poxy train drivers

jon1981

I only briefly caught this story, but am i right in thinking they went on strike because they will not train other drivers?

DonJose

jon1981 wrote: »

I only briefly caught this story, but am i right in thinking they went on strike because they will not train other drivers?

Don't use the train but I'd be highly pissed off if I were a train user. All I can say is recruit eastern european train drivers and sack the irish drivers.

jon1981

im serious its a joke when them guys, it seems they go on strike for anything, if their morning tea is too hot...lets strike!! Seriously if the strike is because they refuse to train new drivers well then i give up with this country, how is this country ever going to improve with spoiled throw your toys out of your pram workers like these!

ronnie3585

A shower of b*stards! Its the bloody unions I tells ya, bring back Thatcher (and move her to Ireland, and make her Taoiseach).

Ross_Mahon

I think everyone in this country goes on strike! Nurses, taxi drives, and now train drivers...

DonJose

jon1981 wrote: »

im serious its a joke when them guys, it seems they go on strike for anything, if their morning tea is too hot...lets strike!! Seriously if the strike is because they refuse to train new drivers well then i give up with this country, how is this country ever going to improve with spoiled throw your toys out of your pram workers like these!

The worst thing is they complained about not having enough drivers, then strike when new drivers are being brought in

jon1981

DonJose wrote: »

The worst thing is they complained about not having enough drivers, then strike when new drivers are being brought in

:mad: useless bastards, i think people in this country are too use to the gravy train. why is unions can't tell their workers to be flexible, any job ive ever done involved me doing some tasks outside my job spec!!

faceman

I was listening to an interview with Barry Kenny from irish Rail and the union dude on newstalk earlier. Its very odd.

Basically one bloke in cork decided not to train anyone in so irish rail suspended him without pay. All other drivers are out on "sympathy".

What is a further kick in the ghoulies for Irish Rail and the consumer, is that the union signed an agreement some time ago agreeing to cross train other drivers and to be flexible with it.

The union dont seem to be quick to speak out against the strike which wasnt given union go ahead.

There must be more to this story than we are hearing. If it is as it is being reporting, its unbelievable that there is no accountability in irish rail that this kind of carry on can occur in a crucial public service.

If the individual who was suspended without pay was suspended on the basis of this particular event, it would seem heavy handed to me.

But like i say there must be more to this.

As for whoever made comment about sacking the workforce and hiring "eastern europeans". Presumably thats in jest??? A bit short sighted no?

robinph

It's all going a bit French these days.

kittensoft1984

I'm so glad im not going home this weekend!

They better be back working for next weekend though!

DEmeant0r

Jesus the one time I have to go to the Capital for something, this ****ing thing happens, god I hate the Irish workforce...

jon1981

is the rail service public sector?

patrickc

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055299025

thread here in commuting and transport already

5starpool

One awkward cnut ruining plans and arrangements for thousands of people. What an ignorant dichead.

If there is no more to this story than one person refusing to do his jobmand the rest striking in sympathy then there should be public executions.

Collie D

faceman wrote: »

I was listening to an interview with Barry Kenny from irish Rail and the union dude on newstalk earlier. Its very odd.

Basically one bloke in cork decided not to train anyone in so irish rail suspended him without pay. All other drivers are out on "sympathy".

What is a further kick in the ghoulies for Irish Rail and the consumer, is that the union signed an agreement some time ago agreeing to cross train other drivers and to be flexible with it.

The union dont seem to be quick to speak out against the strike which wasnt given union go ahead.

There must be more to this story than we are hearing. If it is as it is being reporting, its unbelievable that there is no accountability in irish rail that this kind of carry on can occur in a crucial public service.

If the individual who was suspended without pay was suspended on the basis of this particular event, it would seem heavy handed to me.

But like i say there must be more to this.

As for whoever made comment about sacking the workforce and hiring "eastern europeans". Presumably thats in jest??? A bit short sighted no?

I was listening to that this morning as well and I don't recall hearing that he'd been suspended.

Sherifu

Irish Rail = Tits on a bull.

CrazyNoob

Irish Rail =A Bull on Tits

BobTheBeat

Used to work with a guy a while back who was a train driver for years. The stories he had were unbelievable about the ****e they used to get up to. He told me about this old fella who used to drive his train to a siding close to house every day around 1, so he could hop in and have his dinner. Also mentioned that the union reps were fairly oppressive and there was very little scope for exhibiting any kind of individualistic behaviour. Seems to me that this is standard fare in most unions today. F*ck joe public, I want my pay rise and want to actually do less work for it.

SimpleSam06

ronnie3585 wrote: »

A shower of b*stards! Its the bloody unions I tells ya, bring back Thatcher (and move her to Ireland, and make her Taoiseach).

Thatcher had to stare down a much smaller public sector than we have in Ireland. Here, we're pretty much humped. Thank your politicians for that by the way, who spent the last 8 years building it up.

faceman wrote: »

its unbelievable that there is no accountability in irish rail that this kind of carry on can occur in a crucial public service.

Its the same with most of the public sector, I don't know why this is such a source of astonishment to you.

DEmeant0r wrote: »

Jesus the one time I have to go to the Capital for something, this ****ing thing happens, god I hate the Irish public sector workforce...

Fixed that for you.

faceman

Collie D wrote: »

I was listening to that this morning as well and I don't recall hearing that he'd been suspended.

It was the news earlier today i picked that up from.

sdanseo

5starpool wrote: »

One awkward cnut ruining plans and arrangements for thousands of people. What an ignorant dichead.

If there is no more to this story than one person refusing to do his jobmand the rest striking in sympathy then there should be public executions.

Dear lord...if there's no more to you than that attitude you should be first on the block. Everyone (with notable exceptions, obviously) is entitled to strike if they don't like pay and conditions, why should train drivers be any different? If they're on strike in the first place, especialy so frequently, then clearly Iarnród Éireann have a management/HR problem - although of course that's hardly new information.

zero19

I think the attitude they have is pretty bad, a strike is an action that shouldn't be taken lightly but if the story is true then if i were in a HR position he would have been told to train this driver or be sacked. There should be no place for anyone who isn't willing to perform a duty of his job.

sdanseo

zero19 wrote: »

I think the attitude they have is pretty bad, a strike is an action that shouldn't be taken lightly but if the story is true then if i were in a HR position he would have been told to train this driver or be sacked. There should be no place for anyone who isn't willing to perform a duty of his job.

Unless of course it's an extra duty lumbered on him/her for little or no extra pay - which I suspect (complete speculation fwiw) us probably the case. I'm not personally inconvenienced by this and if I was yes, I'd be pissed off...but people should understand that it's not always the fault of the employee who isn't afraid to speak out.

Captain Darling

sdonn_1 wrote: »

Unless of course it's an extra duty lumbered on him/her for little or no extra pay - which I suspect (complete speculation fwiw) us probably the case. I'm not personally inconvenienced by this and if I was yes, I'd be pissed off...but people should understand that it's not always the fault of the employee who isn't afraid to speak out.

Theres no extra duty on them. They want less hours and the same money. They are an absolute joke and its a disgrace that they have discommoded thousands of people, at a time when we should be encouraging people to take the train. If Irish Rail was a private business they would be sacked. They realise they are in a position of power whereby they can hold Irish Rail to ransom, even though their present work conditions and pay are excellent, its barefaced greed that is motivating these actions. Nothing less.

The last time they went on strike, it totally backfired on them because it directly lead to Irish Rail losing a large amount of freight business (Guinness) which led to several hundred jobs within the company being cut.

I am getting excited about this, so i'll say no more.


Rant over.

CiDeRmAn

I guess the non public sector workers of this state have had no reason to be unhappy with their lot for so long that they forget the need for a union, they forget the role of the union.
Don't they know that for most employers the workers are merely another resource to be exploited, used up? just liek the raw materials themselves. And if a cheaper alternative arises they will defer to that, no loyalty, no thought at all.
So, as a public sector worker, if I, via my union, take umbrage with a descision taken by management that affects my day to day, when my opinions and my arguements are disregarded, why shouldn't I have the right to strike? Why should I be bullied by my management to hop through their hoops?

The big thing here is it all throws into sharp relief just how important and man hour hungry the public services are, whilst most of the idignant folk who find striking so reprehensible are in jobs that most can do without, namely the service industry.

Striking by it's very nature means a stop or degredation of normal service, therfore, again by its nature, it means service users are going to be deprived.
It's a tribute then to the owners/managers of these services that they deflect the blame squarely onto the shoulders of the striking staff, while the management themselves, almost without fail, have plenty of prior notice that a difficulty is arising, but choose to do nothing about it.

kmart6

Felt sorry for the girl who texted in to I think it was 2FM to ask them to stop playin The Boss as she wassn't going to be able to see him cause the trains weren't running from Cork!

faceman

She could have got the bus???

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

SimpleSam06

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

The big thing here is it all throws into sharp relief just how important and man hour hungry the public services are, whilst most of the idignant folk who find striking so reprehensible are in jobs that most can do without, namely the service industry.

The private sector pays for your public sector workers, it pays for your holidays, it pays for your hour long coffee breaks, its pays for your non contributory pensions, it pays for your internet connection, it pays for your annual pay rises at double the rate of everyone else, it pays for your hiring sprees, it pays for your unions. So have a thought before you start looking down your nose at the private sector.

The abuses in the bloated and inefficient public sector were well known during the boom period, but it didn't matter so much then since a lot of people were doing well. Now that a recession is upon us, the gravy train has come to a halt and you can expect a lot more scrutiny of what exactly goes on on the back of the taxpayer in this country.

The public sector is about to learn a hard lesson - if you're spending other people's money, its only a matter of time before they start looking for value for that. And you'd better believe no amount of strikes will help you at the end of the day.

5starpool

sdonn_1 wrote: »

Dear lord...if there's no more to you than that attitude you should be first on the block. Everyone (with notable exceptions, obviously) is entitled to strike if they don't like pay and conditions, why should train drivers be any different? If they're on strike in the first place, especialy so frequently, then clearly Iarnród Éireann have a management/HR problem - although of course that's hardly new information.

If he had a genuine grievance, yes, but in this case nothing I have heard has sounded like even a mild complaint, just some awkward bollokcs who didn't want to do more than the absolute minimum required of him. There are regular occasions where I have to do things I have never done before in my job, and I just get on with it and do it. As long as I get paid for my hours and I am in no physical danger, then one task or another - makes little difference.

TheRealBoss

I heard the drivers arrived back to work today but Irish Rail asked them to sogne something ...... letter saying that they would not strike, etc.

But the lads took exception (it was probably too early in the morning for that sort of thing !!!!!) and walked out again.

Now I don't like the drivers attitude but Irish Rail should have known the reaction the letter would cause. Why not let them back to work and let people uses the system ...... then sort it out !!!

chopperbyrne

A mate of mine works as an electrician on the DART lines and he said the last time the drivers striked, they all crossed the picket lines as they were sick of the drivers striking over things they had already agreed to.

Last time it was eight carriage DARTs.

kmart6

kmart6 wrote: »

Felt sorry for the girl who texted in to I think it was 2FM to ask them to stop playin The Boss as she wassn't going to be able to see him cause the trains weren't running from Cork!

Well she already had bought her train ticket and night not have been able to afford one! And she might have timed it so the only option at the time was the train! I don't know like,se texted into the radio,not like I know her!

ART6

Since the abolition of slavery most employees (obviously not military etc) have the right to withdraw their labour for whatever reason they choose. Employers have the right to employ whoever they want, although a raft of laws seem to be trying to change that, and to stop employing them if they wish. Therefore, from the employer's point of view, the reaction in the face of one man striking and brinking the business to a halt must be "Is his action unreasonable given his contract of employment?" "Is his action inflicting severe damage on the business?" "If he is disciplined or dismissed, will a larger strike result and will that cause any more damage to the business than has already occurred?"

If the answer to the first two questions is "yes", then to me that is gross misconduct and therefore a dismissible offence. If the answer to the third is "no", then face the union down and have done with it for once and for all.

None of this is to suggest that I am anti union. I am most certainly not. They are the interface and line of communication between the many employees and the few managers, and are essential in a well-run business. This is where I have some sympathy with the views expressed in this thread about the actions of the IE management. Do they see the unions as an essential part of the business? Do they really communicate with them? How much of this have they brought upon themselves by employing unsuitable people and not getting rid when they should have done?

DoubleJoe7

Some people seem to be ignoring the fact that this strike is not backed by the union - this is a group acting without any authorisation.

This train driver was not asked to work any extra hours outside what he was rostered - instead of driving carriages around the station, he was asked to go on a training run.

His issue was that he was not rostered for that job that day. The union had previously signed an agreement under the labour relation commission that stipulated that irish rail could ask a certain degree of flexibility from the drivers.


The drivers are an absolute disgrace IMO.

cabrwab

Well whatever the reason its annoying people, nobody has any sympathy for the drivers at the moment.

They shouldn't be allowed any pay hike in the near future. A public sector employee wouldn't be able to stick the private workforce for a week. what ever about airing your grivence in public but to disrupt a country is a disgrace, i think we should introduce a booting!

Stark

ART6 wrote:

Since the abolition of slavery most employees (obviously not military etc) have the right to withdraw their labour for whatever reason they choose.

Not without giving sufficient notice.

CiDeRmAn wrote:

The big thing here is it all throws into sharp relief just how important and man hour hungry the public services are, whilst most of the idignant folk who find striking so reprehensible are in jobs that most can do without, namely the service industry.

So manhungry that they might appreciate extra drivers? Except if you try to feed them, you get bitten.

CiDeRmAn wrote:

It's a tribute then to the owners/managers of these services that they deflect the blame squarely onto the shoulders of the striking staff, while the management themselves, almost without fail, have plenty of prior notice that a difficulty is arising, but choose to do nothing about it.

Again with the evil management asking the poor oppressed workers to actually do their jobs.

Annatar

Ahh trains my old favourite gripe.

Be thankful you have trains that the drivers can strike on.



No drivers are striking on the Dublin-Donegal line cos there aint any!

Ffs... I really need to get something else to whinge about.
bah humbug!

AckwelFoley

Gladly, the passive gent that i am practice what i preach.

Im not a train driver, but my great grand father, my grand father and my own father were train drivers.

But dont worry, im not offended by the half witted comments about traindrivers, because im certain that every here commenting on the issue has indepth knowledge of what are the issues and the history behind all of this

Captain Darling

snyper wrote: »

But dont worry, im not offended by the half witted comments about traindrivers, because im certain that every here commenting on the issue has indepth knowledge of what are the issues and the history behind all of this

Please impart with us, from that deep bottomless reservoir of knowledge that you possess, your highly informed position/musings on the core points behind this industrial relations issue.

My father, my fathers father, and my fathers fathers father were camel herders in Egypt but that doesnt mean i know a fcuking thing about one hump or two. I'm so glad we didnt offend.

Neamhshuntasach

A mate of mine has a mate that works in the same station as the driver. We were talking about it yesterday and he said that the driver was rostered without being asked to train people in and take a different route that would add extra hours onto his day. When he refused to work the day and said that he was not a trainer and that he should not have the task of training new employees they removed him from payroll.

Every worker has the right to strike. It's amazing that people are always quick to blame the workers when it's the employers fault for creating conditions that warrant complaint and organized action. And they place the blame without even knowing the facts. Connolly and Larkin would be rolling in their graves at the attitude of Irish people today when it comes to workers rights.

briantwin

Infononymous wrote: »

Please impart with us, from that deep bottomless reservoir of knowledge that you possess, your highly informed position/musings on the core points behind this industrial relations issue.

My father, my fathers father, and my fathers fathers father were camel herders in Egypt but that doesnt mean i know a fcuking thing about one hump or two. I'm so glad we didnt offend.

Genetic memory ftw.

Captain Darling

Neamhshuntasach wrote: »

A mate of mine has a mate that works in the same station as the driver. We were talking about it yesterday and he said that the driver was rostered without being asked to train people in and take a different route that would add extra hours onto his day. When he refused to work the day and said that he was not a trainer and that he should not have the task of training new employees they removed him from payroll.

Every worker has the right to strike. It's amazing that people are always quick to blame the workers when it's the employers fault for creating conditions that warrant complaint and organized action. And they place the blame without even knowing the facts. Connolly and Larkin would be rolling in their graves at the attitude of Irish people today when it comes to workers rights.

Fail.

Thats total hearsay. The Driver in question was on an as 'required shift,' he was asked to drive a train from point A to point B. A trainee was to sit in on this journey under the auspices of a local inspector. The driver was not asked to perform any training/supervision of training. No additional hours were to be added onto the Drivers shift.

How dare Irish Rail ask its driver to work!! The cheek.

Captain Darling

briantwin wrote: »

Genetic memory ftw.

Bet into us, so twas.:D

Stark

Neamhshuntasach wrote:

Connolly and Larkin would be rolling in their graves at the attitude of Irish people today when it comes to workers rights.

They lived in an age where unfair exploitation of workers was the norm and workers had little protection under law. These days workers have rights under law and there are legal means for sorting out disagreements. There's no excuse for illegal action.

Neamhshuntasach

Ask the Polish fella how much he earns and how many hours a week he works and tell me exploitation of workers is not the norm in certain industries.

The truth is that most workers don't know their rights so don't know they are being exploited by bosses. But management well know what the story is. Years ago the mistreatment was more blantant and obvious. These days it's more subtle. Such as students being rostered on to work late on a Friday night and then in early on a Saturday morning or being asked to do tasks outside the hours they are being paid. How many people are supposed to finish at 5 but end up leaving around 5:15 and are only paid to 5? Yeah it's only a small amount of time but it all adds up and it's become acceptable to a lot of people because of it's commonality.

The recent events at Ballymun Plaza are an example as well. But it wasn't heard about that much as it was only Ballymun.

AckwelFoley

Infononymous wrote: »

Please impart with us, from that deep bottomless reservoir of knowledge that you possess, your highly informed position/musings on the core points behind this industrial relations issue.

My father, my fathers father, and my fathers fathers father were camel herders in Egypt but that doesnt mean i know a fcuking thing about one hump or two. I'm so glad we didnt offend.

Ive no doubt that family relations of yours may have had close relationships with camels, and might i add just because your family are from Egypt, i too would not presume you automatically know how to fly a plane but nover bothered learning how to land it.

All that being said, i never said i knew the first thing about this particular dispute, but i generally try to refrain from such comments as "poxy" and "lazy bastards" when i know nothing about the subject other than what is being fed to you by the media and the managment themselves. Its all rather lazy on your behalf that you dont try to understand both sides of an issue before fireing off you mouth, but i suppose thats what the internet is for, to give people like your good self an opinion. Unfortunatley too many internet heros with opinions, yets sheepishly refrain from gob****e comments when forced reluctantly to express an opinion in public

Simplicity

snyper wrote: »

Gladly, the passive gent that i am practice what i preach.

Im not a train driver, but my great grand father, my grand father and my own father were train drivers.

But dont worry, im not offended by the half witted comments about traindrivers, because im certain that every here commenting on the issue has indepth knowledge of what are the issues and the history behind all of this

/lol Offended or not that is very low brow

Captain Darling

snyper wrote: »

Ive no doubt that family relations of yours may have had close relationships with camels, and might i add just because your family are from Egypt, i too would not presume you automatically know how to fly a plane but nover bothered learning how to land it.

Fair attempt at humour, nicely borders on racism, bigotry and ignorance all at once. Are you Roy Chubby Browns illegitimate son? Irony bypass.

snyper wrote: »

All that being said, i never said i knew the first thing about this particular dispute, but i generally try to refrain from such comments as "poxy" and "lazy bastards" when i know nothing about the subject other than what is being fed to you by the media and the managment themselves. Its all rather lazy on your behalf that you dont try to understand both sides of an issue before fireing off you mouth, but i suppose thats what the internet is for, to give people like your good self an opinion. Unfortunatley too many internet heros with opinions, yets sheepishly refrain from gob****e comments when forced reluctantly to express an opinion in public

Have you read any of my previous posts, do you spend too much time admiring your own handy work, to actually read threads properly???

Don't associate me with the 'poxy' or 'lazy bastards' comments. I am neither mislead by media propaganda or management spin. Its merely fact. Ask anyone who is not a train driver and is employed by Irish Rail in Cork/the rest of Ireland. Ask me. I've seen people left on platforms, because drivers have had 'issues.' Some of these people had to cancel medical appointments that have been booked months in advance, due to somebody having 'issues.' I dont feel sorry for the train drivers, i feel sorry for the public who have been jerked around by a bunch of overpaid, under worked, prima donnas (pardon the O'Learyism), and it makes me feel sick to the bone, at the thought of it.

I've no problem discussing this publicly, but on a professional level, i could be bullied, isolated and harassed for expressing these opinions, this has even occured to train drivers. Fact.

Blah, blah, fcuking blah. I am now going away to to find my happy place.

Cue sounds of waves lapping on the shore and sea gulls following a trawler in the distance.

AHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

AckwelFoley

Its merely fact. Ask anyone who is not a train driver and is employed by Irish Rail in Cork/the rest of Ireland. Ask me. I've seen people left on platforms, because drivers have had 'issues.' Some of these people had to cancel medical appointments that have been booked months in advance, due to somebody having 'issues.' I dont feel sorry for the train drivers, i feel sorry for the public who have been jerked around by a bunch of overpaid, under worked, prima donnas

You are useing the emotive issues of the public to deny Rail workers resolution of work conditions.

Under worked over paid comment of yours is ridiculous.

I think for 800 euro a week, going to work on any given days that is decided for you - is there any other job in ireland for that money that you can be charged with Manslaughter if you make a simple mistake in your job?

Again, you dont know the issues involved and thats simple.

Oh and no.. i hate roy brown..

Captain Darling

snyper wrote: »

You are useing the emotive issues of the public to deny Rail workers resolution of work conditions.

Under worked over paid comment of yours is ridiculous.

I think for 800 euro a week, going to work on any given days that is decided for you - is there any other job in ireland for that money that you can be charged with Manslaughter if you make a simple mistake in your job?

Again, you dont know the issues involved and thats simple.

Oh and no.. i hate roy brown..

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.