Tube drivers get extra £500 during Olympics – London chat forum

[londonlover]

This is why I hate tube drivers so much: not content with already getting a ridiculously high wage for just sitting in a cabin and pressing a few buttons, their union has demanded more money for working during the Olympics -- and they've got it! They are getting an extra £500 just for working during the Olympics.

Does that make sense to anyone? If it was a bank holiday or something like that and they were being forced to work, then okay. But it's just a normal working day. The Olympics have not been made a national holiday, so why should they get more money? Of course I am sure that they are having to lay on more trains, but why not just pay them overtime?
It's blackmail, that is what it is. The union has turned around and said if you want more trains then we want more money, otherwise we will ruin it for everyone. It's just the train drivers being selfish, as usual, because they know they can bring the whole thing grinding to a halt.

[DaveG]

Do you know how much train drivers earn? £40,000
forty thousands pounds for just driving a train, and all the perks in the world because they've got such a strong union. they are pretty much unsackable too. They have got the cushtiest job in London.

[JerrySmith]

They said its compensation for having to work harder and do longer hours, but that's what overtime is for. Pay them overtime if they have to do more hours, it dont take a genius to work that out. But because the government is scared of what they do they have to give them something extra on top of overtime. the government are stupid for giving into it. And what will happen when the olympics come around... they will probably all refuse to do overtme and start working to rule, because that is what they are like

[Athena]

Well clearly, I'm in the wrong job, whilst the rest of public sector is suffering cuts... including teachers and nurses who earn a lot less. The pay should reflect the work. If they could get the services to work on time, stop people throwing themselves onto the line, and make the signalling problems disappear... they would absolutely deserve an extra bonus. I see them on the same par as bankers...

Leeches of the society.

[parloman]

It's because they've got such a strong union. The rail bosses have to agree with everything because they know they will go on strike for the smallest of reasons. they know they don't care about calling a strike when the olympics are on. they know they're not buffing.

I think all trades should take a leaf out of their book and unionise. I've been in a few jobs that could have done with a union. i wish my current job had one.

[Guest]

Sadly this is not just confined to the train drivers. I have been reading this week that the bus drivers want more money for working during the Olympics as well, simply because they will be "busier". Does it make a difference to the bus driver whether his bus is full, or empty? Maybe it would if he had to get out and push it, but all he does is drive it. It makes no difference at all.

In any other job, you have to work through the busy periods and don't expect more money to do so. In my job, we are not even allowed to take time off during the "high season", and we dont complain.

It's not like they are being forced to do overtime, for which they would of course be paid extra. They are simply demanding more money for doing their normal job.

I think this is because they have seen the tube drivers demand, and win, more money, so they want some of the action too. That is what happens when you give into blackmail. They see that you are weak and come back for more. The Mayor should never have given into the tube drivers in the first place, it was a very silly decision.

[DAVE]

Driving buses for a living is not a pleasant job these days, not with all the aggro and trouble they have to put up with. First of all it's all the school kids playing up in teh morning, then you have a few hours respite, then it's the kids coming home in the afternoon, and then it's all the loud drunks at night. I would suggest that people try driving a bus for a day, before they say we aren't worth the money