[Livia]

I'd like to thank the London Underground for giving me back the Circle Line yesterday. I spoke to the chap actually working in the ticket office (which is what the strike was all about for anyone who doesn't know), and to the chap at the barrier, both told me they were against strike action and thought there were better ways of flagging up their displeasure than inconveniencing the public and losing day's pay. But hey ho... the militants will have their day off, I guess.

[Kizzy]

Where is millie tant? TWO employees that were asked you say.... well that must be representative of all tube employees.
I'm well aware it's due to job security, was someone confused I hadn't noticed.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Where is millie tant? TWO employees that were asked you say.... well that must be representative of all tube employees.
I'm well aware it's due to job security, was someone confused I hadn't noticed.

Amazingly enough, I wasn't referring to you. It was Jesus who said he wasn't sure what the strike was about.

Yes. Two employees. I made that clear, didn't I? I didn't claim it was more... Neither did I claim it was representive of the whole of London Transport. It is, however, two more than you've spoken to, so your sarcasm is somewhat misplaced.

It may have been only two people but they were of the mind that striking wasn't going to get them what they wanted, and I thought that mindset was worth sharing in case everyone thinks walking out of your job everytime something isn't going your way is the way to secure your job these days. They need the public on their side, and strike action that disrupts not only people going to work, but tourists who spend a lot of cash in the capital and consequently isn't a great PR exercise for the union, nor for London Transport

[arista]

Yes a great film
showing Corruption of Unions and Bosses

[Kizzy]

No sarcasm here, In every given scenario we can't all be privvy to such information, you were again very lucky.
It's hard to get the public onside when they don't appear to give a damn, it's not their livelihood that's threatened is it?

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

No sarcasm here, In every given scenario we can't all be privvy to such information, you were again very lucky.
It's hard to get the public onside when they don't appear to give a damn, it's not their livelihood that's threatened is it?

You're a member of the public. So am I. I don't want people to lose their jobs and I quite like having ticket offices rather than faceless automated ticket machines. I have an oyster card, but I'm thinking tourists and visitors find it better to speak to someone in a ticket office. I think the majority of people do give a damn. And more people in work means less benefits, and more money going back into the economy. But the Great British Public doesn't like being held to ransom. There are far more effective ways of gaining people's support than striking.

For the record, London Underground has said that there will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of the planned ticket office closures.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Livia

You're a member of the public. So am I. I don't want people to lose their jobs and I quite like having ticket offices rather than faceless automated ticket machines. I have an oyster card, but I'm thinking tourists and visitors find it better to speak to someone in a ticket office. I think the majority of people do give a damn. And more people in work means less benefits, and more money going back into the economy. But the Great British Public doesn't like being held to ransom. There are far more effective ways of gaining people's support than striking.

For the record, London Underground has said that there will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of the planned ticket office closures.

Are you suggesting that they haven't exhausted other avenues?

This is despite London Underground making clear to unions and staff a range of commitments including:

Every Tube station will be visibly staffed and controlled by LU staff during operating hours
There will be a job for everyone who wants to continue to be part of our organisation and who is ready to be flexible
Any operational changes will be done without compulsory redundancies where we can collaborate to make change happen
We will involve staff in any plans to grow, develop and change services
We will do this fairly and support people through change

These are not guarantees, and are rather ambiguous 'commitments' .

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/medi...ive/29467.aspx

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Are you suggesting that they haven't exhausted other avenues?

This is despite London Underground making clear to unions and staff a range of commitments including:

Every Tube station will be visibly staffed and controlled by LU staff during operating hours
There will be a job for everyone who wants to continue to be part of our organisation and who is ready to be flexible
Any operational changes will be done without compulsory redundancies where we can collaborate to make change happen
We will involve staff in any plans to grow, develop and change services
We will do this fairly and support people through change

These are not guarantees, and are rather ambiguous 'commitments' .

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/medi...ive/29467.aspx

I'm suggesting that it's six of one, and half a dozen of the other. The union would have us believe that all the bosses are moustache-twirling villains and the bosses would have us believe all union members are card-carrying Communists. And no, I don't think the unions have exhausted all other avenues.

It's interesting that you emboldened the bit about requiring staff to be flexible. Like it's something unthinkable to the union. Everyone has to be flexible in the workplace these days, it's the way it is. Sadly the days of lifelong jobs, where you drilled the same hole in the same place for forty years is long gone.

I've just seen Bob Crow on the Politics Show. I don't always agree with him, but I just can't help admiring him. I particularly liked the quote he used from Henry Ford who told a worker "See that robot over there, he doesn't have a union card", to which the worker replied "See that robot over there, he can't buy a car". Very true... and closing ticket offices is another way the human face is being eradicated from business and service and putting people out of work. Which is why, for instance, I refuse to use self-checkout at supermarkets. But I still don't think that strike action is the right one or they will lose the support of people who could support them, ie their customers.

[MTVN]

Ticket offices are a waste of money anyway, damn unions striking because they want to keep their hugely expensive cosy offices despite only 3% of people using them