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Do you want to discuss boring politics? (12 Viewers)

  • Thread starter mrtrench
  • Start date Jun 14, 2020
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MalcSB

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,351
Sky_Blue_Dreamer said:
Then work smarter
Click to expand...
If only that had been possible.
 
Last edited: Aug 15, 2024
Reactions: Sky Blue Pete

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,352
fernandopartridge said:
My usually reliable local service has been the opposite over the last few months. I mean a pay deal and recruiting sufficient drivers to cover the timetable without making some do overtime is what they should be doing.
Click to expand...
I’ve just seen that train drivers work a 4 day week and one of the terms and conditions that the government is not requiring them to change is that Sunday working is not compulsory. Presumably then, no matter how many drivers they employ, there would be no Sunday timetables without overtime.
 

Sky Blue Pete

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,353
Brighton Sky Blue said:
While we’re here, how about universal school breakfast and lunch as an inexpensive help to child poverty, general nutrition, and education.
Click to expand...
Woke
 

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,354
Sky_Blue_Dreamer said:
Then work smarter
Click to expand...
If only these could work smarter. If only these earned as much as train drivers,

Radiographer shortage in England ‘is delaying breast cancer treatment’

Urgent need to recruit more mammographers to enable disease to be detected promptly, says professional body
www.theguardian.com
 
B

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,355
MalcSB said:
If only these could work smarter. If only these earned as much as train drivers,

Radiographer shortage in England ‘is delaying breast cancer treatment’

Urgent need to recruit more mammographers to enable disease to be detected promptly, says professional body
www.theguardian.com
Click to expand...
There are plenty of professions doing difficult or highly skilled work that should be paid much more, and a good number doing easy or unimportant work that are paid far too much.

I have no problem with train drivers being well paid.
 
Reactions: Sky_Blue_Dreamer, chiefdave, wingy and 1 other person

duffer

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,356
MalcSB said:
If only these could work smarter. If only these earned as much as train drivers,

Radiographer shortage in England ‘is delaying breast cancer treatment’

Urgent need to recruit more mammographers to enable disease to be detected promptly, says professional body
www.theguardian.com
Click to expand...

Indeed, so you'll be supporting substantial wage rises across the NHS and care sector then, I presume?

Or are you one of those people that stood outside loudly banging the saucepan, and then went inside and quietly voted Tory?
 

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,357
duffer said:
Indeed, so you'll be supporting substantial wage rises across the NHS and care sector then, I presume?

Or are you one of those people that stood outside loudly banging the saucepan, and then went inside and quietly voted Tory?
Click to expand...
I worked for the NHS. It would have felt wrong to have loudly banged a saucepan for myself.
 
Reactions: bulko and Grendel

Grendel

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,358
MalcSB said:
I worked for the NHS. It would have felt wrong to have loudly banged a saucepan for myself.
Click to expand...

 
Reactions: MalcSB
W

wingy

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,359
Brighton Sky Blue said:
There are plenty of professions doing difficult or highly skilled work that should be paid much more, and a good number doing easy or unimportant work that are paid far too much.

I have no problem with train drivers being well paid.
Click to expand...
Maybe when the plane's get automaton, the pilots can transfer to work the train's on the W/E shift, probably compatible wages,draw backs no partying with the hostesses, plus dependent on your view, home virtually every night!
 
Reactions: MalcSB
B

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,360
wingy said:
Maybe when the plane's get automaton, the pilots can transfer to work the train's on the W/E shift, probably compatible wages,draw backs no partying with the hostesses, plus dependent on your view, home virtually every night!
Click to expand...
Train drivers are a pretty obvious profession to be replaced by automation. So the people jealous of the pay and conditions they have fought for in through a strong union will not have to be upset for too long.
 

SkyBlueCharlie9

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,361
tisza said:
Same tune with every election. Opposition promises to fix things but then claims there isn't the money.
This time Labour didn't really have to do any sums as they were always going to walk the election as people just sick of Conservatives.
Every party says they'll sort out public sector waste - none succeed that well.
Every recent govt has overspent on external consultants - a bloated, increasingly inefficient Civil Service often to blame for that.
Taxes obviously going up.
Click to expand...
What evidence of public sector waste? Having worked in both public and private sector this tired old cliche is very harmful. Some actions in private sector has been terrible verging on criminal but I don't tar everyone with same brush. Truth is both need each other for country and economy to flourish.
 
Reactions: duffer, MalcSB, Sky_Blue_Dreamer and 1 other person

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,362
Brighton Sky Blue said:
Train drivers are a pretty obvious profession to be replaced by automation. So the people jealous of the pay and conditions they have fought for in through a strong union will not have to be upset for too long.
Click to expand...
And all the rail unions will all be out on strike the moment there is a whiff of this happening. The operation of trains does seem way overdue being automated: repairing the lines or clearing the wrong type of leaves less so.
 

SkyBlueCharlie9

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,363
MalcSB said:
I worked for the NHS. It would have felt wrong to have loudly banged a saucepan for myself.
Click to expand...
Going to answer the question about pay across the NHS?
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,364
wingy said:
Maybe when the plane's get automaton, the pilots can transfer to work the train's on the W/E shift, probably compatible wages,draw backs no partying with the hostesses, plus dependent on your view, home virtually every night!
Click to expand...

Train drivers earn more I believe. Trains should be automated anyway. Staff should be security and service not drivers IMO.
 
Reactions: MalcSB
B

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,365
MalcSB said:
And all the rail unions will all be out on strike the moment there is a whiff of this happening. The operation of trains does seem way overdue being automated: repairing the lines or clearing the wrong type of leaves less so.
Click to expand...
Well I would expect them to fight it, but it would most likely be settled by a phased switch to automation.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,366
Automation is where the unions really shit the bed. Your members don’t get higher pay without higher productivity. Refusing productivity enhancements is cutting off your nose to spite your face.
 
B

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,367
shmmeee said:
Automation is where the unions really shit the bed. Your members don’t get higher pay without higher productivity. Refusing productivity enhancements is cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Click to expand...
Well, it would make ASLEF redundant. RMT however do not necessarily need to fear driverless trains.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,368
Brighton Sky Blue said:
Well, it would make ASLEF redundant. RMT however do not necessarily need to fear driverless trains.
Click to expand...

You can’t fight the tide of technology. Better to be working on getting your members gainful employment elsewhere than sticking your fingers in your ears until one day the inevitable happens.
 
Reactions: MalcSB and Sky_Blue_Dreamer

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,369
I don't think you can realistically and safely automate training driving in this country on such a busy railway. What is the actual real benefit of doing so vs the massive massive costs?
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,370
MalcSB said:
And all the rail unions will all be out on strike the moment there is a whiff of this happening. The operation of trains does seem way overdue being automated: repairing the lines or clearing the wrong type of leaves less so.
Click to expand...
We can't even manage to electrify the tracks and don't have enough rolling stock because we're leasing old shit other countries no longer have use for. The chances of investing in driver free trains any time soon seems pretty slim.

Also, TfL have driver free trains, they still require a driver on every train for safety reasons.
 
Reactions: duffer

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,371
shmmeee said:
Train drivers earn more I believe. Trains should be automated anyway. Staff should be security and service not drivers IMO.
Click to expand...
Crazy. HGV and bus drivers deserve more, at least they have to steer and cope with traffic.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,372
MalcSB said:
Crazy. HGV and bus drivers deserve more, at least they have to steer and cope with traffic.
Click to expand...

For some reason you need an engineering qualification to drive a train I think. But the whole thing seems extremely automatable. I’d much rather have another guard in the carriages on most trains I’ve been on than a driver.
 
Reactions: SkyBlueCharlie9

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,373
SkyBlueCharlie9 said:
Going to answer the question about pay across the NHS?
Click to expand...
Yes. As I have said, my final pay point at retirement would have to be increased by 30% to make up for inflation since Agenda for Change was introduced in 2004. It Would be entirely reasonable to restore that purchasing power by awarding the required pay increases- with the government making it absolutely clear that this was a one off special case given that the provision of health (and social care) services are in everyone’s interests. Annual increments should be returned, I have no idea why the unions agreed to the change in system. I would also increase the number of all health related university places significantly and make it financially attractive for students to pursue these courses rather than degrees in media studies or the life and music of The Beatles.
 
Reactions: bulko

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,374
shmmeee said:
For some reason you need an engineering qualification to drive a train I think. But the whole thing seems extremely automatable. I’d much rather have another guard in the carriages on most trains I’ve been on than a driver.
Click to expand...
I don’t think you do. Entry requirement 2 GCSEs.

Train driver | Explore Careers | National Careers Service

nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
 

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,375
fernandopartridge said:
I don't think you can realistically and safely automate training driving in this country on such a busy railway. What is the actual real benefit of doing so vs the massive massive costs?
Click to expand...
If there is any seriousness to the development of automated cars, the railways should be a piece of piss.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,376
MalcSB said:
I don’t think you do. Entry requirement 2 GCSEs.

Train driver | Explore Careers | National Careers Service

nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
Click to expand...

You did when I applied about ten years ago. My HND in Engineering (Telecomms) wasn’t deemed enough
 

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,377
shmmeee said:
You did when I applied about ten years ago. My HND in Engineering (Telecomms) wasn’t deemed enough
Click to expand...
I honestly find that hard to believe, it must have been an excuse. You were probably too right wing for them.
 
Last edited: Aug 15, 2024
Reactions: shmmeee

duffer

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,378
Every job is a piece of piss, except mine, seems to be the theme here. If it's so straightforward, why does it take 18-24 months' worth of training to become a train driver. Why aren't we all applying to do it?

I'm guessing one reason is that it's actually fairly technical, and the other is that it's not 40 tons of baked beans that you're responsible for, it's a few hundred lives, and a few million quid if you stuff it up.

Fully automated trains might be some way away - there's a lot of infrastructure involved. And the reason you have a driver in trains, is a bit like the reason you've got a pilot in planes...

Driverless Trains: Past, Present and Future

Are driverless trains inevitable? While possible, they are not as common as they could be. We look at the story of autonomous trains to get some clues.
www.hitachirail.com
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,379
shmmeee said:
You did when I applied about ten years ago. My HND in Engineering (Telecomms) wasn’t deemed enough
Click to expand...
Went down a wormhole about this recently and the bigger problem now is unless you want to pay to put yourself through private training its hard to get qualified. The train franchises don't / won't train anywhere near the number of people required to make up the shortfall in drivers.

On the rare occasions they do advertise for trainee drivers they get many times the number of applicants required. Would suggest that the problem with a shortage of drivers is not down to nobody wanting to do the job.
 
Reactions: Brighton Sky Blue and shmmeee

Grendel

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,380
duffer said:
Every job is a piece of piss, except mine, seems to be the theme here. If it's so straightforward, why does it take 18-24 months' worth of training to become a train driver. Why aren't we all applying to do it?

I'm guessing one reason is that it's actually fairly technical, and the other is that it's not 40 tons of baked beans that you're responsible for, it's a few hundred lives, and a few million quid if you stuff it up.

Fully automated trains might be some way away - there's a lot of infrastructure involved. And the reason you have a driver in trains, is a bit like the reason you've got a pilot in planes...

Driverless Trains: Past, Present and Future

Are driverless trains inevitable? While possible, they are not as common as they could be. We look at the story of autonomous trains to get some clues.
www.hitachirail.com
Click to expand...

The average pilot salary

https://uk.indeed.com/career/pilot/salaries
 

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,381
Grendel said:
The average pilot salary

https://uk.indeed.com/career/pilot/salaries
Click to expand...
Ridiculous. Obviously easier and less responsibility than driving a train.
 
Last edited: Aug 15, 2024

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,382
chiefdave said:
Went down a wormhole about this recently and the bigger problem now is unless you want to pay to put yourself through private training its hard to get qualified. The train franchises don't / won't train anywhere near the number of people required to make up the shortfall in drivers.

On the rare occasions they do advertise for trainee drivers they get many times the number of applicants required. Would suggest that the problem with a shortage of drivers is not down to nobody wanting to do the job.
Click to expand...
So why is there a shortage of drivers, and why don’t companies train trainloads so there is some competition for jobs?
 
P

PVA

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,383
Sorry but it's impossible to read this conversation and not think of this.



 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,384
PVA said:
Sorry but it's impossible to read this conversation and not think of this.



Click to expand...

What? Even by your standards this is bizarre.
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
  • Aug 15, 2024
  • #42,385
MalcSB said:
If there is any seriousness to the development of automated cars, the railways should be a piece of piss.
Click to expand...
If is doing some exceptionally heavy lifting there
 
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