Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Tube strikes leaving elderlies without carers | |
Posted by: | Claire Diaper | |
Date/Time: | 18/08/15 23:42:00 |
Here goes i am going to respond then stand back and await the abuse. I am myself a tube driver so will try to explain the reasons behind the current dispute. as its been said its not about the money which it is not its about the introduction of new rosters around the night tube. none of us are against the night tube its the rosters and the way its been gone about is the issue. At this time on a 52 week roster i get 11 weekends a year with my family as rosters rest days.with the introduction of the 1st phase (there will be 3 phases of night tube over the next 12 months) that will drop to 9 weekends. phase 2 will then drop to 8 and phase 3 could drop to 7 weekends a year. at this time i can finish work at 0130 on a sunday morning (classed as a saturday shift) sunday is then classed as a day off and the start again monday morning at 0430. we dont get 52 days a year holiday and bank holidays off as stated in the press we get 43 days a year and as the demand for tube services increases we run a saturday service on bank holidays which means we now work all bar one bank holiday a year. I am in the union that has now suspended all strike action as talks take place and intend to be at work hopefully running some sort of service next week all depending what staff are in as the focus of all the press talk is on tube drivers striking, hardly anything is mentioned regarding the station staff, control room staff, signalling staff and staff behind the scenes that are also on strike that are required to run a tube service. it has been over 10 years since aslef union has taken strike action and as most tube drivers are in this union it seems to have more press then the others. I am personnaly very sorry that the inconvience that this causes when we do strike. when the rmt called strikes 2/3 years ago i was at work and driving shuttle services from ealing to tower hill and took a lot of abuse from the travelling public about the strike as did other drivers even though we were there trying to offer as best of service as we could, and i will be there next week trying to do the same while the other unions hold there strike. strike action is a last resort and i am sure for those of you who have fixed hours would not be happy if you walked into work tomorrow to be given 28 days notice that your hours will be completely different and required to work hours that didnt suit you due to family commitments you would be happy either. it is going to be a long road of talks and i hope that talks continue to prevent more strikes and the other unions can find common ground to do the same. But the main goal at the end of the day is to offer the best and safest tube service possible with drivers who are able to function and not be too tired to operate the trains safely and enough staff on stations to assist and help our customers with there questions and make them feel safe while travelling at all times on the tube. I now stand back and await the abuse. |