Worst drivers to strike?

[dogduke]

amber wrote: When I joined LCT in 1960 as a driver my father in law was a train driver. He earned about £3 aweek more than I did. Compare what the difference is today £000s. Not that I begrudge the train drivers pay, but I do think bus drivers have lagged well behind at the expense of shareholders, I am aware that dvrs, garage staff etc are shareholders but there holding are peanuts compared to managers and directors Pay differentials seem to have been turned around..I think in the 80's I was on £20 a week more than a driver basic.A driver got the same basic wether they were shunting rusty wagons or wizzing along at high speed,the difference was the 'mileage bonus'Those who worked to king'scross I think would only drive one way,if they had to drive the round trip it was mega bucks as I understood it.Controllers have moved to driving simply(?) for the moneyI think the first ASLEF 'mission statement' was along the lines of maintaining the members continuous employment which they did.Rest day working outside of London was a definate no-no thus requiring a full complement of staff at every depot.In steam days progession was cleaner -fireman- driver stepping up to the next level when qualified as required.Current training is think up to 2 years 'off the street'#Are they still referred to as 'boil in the bag drivers'

[BLAKEY]

dogduke wrote: In steam days progession was cleaner -fireman- driver stepping up to the next level when qualified as required.Current training is think up to 2 years 'off the street'#Are they still referred to as 'boil in the bag drivers' I had a very close family friend (now sadly deceased) who progressed exactly as you say from leaving school,and ended up on the King's Cross expresses, steam too.    I remember him once taking me into the shed (Copley Hill I seem to think ??) and showing me round a brand new Deltic diesel loco - I was spellbound by the immaculate and "surgical cleanliness" of it, including its "en suite" facilities. Not being a railway expert, although I love them, I then laboured for years under the impression that there was an enormous class of "Deltics" until I realised when their withdrawal approached that there were only, I believe, twenty two or twenty three including prototypes. As a very frequent visitor to London in those days I think I probably rode behind every one of them - in some kind of childish baseless way I always considered "Alycidon" to be my favourite. For what its worth I think they were magnificent machines - troublesome cracked manifolds and all

[cnosni]

dogduke wrote: amber wrote: When I joined LCT in 1960 as a driver my father in law was a train driver. He earned about £3 aweek more than I did. Compare what the difference is today £000s. Not that I begrudge the train drivers pay, but I do think bus drivers have lagged well behind at the expense of shareholders, I am aware that dvrs, garage staff etc are shareholders but there holding are peanuts compared to managers and directors Pay differentials seem to have been turned around..I think in the 80's I was on £20 a week more than a driver basic.A driver got the same basic wether they were shunting rusty wagons or wizzing along at high speed,the difference was the 'mileage bonus'Those who worked to king'scross I think would only drive one way,if they had to drive the round trip it was mega bucks as I understood it.Controllers have moved to driving simply(?) for the moneyI think the first ASLEF 'mission statement' was along the lines of maintaining the members continuous employment which they did.Rest day working outside of London was a definate no-no thus requiring a full complement of staff at every depot.In steam days progession was cleaner -fireman- driver stepping up to the next level when qualified as required.Current training is think up to 2 years 'off the street'#Are they still referred to as 'boil in the bag drivers' Yeah about 2 years,THEN you start learning the job.Actually id say some of the least competent drivers on the ECML are actually the old hands.Theres one in particular who bangs on and on and on and on about the old days and how they had to work their way up.well it certainly was no guarantee of how good a driver you are as he,being a product of that system,is [edited for content].so sometimes its better to be Boil in the Bag than "overcooked"

[dogduke]

so sometimes its better to be Boil in the Bag than "overcooked" Point taken - I know exactly how you feel

[raveydavey]

So the drivers voted to strike today, despite the union advising them to accept the offer on the table.The result - virtually no buses in Leeds today.According to the YEP plans were in place to run a "skeleton service" but I've seen nowt past here this afternoon.

[Leeds-lad]

Daughter came out of Leeds today at 16.30 hrsNo 16 service and driver had a bucket for cash donations(don't know what for?)But wasn't taking Fares.

[tyke bhoy]

Things may just have become even worse for worst. The OFT is launching an enquiry into competition, or lack of it, on tendering for bus routes. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8444961.stm It might result in Worst’s stranglehold on services wholly within Leeds been loosened. I’m not holding my breath though.

[Crazy Jane]

Worst in the news again. And a bunch of Leeds people who should be ashamed of themselves "Leeds bus driver arrested over 'Muslin terrorist' jibe claimPOLICE have arrested a bus driver who allegedly called a woman passenger a Muslim terrorist and asked her if she had put a bomb on his bus.An investigation was launched by First Buses in Leeds after Turkish-born Hatice McGraffin, 29, claimed a driver made the inflammatory remarks as she boarded her bus on Thursday morning.A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of racially/religiously aggravated harassment and is currently in custody.""We are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to get in touch. Anyone with information should contact PC Keith Partridge via 0845 6060606."First say the bus driver has been "removed from duty" while they investigate the incident.The police spokesman added: "We are investigating this incident and are currently making inquiries. We have liaised with the bus company who have suspended an employee pending the outcome of our investigation."Mrs McGraffin, 29, from Otley, who is married to Englishman Ian, said the incident had left her horrified and devastated.Cafe worker Mrs McGraffin claimed he said: "You are an Islamic terrorist – you have put a bomb on the bus'. I asked people on the bus 'are you listening to this' but they ignored me."I am not even a practicing Muslim and I am married to an Englishman. I got off the bus and went to work but I couldn't work. I was crying so much and my hands were shaking, I had to go home."This is the first time this has happened to me in my life."There are lots of Muslim people living in this country, does he think they are all terrorists?"A First spokesman said: "This is a serious allegation made against one of our staff members. An immediate and thorough internal investigation will now take place."We will also offer our full support to West Yorkshire Police for any external inquiry they carry out with regard to this allegation.""http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 08413.jpIf he keeps his job, maybe they can put him on the 49 through Harehills Lane.

[Crazy Jane]

Worst not in my good books today. I had to run for the bus this morning and got on, then the driver knocked me half off by closing the doors and tried to drive off with my leg stuck in them. The bugger didn't even apologise or acknowledge he'd just done it Oh, and they're back in the news again tonight too:"'Terrorist jibe' Leeds bus driver quits his jobA bus driver who is accused of calling a woman passenger a Muslim terrorist has resigned from his job.The driver was initially "removed from duty" by his employers First Bus while the company awaited the outcome of a police investigation and its own internal inquiry into the allegation.First Bus also promised its "full support" with any external inquiry by West Yorkshire Police.At that time police confirmed a 45-year-old man had been arrested by police on suspicion of racially or religiously aggravated harassment.It has now been confirmed that the bus driver concerned has resigned from his post with the company.A spokesman for First Bus said that the driver had formally resigned his position last week."We hope we can now draw a line under this matter," he said. "The womanwho had complained about the driver had been kept appraised of the company's inquiries and latest developments," he added.Turkish-born Hatice McGraffin, 29, from Otley claimed the driver made the offensive remark when she boarded his bus on Thursday January 21.Mrs McGraffin, 29, who is married to Englishman, Ian, said the incident had left her horrified and devastated.Cafe worker Mrs McGraffin claimed the Yorkshire Evening Post said: "You are an Islamic terrorist – you have put a bomb on the bus'."I asked people on the bus 'are you listening to this' but they ignored me. I am not even a practicing Muslim and I am married to an Englishman."I got off the bus and went to work but I couldn't work."I was crying so much and my hands were shaking, I had to go home," said Mrs McGraffin."This is the first time this has happened to me in my life.There are lots of Muslim peopleliving in this country, does he think they are all terrorists?", she added.At the time of the police arrest anyone with information about the incident on the bus was asked to contact PC Keith Partridge via 0845 6060606."The man arrested earlier by police was due to answer his police bail later this month(feb)."http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 6046529.jp

[chameleon]

'Cafe worker Mrs McGraffin claimed the Yorkshire Evening Post said: "You are an Islamic terrorist – you have put a bomb on the bus''.So if the YEP said that, are they to be prosecuted too?