Luas Drivers pay

stoneill · 10-02-2016 08:39AM #1

Currently, the Luas drivers' pay ranges from €35,901 for a 39-hour week in year one to €42,247, when they are there for nine years.

But Siptu claims a document reveals the drivers want to earn from €41,895 to €64,993 by January next year.

The National Bus and Railworkers Union has calculated that Luas drivers' hourly pay is €20.83, with a bonus.
(Source Indo)

Seems decent money for a not too arduous job.
Do you think that they are underpaid and that the strike is warranted?

stimpson · 10-02-2016 08:40AM

stoneill wrote: »

Currently, the Luas drivers' pay ranges from €35,901 for a 39-hour week in year one to €42,247, when they are there for nine years.

In fairness, 9 years is a lot longer than 39 hours.

The J Stands for Jay · 10-02-2016 08:43AM

The important thing here is to remember to tell me how to become a Luas driver.

ToddyDoody · 10-02-2016 08:47AM

McGaggs wrote: »

The important thing here is to remember to tell me how to become a Luas driver.

You have to know someone.

Hemerodrome · 10-02-2016 08:47AM

They have the safety of hundreds of people in their hands and they have to have eyes everywhere for unbelievably stupid drivers and moronic pedestrians. Pay 'em well I say.

pajero12 · 10-02-2016 08:51AM

Hemerodrome wrote: »

They have the safety of hundreds of people in their hands and they have to have eyes everywhere for unbelievably stupid drivers and moronic pedestrians. Pay 'em well I say.

No more so than any public transport drivers? In my opinion they have an easier job than bus drivers. Eyes everywhere? They barely have to turn their head?

Liam McPoyle · 10-02-2016 08:57AM

Tbf, working in a job for 9 years and only being able to achieve a max of a €7k increase in that time is pretty shyt.

Anyway, the Union rep said last week that the up to €64k is the starting point, I'd suspect that it will end up being up to a max of €55k or thereabouts for 9 years or more service.

kneemos · 10-02-2016 09:27AM

Business Cat wrote: »

Tbf, working in a job for 9 years and only being able to achieve a max of a €7k increase in that time is pretty shyt.

Anyway, the Union rep said last week that the up to €64k is the starting point, I'd suspect that it will end up being up to a max of €55k or thereabouts for 9 years or more service.

For an unskilled/semi skilled worker those rates are exceptional.Two and a half grand bonus at Christmas as well.
Plenty of graduates on less.

TallGlass · 10-02-2016 09:31AM

stoneill wrote: »

Currently, the Luas drivers' pay ranges from €35,901 for a 39-hour week in year one to €42,247, when they are there for nine years.

But Siptu claims a document reveals the drivers want to earn from €41,895 to €64,993 by January next year.

The National Bus and Railworkers Union has calculated that Luas drivers' hourly pay is €20.83, with a bonus.
(Source Indo)

Seems decent money for a not too arduous job.
Do you think that they are underpaid and that the strike is warranted?

Firefighters and Garda start out on around 24k , would the Luas drivers ever go and fúck, its a private company, there lucky to be getting anywhere near what they are getting at the moment.

If there are not happy with the pay then get another job, it's what the signed up to at the time.

10-02-2016 09:35AM

Doctors start on 30k, and that's after a minimum of 5 years of college.

whiskeyman · 10-02-2016 09:38AM

Go docklands and automate the flipping thing!
That'll teach 'em!!

In 10 years, it'll probably be reality anyway. Not surprising if they want to make hay now while the sun still shines...

The Backwards Man · 10-02-2016 09:38AM

People always think the other person's job is a handy number.

On saying that, I think the Luas drivers are maybe taking the piss a wee bit.

Uriel. · 10-02-2016 09:40AM

As others said, I think both their current salary and their new salary demands are astronomical for the job they are doing.

They should be on a lower starting salary with increments lasting for more than 9 years. This needs to be nipped in the bud before luas turns out like the other transport companies

wakka12 · 10-02-2016 09:43AM

Easiest job going. How/why are waiters and waitresses run off their legs all day long earning so much less

Menas · 10-02-2016 09:43AM

There are plenty of people who would do their job for the current salary. But shure lets cause a rake of hassle for a load of people and their families this week anyway....

The Backwards Man · 10-02-2016 09:47AM

wakka12 wrote: »

Easiest job going

How long have you been driving a Luas?

The J Stands for Jay · 10-02-2016 10:03AM

It's always SIPTU with the crazy demands. We should all boycott anything to do with SIPTU, starting with telling all the Labour candidates we won't vote for them because of their SIPTU links.

rainbow kirby · 10-02-2016 10:17AM

Tube drivers in London are on around £50k, which is absolutely ridiculous money for a job that's semi-automated anyway. I suspect the Luas drivers want a bit of that action...

seamus · 10-02-2016 10:19AM

Business Cat wrote: »

Tbf, working in a job for 9 years and only being able to achieve a max of a €7k increase in that time is pretty shyt.

It is...but at the end of the day they're doing the same job they were nine years ago. They haven't expanded their skillset in any major way.
Studies show that employees generate the most worth in their first three years as they're eager to get things done right. After that, there's diminishing returns as the rot sets in, so it's not worth the company's while paying large salary increments.

In terms of Luas, experienced drivers are worth extra money, but while the difference between a new driver and a third-year employee will be huge, the difference between a third-year and a ninth-year driver will be minimal in comparison.

I really don't think the drivers are on a strong footing here. I'm sure any open positions get hundreds of CVs in from perfectly capable people, most of whom would jump at a €36k starting salary and 39 hour week with fixed hours.

miezekatze · 10-02-2016 10:27AM

I think their current salary is fairly generous considering it's basically an unskilled job that seems easy enough to do. Don't think they should be getting any increase at all, and there'd be plenty of people willing to replace them at the current rates if some were to quit.

It's not just the drivers that are looking for more money btw, also the ticket inspectors etc. Their demands are just as unrealistic.

TallGlass · 10-02-2016 10:30AM

seamus wrote: »

I'm sure any open positions get hundreds of CVs in from perfectly capable people, most of whom would jump at a €36k starting salary and 39 hour week with fixed hours.

Send the application my way, no problems here with that pay and what it rises to after 9 years. Excellent salary and unlike some private companies your getting pay rises and a bonus! Might be a bit boring and repetitive but for that wage, it's from what I can see a great wage and a good job.

Riskymove · 10-02-2016 10:31AM

miezekatze wrote: »

Don't think they should be getting any increase at all, and there'd be plenty of people willing to replace them at the current rates if some were to quit.

their demand seems to be based solely on the fact that the company is making more profits

nothing to do with productivity or new skills etc

seamus · 10-02-2016 10:34AM

miezekatze wrote: »

I think their current salary is fairly generous considering it's basically an unskilled job that seems easy enough to do.

It's semi-skilled.

Unskilled - No real training required. On your first day you can be sent out to work with a few minutes or hours of instruction, e.g. sweeping streets, packing shelves, etc.

Semi-Skilled - Some informal training or certification required - Tram driver, taxi driver, security guard, etc.

Skilled - Extensive training (12 months+) and formal certification are required.

ThisRegard · 10-02-2016 10:36AM

Business Cat wrote: »

Tbf, working in a job for 9 years and only being able to achieve a max of a €7k increase in that time is pretty shyt.

Why? The job doesn't require you to become any more skilled in that period, nor do to have to continuously train to keep up with the latest Luas software. It doesn't get harder.

fullstop · 10-02-2016 10:40AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

How long have you been driving a Luas?

What qualifications do Luas drivers require?

ThisRegard · 10-02-2016 10:42AM

And just to add, their outlandish claims for €64,993 is all the more ridiculous when you compare it to software developers who constantly have to reskill on an annual basis, often at their own cost, to remain competitive in the jobs market, and still wouldn't earn that too easily.

Their claim is purely based on how long they've been sitting in a seat for. Any asshole can do the job with a few weeks training.

Their cab is hardly an airplane cockpit, there's people around here with more complicated gaming set-ups.

http://victoryguy.smugmug.com/keyword/LUAS;4006/i-C98LdXn/A

The Backwards Man · 10-02-2016 10:42AM

fullstop wrote: »

What qualifications do Luas drivers require?

Haven't a clue, I've never driven one. Plenty here seem to know a lot about how easy it is though, I was just curious.

Deise Vu · 10-02-2016 10:43AM

Between the Luas, Nursing suddenly becoming unbearable (again), and the Guards and the teachers kicking up I think elections should be called on a Saturday and held on a Monday in future.

It might also help if someone in the media could ask Liam Doran how extra money and two days holidays for A&E nurses helps to get people off trolleys, unless they were being left there for tactical PR reasons in the first place.

The one that absolutely grinds my gears though was the sacrifices which the unions made on behalf of not-yet-existing members during the height of the financial crisis by pulling up the ladder behind existing members on pay and pensions. Yet they stand in front of a totally unquestioning media now and talk about the low starting pay and terrible conditions of the few who started in the last few years as if their hearts were broken for them while neglecting to mention that the vast majority sat out the crisis quite nicely, thank you very much.

Absolute bloody hypocrites.

The Backwards Man · 10-02-2016 10:46AM

ThisRegard wrote: »

And just to add, their outlandish claims for €64,993 is all the more ridiculous when you compare it to software developers who constantly have to reskill on an annual basis, often at their own cost, to remain competitive in the jobs market, and still wouldn't earn that too easily.

Their claim is purely based on how long they've been sitting in a seat for. Any asshole can do the job with a few weeks training.

Their cab is hardly an airplane cockpit, there's people around here with more complicated gaming set-ups.

http://victoryguy.smugmug.com/keyword/LUAS;4006/i-C98LdXn/A

Software development is just playing computer games all day. A four year old could do that.

Mint Sauce · 10-02-2016 10:49AM

Are all the people saying it takes little training, anyone can do it, its skilled, semi skilled, actually work for Luas?

I'd imagine learning the routes, understanding how the infrastructure works, what to do if notice any damage to it, how the tram works, how/what to inspect, reporting and operating of it, passenger safety, and safety those around you, reporting and dealing of incidents, etc etc etc, and that's just the top of my head.

I'd imagine all of that, takes some training, and probably one or twenty different certs as well.

ThisRegard · 10-02-2016 10:50AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Software development is just playing computer games all day. A four year old could do that.

But you do admit that at least it's skilled, some of those games these days are pretty tough:D

Luas Drivers pay

In favour of LUAS strike? 1739 votes

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