cheaper and much more effecient!!

Depending on the part of the country there are often as bad or even worse services in ROI and England, in my experience.

Ian9266

I'm a civil servant and yes i'm dam fortunate to be in employment. I started in the civil service aged 17, straight from school. I've been working now for 28 years and my gross salary is £23k at EO level, not much these days, roughly £10.12 per hr. My yearly pay rises have averaged £400 per year, or put it another way about £1.50 per day before tax. I have to wear a suit and tie so buying a half decent suit, shirts, ties and shoes and my early rise has gone. Now we're told no pay rise for 2 years and like everyone else the cost of living goes up and up. I don't know how anyone on unemployment benefit survives. With a mortgage, car (need it for work) 2 kids etc it's a struggle each month even with my wife working. My contract states that I pay 1.5% into my pension, their words, not mine and now I may have to pay an extra £50-60 per month and work longer to get less of a pension. In the last 10 years i've been asked to change my civil service pension twice, each time paying more into it, this was my choice to do so. So they want more money from me and won't give me a yearly increment for 2 years. What happens after 2 years is up is anyones guess. Yet you break the law and they throw legal aid at you like confetti or choose not to work and they throw benefits at you. Now they've set up phone lines so you can ring and see if you're entitled to more. I think we are entitled to strike but 1 day isn't enough. Sorry had to get something off my chest!

JulieElizabeth

Ian, at least you'll be able to drive to work. Due to the Translink/Metro strike (which is what the thread was originally about), I'll have to walk.

BigAl94

Far too many civil servants in NI and the bulk of them wouldn't know what a days work is like compared to the private sector! Time for C S to be properly run and managed starting with dealing with lead swingers and the ridiculous amount of sick leave. We all pay their wages and we do not get value for money. They have a nerve even thinking about strike action.

FurryPaws

Anyway, back on topic I sent this to Translink..

"I am inquiring for myself and on behalf of others. Translink said on 17th November that they would issue a statement on the website about whether the public sector strike on Wednesday 30th November will be impacting on bus and train journeys. As yet there has been no notification to passengers. This was the original news article:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-15773628.


Will the strike effect bus and train timetables, and if so, in the interest of those who have paid for monthly train tickets and do not receive the required level of service (or any at all) will there be a form of compensation issued? Personally speaking I would have to incur extra costs for petrol, parking in Belfast and major inconvenience if the service I paid for was not available to me."


It says it could take 15 days to get back by email (a total joke - talk about jobsworths )

FurryPaws

Ok, I tried my hardest to stay out of the private/public sector argument but I feel I must get this off my chest.

Ian - you choose to work in the public sector all those years ago. If you do not like the new terms of your contract you can choose to leave and work in the private sector. Just like everyone else you have the freedom to move between jobs.

In general, it is my opinion that most who choose to work in the public sector are doing so because they're expecting a nice tidy pension and extra benefits along the lifetime of their employment which most of the private sector doesn't get - long sick pay, longer maternity pay, flexi time etc etc. Now in times when the country needs to draw the purse strings in people on such benefits in the public sector throw their toys out of the pram when we have to reel in the 'perks' - because that's what they are. If my job changes my terms of contract and I don't like it I look for another job. Plenty of people out there who are jobless would like the new contract the public sector will offer.

It isn't all plain sailing in the private sector, many companies have also had pay freezes, redundancies and their pension is nowhere near as good as what public sector workers have enjoyed for years. I think perspective on the matter is needed. Stop spitting your dummy out because your free ride is over.

marcowil

This makes quite interesting reading

http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-how-generous-is-danny-alexanders-pensions-deal/8516