Do you support the Dublin Bus workers?

woodoo · 05-08-2013 03:00PM

I can hardly wait till we get to hand over another few billion to the bondholders. Thats our duty you see. We can't have moneyed people suffering. They caused a recession that means less people are employed so less people need to use buses so the staff must be cut and their terms and conditions cut. Catch 22.

hatrickpatrick · 05-08-2013 03:02PM

Almaviva wrote: »

Costs are too high.

That's not relevant to their unpopularity though. They'd make more money if more people were willing to use their service.
I live across the road from a DART Station and a 7 bus station, same walking distance to both, same route on both more or less into town. There's nothing I dread more than missing the dart and having to get the 7 instead. The timetable is bollocks for a start and makes absolutely no sense, with massive clusters and voids instead of a steady stream of busses (which could be achieved without adding any new busses, just by thinning out the clusters a bit - seriously, who needs 3 7 busses in the same 5 minute period, and then none for the next 20 mins?!) and a half baked bus lane system which can add massive amounts of time to a trip. Honestly, the number of times I've missed a dart and thought "grand, sure I'll just get the 7 instead" only to see two 7s go by and then get to the stop and see "Next 7: 28 minutes". This is ridiculous.

The reason they make a loss is because no one wants to take the bus, and for a company with a monopoly on bus services to be so unpopular with the public is ludicrous. The consequent fare increases are going to continue making them more unpopular - at least when the DART goes up you're still getting a fantastic service for your change.

B.A._Baracus · 05-08-2013 03:03PM

Any time a company such as Dublin Bus was to strike, they wont get support.

Alot of people use Dublin Bus for travel and the vast majority will automatically be against them. Doesnt matter what the issues may be. It's as simple as "well they put me out, how am i going to get to work/the pub/my mates house/whatever So fu*k them! The greedy gits!"

So there will naturally be alot of biast opinions. Doesnt matter what the reason to strike was. But then again, why should you support something that is causing you problems. Such is life huh?

Almaviva · 05-08-2013 03:07PM

Jarrod wrote: »

I said that if they feel these cuts are too much then they're right to strike. How could that feeling be wrong? I'm not being a smart ass by the way, I just honestly don't know how to answer your question.

Feelings can be wrong. If they are still overpaid compared to comparable work elsewhere, then while they may have a right to strike, they are wrong to do so - discomoding people, exploiting their position as a services, and trying to extract a wage that is excessive.

super_furry · 05-08-2013 03:08PM

Are public services supposed to make money? How about the HSE, are they profitable?

gcgirl · 05-08-2013 03:13PM

I don't have any sympathy for them I know a few drivers one of them barely attends work we call him sicknote yet he still has a job ? That I don't get

Potatoeman · 05-08-2013 03:17PM

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

That's not relevant to their unpopularity though. They'd make more money if more people were willing to use their service.
I live across the road from a DART Station and a 7 bus station, same walking distance to both, same route on both more or less into town. There's nothing I dread more than missing the dart and having to get the 7 instead. The timetable is bollocks for a start and makes absolutely no sense, with massive clusters and voids instead of a steady stream of busses (which could be achieved without adding any new busses, just by thinning out the clusters a bit - seriously, who needs 3 7 busses in the same 5 minute period, and then none for the next 20 mins?!) and a half baked bus lane system which can add massive amounts of time to a trip. Honestly, the number of times I've missed a dart and thought "grand, sure I'll just get the 7 instead" only to see two 7s go by and then get to the stop and see "Next 7: 28 minutes". This is ridiculous.

The reason they make a loss is because no one wants to take the bus, and for a company with a monopoly on bus services to be so unpopular with the public is ludicrous. The consequent fare increases are going to continue making them more unpopular - at least when the DART goes up you're still getting a fantastic service for your change.

I cant understand why they dont go for a wheel and spoak route plan rather than the route system they use. It would be simplier and more convienient.

Potatoeman · 05-08-2013 03:17PM

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

That's not relevant to their unpopularity though. They'd make more money if more people were willing to use their service.
I live across the road from a DART Station and a 7 bus station, same walking distance to both, same route on both more or less into town. There's nothing I dread more than missing the dart and having to get the 7 instead. The timetable is bollocks for a start and makes absolutely no sense, with massive clusters and voids instead of a steady stream of busses (which could be achieved without adding any new busses, just by thinning out the clusters a bit - seriously, who needs 3 7 busses in the same 5 minute period, and then none for the next 20 mins?!) and a half baked bus lane system which can add massive amounts of time to a trip. Honestly, the number of times I've missed a dart and thought "grand, sure I'll just get the 7 instead" only to see two 7s go by and then get to the stop and see "Next 7: 28 minutes". This is ridiculous.

The reason they make a loss is because no one wants to take the bus, and for a company with a monopoly on bus services to be so unpopular with the public is ludicrous. The consequent fare increases are going to continue making them more unpopular - at least when the DART goes up you're still getting a fantastic service for your change.

I cant understand why they dont go for a wheel and spoak route plan rather than the route system they use. It would be simplier and more convienient.

Bandito909 · 05-08-2013 03:19PM

I love how there is absolutely no mention of the people in Dublin Bus who are being affected the most.

Everyone only thinks of the Driver's being affected, when this is far from the truth.
Driver's get treated like Gods by the company, the ones affected the most are the people behind the scences. The real thankless job of maintenace and servicing of the fleet. The ones you don't see, who make sure that bus is in perfect condition before anyone steps foot on board. A bus driver is not responsible for washing, cleaning, fueling, and maintaining his bus. That's done by a bunch of lads who are getting cut and cut more and more almost every year now. Maintainance and Fleet servicing are the ones who the cuts are most affecting.

A bus can't go out without these behind the scenes people, and I wish this anti-Dublin Bus worker news campain would start reporting on this too.

Toby Take a Bow · 05-08-2013 03:20PM

Almaviva wrote: »

There is no such thing as a legitimate strike in Ireland these days.
The era of exploitation of poorly educated workers unprotected from abuses of contracts, working conditions, and health and safety is long gone.

You're comparing the conditions of workers today to those in previous centuries. Of course they've improved, but the purpose of strikes nowadays is to keep the benefits that exist presently.

Companies will do everything in their power to maximise profits (that's what companies do) and the easiest way for them to do that is to prevent their employees from organising as a unit.

knickerbocker · 05-08-2013 03:27PM

I think Dublin bus should stand firm, not because I don't think that the drivers do or don't have a case, but purely to stick it to the unions.
Unions were intended to protect workers in the absence of law (unfair dismissal, exploitation, etc.), which is no longer the case.

When the day comes that the private sector gets it's hands on the routes, there will be an inevitable migration of workers to new services, and they'll have even tighter structures in place....because they have to make money.

Dave! · 05-08-2013 03:30PM

Have there been any redundancies among bus drivers?

end of the road · 05-08-2013 03:40PM

Sir Humphrey Appleby wrote: »

Hopefully they will stay on strike and the government will deregulate the buses allowing real private competition, problem solved!

real private competition? LOL, unless they tripple the frequency of all routes even loss making ones and have the lowest fair at 1 euro or even 50 cent and require no subsidy from the government then no private competition is welcome, suggesting they stay on strike is ridiculous

05-08-2013 03:42PM

What, 54 grand a year for driving a fecking bus ???

Seriously is that for real ?

Bandito909 · 05-08-2013 03:43PM

Dave! wrote: »

Have there been any redundancies among bus drivers?

No redundancies with the Drivers, but there were redundancies in maintainance... where the real cuts are being made. Yet no mention of this by anyone.

Sir Humphrey Appleby · 05-08-2013 03:44PM

end of the road wrote: »

real private competition? LOL, unless they tripple the frequency of all routes even loss making ones and have the lowest fair at 1 euro or even 50 cent and require no subsidy from the government then no private competition is welcome, suggesting they stay on strike is ridiculous

Thats what the CIE monoply unions said about national bus routes as well and competition ahs lowered fares and increased comfort and fequency for passengers, thats why Citilink, Matthews and the rest are doing so well, and why Dublin Bus ended up in the High Court for trying to drive Swords Express out of business by operating an unliciensed route at low price against them.
Union driven state monopolies are never in the public interest.

Sir Humphrey Appleby · 05-08-2013 03:46PM

super_furry wrote: »

Are public services supposed to make money? How about the HSE, are they profitable?

CIE are not a "public service" they are a commercial semi-state company, same ESB,Bord Gais, etc.
The key word is commercial!

end of the road · 05-08-2013 03:59PM

Almaviva wrote: »

There is no such thing as a legitimate strike in Ireland these days.

yes their is, and always will be. strikes are a vital tool and must be kept whatever the cost.

Almaviva wrote: »

The era of exploitation of poorly educated workers unprotected from abuses of contracts, working conditions, and health and safety is long gone.

for now, but with the they should be greatful for a job that they will do whatever it takes to keep it brigade around it will only be a matter of time

Almaviva wrote: »

Any strike will only be by those who have either lost touch with reality and are living in the past, or those who havent but are happy to armwrestle the best deal they can whether it is a fair deal or not.

or those who want the cuts to be proportionate and fair across the whole company rather then one section while business as usual continues in the rest of the company

Almaviva wrote: »

Hang in there Dublin Bus and Leo. Just let them out there for however long it takes them to come to their sense and come back to work

a completely ridiculous stupid statement to make, suggesting that the strike should be left to go on rather then make a deal, even leo isn't that stupid

Almaviva wrote: »

They will still be on a deal that is too good for what they do.

not to good at all, being a staff member in a public service obligation transport service that has to take every type of person from the decent to the undesirables deserves a good wage

COYW · 05-08-2013 04:10PM

I am guessing that this will be resolved over the next few days with the solution being a fare increase, just like Bus Eireann. Was planning on using the bus to go into town tomorrow. Looks like I will be in the car instead.

On a side note, is anyone else amazed at the number of passengers on the bus who have free travel? I did a check last week and 12 out of 20 passengers had a pass.

Foxtrol · 05-08-2013 04:11PM

end of the road wrote: »

a completely ridiculous stupid statement to make, suggesting that the strike should be left to go on rather then make a deal, even leo isn't that stupid

There is a deal that has been backed by the LRC. They shouldn't bend over and take it from the Unions on this as it sets a terrible precedent, especially in a company in such a loss making position.

not to good at all, being a staff member in a public service obligation transport service that has to take every type of person from the decent to the undesirables deserves a good wage

They're on a good wage and the core part isn't being touched.

Femme_Fatale · 05-08-2013 04:13PM

Sitec wrote: »

It's going to cost me 40e to get a taxi to work tomorrow and I'm only doing an internship so times are pretty tough.

How come LUAS/DART and walking some of the way aren't options? Not being smart, just curious.

MurdyWurdy wrote: »

Why on boards do loads of posters think common things are only done in Ireland? It's so insular

Jarrod wrote: »

''Typical Irish, just bend over and take it from the government, someone should stand up to them, we're such a spineless bunch. Wait what, I can't get the bus tomorrow? Greedy feckers, sure everybody has to take a cut.''

There's a bit of a 'stand up to the government as long as it doesn't affect me' attitude among a lot of people out there. I usually get the bus to and from work and will have to make other arrangements now but I fully support the workers.

super_furry wrote: »

Terrible poll options - they're either struggling freedom fighters battling an oppressive regime or they're greedy money grubbing scum who should all be fired and locked up.

The truth as always is much more nuanced than that.

For these quotes I would like to marry ye and have your babies.

KingOfFairview · 05-08-2013 04:25PM

Almaviva wrote: »

There is no such thing as a legitimate strike in Ireland these days.

Jesus

Sir Humphrey Appleby · 05-08-2013 04:25PM

end of the road wrote: »

a completely ridiculous stupid statement to make, suggesting that the strike should be left to go on rather then make a deal, even leo isn't that stupid

Perfectly sensible actually, Leo has other options , the most obvious of which is the deregulation of bus routes in this state.

PucaMama · 05-08-2013 04:30PM

No support for them here. I have no way of getting around tomorrow only a taxi. Their normal pay isnt even affected only overtime and holidays.

bnt · 05-08-2013 05:00PM

I'm sorely tempted to launch in to a pedantic rant about economics, how the single Euro currency makes it impossible for a country's exchange rates to fluctuate against those of another in the zone, and how the economically-moribund Ireland must therefore undergo a process of internal devaluation, including pay cuts for public servants. But this is AH, the local branch of the lumpen-internet, so I won't. :cool:

gordongekko · 05-08-2013 05:10PM

Anyone that can afford to go on strike is probably paid too much.

carzony · 05-08-2013 05:13PM

Deleted User wrote: »

What, 54 grand a year for driving a fecking bus ???

Seriously is that for real ?

Can't be?

People like me would jump at a job like that. Just feck them out and let them collect 188 on the dole and see how they feel. They're lucky enough to have a job to get up to everyday and decent time off aswell.

kraggy · 05-08-2013 05:17PM

A high percentage of them are ignorant, rude assholes who I've seen embarrass customers on occasion.

They drive a big taxi. Plus, their average weekly wage is €700.

They can get back to work, or get ****ed.

.jacksparrow. · 05-08-2013 05:19PM

carzony wrote: »

Can't be?

People like me would jump at a job like that. Just feck them out and let them collect 188 on the dole and see how they feel. They're lucky enough to have a job to get up to everyday and decent time off aswell.

The old chestnut their lucky to have a job, they must be in the 8.5 out of 10 lucky people to have a job in this country so.

carzony · 05-08-2013 05:22PM

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

The old chestnut their lucky to have a job, they must be in the 8.5 out of 10 lucky people to have a job in this country so.

Not many people are on that kind of money for doing a bit of driving. I'm sure taxi/hgv drivers would love the pay/condition that Dublin bus drivers get.

Do you support the Dublin Bus workers?

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