The Floodgates Are Beginning To Creak

[New Judge]

"We want same pay award as drivers, says RMT boss Mick Lynch"

Looks like another cracking deal for passengers and taxpayers might be in the offing.

Meanwhile, all is not so hunky-dory as we may have been led to believe at the "Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen" (note for younger readers: locomotive "firemen" are people who used to shovel coal into the fireboxes of steam locomotives' - a practice which went out of regular use on the country's railways 56 years ago). They are to strike every weekend for ten weeks:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9le7vdw91o

A statement from ASLEF reads:

"This follows a breakdown in industrial relations, bullying by management, and persistent breaking of agreements by the company."

I have a close friend who is a driver manager at LNER. I may reveal some of the issues which consitute  "bullying" according to the  Firemen's union.

[Khandro]

So much for these highly-skilled train drivers who continually hold their customers the public to ransom.

They could all be replaced pdq. Quite unlike 747 pilots & brain surgeons.

NJ. all I said was I could drive an electric train safely with minimum training. I didn't say I would drive it at 125mph as in your scenario:

I could start it, move it, and stop it (and a bit more).

[New Judge]

"I could start it, move it, and stop it (and a bit more)."

So could I. So could most people given a short introduction into what levers and buttons they need to operate. But that isn't what train drivers do and they could not all be replaced pdq.

It's the same as suggesting that a 17 year old who has been taught in a car that there is a pedal for "faster", one for "slower" and a wheel to steer round corners is suddenly able to drive at 70mph on the motorway, or round Hyde Park Corner during rush hour.

Don't get me wrong: I have no time for train drivers (or more properly their union) who regard their supervisor talking to them during their break about last night's football results as "work" and so their break must begin again. Nor have I any for those who regard being contacted outside their working hours to see if they wanted to work overtime as "bullying". 

But I don't like to see a highly skilled job being reduced to "pushing a few buttons".