London Bus Strike

wary

I guess there's two sides to every strike.

Having watched some dcoumentaries from the 1970s recently, I'm so glad that those days are behind us when the powerful militant unions used to pretty much hold the country to ransom. I was never a great Thatcher fan but as much as she is reviled for some of her policies, if there's one good thing that she achieved then it's helping to largely put a stop to much of that.

newbie1980

give them there bonus and get over the olympics then when there pay rise comes round pay them 3% less and show them who owns this country

Handsome90

Azari wrote: »

Well, yes, if you are prepared to employ people who can't do the job safely, obviously you can allow a complete muppet to do it.

On that basis you could say that because some doctors are hopeless a complete muppet is qualified to be a doctor.

Driving a bus properly is a moderately skilled job. It's not something you can train someone to do from scratch in a fortnight. It also carries a deal of responsibility and the job as a whole requires reliability.

I thought everyone would take my comment as tongue-in-cheek.

First, I would blame the employers for employing complete nutters on the road. Second, it's the employees own fault for driving dangerously. I don't think all bus drivers drive dangerously. Most of them drive just fine.

I agree that it's a moderately skilled job and not everyone can do it. I think you need a special kind of license to drive buses.

thatlemming

You hardly need to be that skilled to drive a bus. Driving home yesterday and I passed a bus embedded half into a hedge and half into a post. Passengers all looked a bit bemused.

System

Apparently it takes 4 weeks to train a bus driver. I assume you already have to hold a valid UK driving license but it doesn't sound that difficult to become one. Its not a difficult skill to master.

I don't know all the details but i'm sure azari can confirm.

Takeaway_Addict

Its disgraceful that they are striking, I hope some of those that have been banned from striking strike and then get sacked for being greedy

Kite2010

newbie1980 wrote: »

give them there bonus and get over the olympics then when there pay rise comes round pay them 3% less and show them who owns this country

And then the unions will start the process and go on strike again as they want their pay rises.

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Poor bus drivers, having to work a bit more carrying a few more passengers, do you think the baggage handlers and airport staff at Heathrow/Gatwick are getting bonuses for dealing with more people during the games?

Rolandtheroadie

Kite2010 wrote: »

And then the unions will start the process and go on strike again as they want their pay rises.

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Poor bus drivers, having to work a bit more carrying a few more passengers, do you think the baggage handlers and airport staff at Heathrow/Gatwick are getting bonuses for dealing with more people during the games?

Olympic awards have already been agreed for the following workers:

• Heathrow Express workers: £700
• Network Rail: £500
• Docklands Light Railway: £900
• Virgin Rail: £500
• London Overground: £600
• London Underground: At least £850
• BAA staff, up to £1,200

From the Unite website.

dacouch

Watched a bus that had to go past Camberwell Bus station today, the strikers just stood in front of it for ages. The bus driver was taking abuse from the other drivers and the poor passengers would have been late for work.

Kite2010

The good old phase "up to" being used to describe the bonuses for BAA staff. What about the other staff whom work at airports not employed by BAA?

Good to see the unions trying to get as much money as possible from companies using the olympics as an excuse.