London Banter - View Single Post - How well off are London's tube drivers and why are they striking?

Mark[_2_] · July 12th 15, 12:38 AM posted to uk.transport.london

On Saturday, 11 July 2015 21:37:00 UTC+1, Robin9 wrote:
'Recliner[_3_ Wrote:
;149316']On Fri, 10 Jul 2015 21:14:05 +0200, Robin9
wrote:
-

'Recliner[_3_ Wrote: -
;149299']Robin9 wrote:-
'Recliner[_3_ Wrote: -
;149283']http://tinyurl.com/nf6grll-

I heard that all LU workers were on strike, not just the train
drivers.
How much do the other members of staff earn?-

Perhaps you didn't actually read the linked article?

It said, "Tube drivers are also much better paid than some of their
other
colleagues who'll be joining them on strike. Station staff get around
£30,000, according to TfI, with others closer to £20,000, while
supervisors
earn around £40,000 - still markedly less than what tube drivers
get."-

No, I didn't read the linked article. I rarely follow links.

So, most other members of staff earn far less than train drivers. Why
then is
all the attention on drivers' earnings and none on the �20,000 or so
earned
by the unspecified "others? Is this that famous politics-of-envy I keep
hearing about?-

People think Tube drivers are very overpaid for the jobs they do. They
don't think the other staff are. And yet it's most often the drivers
who go on strike.

Compare Tube drivers with bus drivers. By almost any measure, the
latter have a much more difficult job, and yet they earn much less.
Also, operating Tube trains is getting easier and easier, as the
trains get more automated, and yet that de-skilling hasn't resulted in
lower Tube driver pay.

It isn't tube workers' fault that bus drivers are under-paid, and there
is no
reason tube workers should take a pay cut in sympathy. It really does
sound
like the politics-of-envy: ordinary working people daring to earn good
money!
Outrageous!

Exactly! "I have no power and am completely at the whim of my bosses,
but instead of wanting better for everyone I want everyone to be like me".
Complete race to the bottom. How that became excepted wisdom I've no
idea, but it's incredibly depressing.