Luas Drivers Cooler Bag Row

Jamie2k9 · 22-11-2018 9:19pm #1

Drivers have rejected Lab Court recommendation that cooler bags on the couple of shifts where lunch breaks are not at based depot. Likely to ballot for strike however
https://twitter.com/ingridmileyRTE/status/1065680547593289729

Crazy if they decided to lose out on 3,000 or prehaps a case of them not learned their lesson last time.

Naos · 22-11-2018 9:22pm

What is the 6.5% bonus for?

Jamie2k9 · 22-11-2018 9:25pm

Naos wrote: »

What is the 6.5% bonus for?

Incentive for things like not missing days and general productivity.

hmmm · 22-11-2018 11:54pm

Strikes should be banned in essential public transport services. The public has put up with too much nonsense from transport unions in recent years.

Fann Linn · 23-11-2018 12:00am

Outside of Dublin there's not much public transport.

Xterminator · 23-11-2018 10:15am

yes, the union seems to not give much of a care to public opinion on this one.

gotta pick your battles sometimes and this one is spurious.

markpb · 23-11-2018 10:34am

Fann Linn wrote: »

Outside of Dublin there's not much public transport.

How is this relevant to the thread?

TheQuietFella · 23-11-2018 1:07pm

Xterminator wrote: »

yes, the union seems to not give much of a care to public opinion on this one.

gotta pick your battles sometimes and this one is spurious.

It's not in the unions brief to be swayed by public opinion.
Their brief is to represent the union members.

Where out of curiosity are they supposed to eat their lunch?
Is there a microwave or a kettle on every street corner?

troyzer · 23-11-2018 1:15pm

TheQuietFella wrote: »

It's not in the unions brief to be swayed by public opinion.
Their brief is to represent the union members.

Where out of curiosity are they supposed to eat their lunch?
Is there a microwave or a kettle on every street corner?

The reason why this kicked off is because management decided it would be more efficient for drivers to ocassionally take lunch away from their home depot.

In the past, if someone started in Sandyford for instance and was working the green line, they would then need to back in Sandyford for their lunch. Extending the greenline to Broombridge means that the amount of time taken for the full run and time between the start of the working day and lunch don't always match up.

Which means that it's more efficient in some instances for a driver to start their day in Sandyford, have lunch in Broombridge and finish their day in Sandyford.

The union kicked off because then that means they can't bring in a packed lunch and that the Broombridge area isn't suitable for eating lunches.

Transdev said they'd provide every driver with a cooler so they could bring their packed lunch from their home depot to wherever they needed them to take lunch.

The unions are now threatening to go on strike.

Absolute embarassment.

TheQuietFella · 23-11-2018 1:26pm

Where then are they supposed to eat their lunch or is that just irrelevant?

troyzer · 23-11-2018 1:31pm

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Where then are they supposed to eat their lunch or is that just irrelevant?

There's a canteen in the Broombridge depot.

The problem is that most of them start their day in Sandyford so before they'd just leave it in the staff fridge at the depot and eat it when they came back for lunch. Obviously they can't do that anymore.

Some guys start in Broombridge where of course they'd have the same problem going the other way.

My understanding is that it doesn't really affect the red line guys.

amcalester · 23-11-2018 1:31pm

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Where then are they supposed to eat their lunch or is that just irrelevant?

The Broombridge canteen.

AFAIK the issue isnt that there are no facilities for drivers to eat their lunch.

The drivers are complaining that their lunch is not kept cold/fresh enough in the coolbags.

PirateShampoo · 23-11-2018 1:32pm

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Where then are they supposed to eat their lunch or is that just irrelevant?

Broombridge but it doesn't have a staffed canteen so it's not fit for purpose.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 23-11-2018 1:32pm

troyzer wrote: »

There's a canteen in the Broombridge depot.

The problem is that most of them start their day in Sandyford so before they'd just leave it in the staff fridge at the depot and eat it when they came back for lunch. Obviously they can't do that anymore.

Some guys start in Broombridge where of course they'd have the same problem going the other way.

My understanding is that it doesn't really affect the red line guys.

It sort of in a way does

The drivers switch between lines on different days

One day a driver could be on the green and another on the red etc

So it kind of effects them all

Xterminator · 23-11-2018 1:33pm

TheQuietFella wrote: »

It's not in the unions brief to be swayed by public opinion.
Their brief is to represent the union members.

Where out of curiosity are they supposed to eat their lunch?
Is there a microwave or a kettle on every street corner?

then why do the unions go on the radio/news drumming up public support when there is industrial action ? Because the battle is won and lost in the court of public opinion.

troyzer · 23-11-2018 1:35pm

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

It sort of in a way does

The drivers switch between lines on different days

One day a driver could be on the green and another on the red etc

So it kind of effects them all

I remember transdev saying that during the week, it only affects 10 drivers and none on the weekends.

To make it so that everyone could have lunch in Sandyford, they'd have to hire five new drivers.

It's mental.

TheQuietFella · 23-11-2018 1:37pm

Xterminator wrote: »

then why do the unions go on the radio/news drumming up public support when there is industrial action ? Because the battle is won and lost in the court of public opinion.

They go on radio to publicise their issues and to make people aware of the issues that may affect them! It's called keeping the people informed!

NSAman · 23-11-2018 1:39pm

LUNCH??? Ffs..Sometimes I start work in New York and end up in LA... lunch? What is this thing called lunch?

mugsymugsy · 23-11-2018 1:39pm

I can't wait till they automate the luas like the DLR in London.

TheQuietFella · 23-11-2018 1:40pm

troyzer wrote: »

I remember transdev saying that during the week, it only affects 10 drivers and none on the weekends.

To make it so that everyone could have lunch in Sandyford, they'd have to hire five new drivers.

It's mental.

They should have factored all those details in during the construction of the project. It just goes to show how much consideration they had for the drivers that they never foresaw something simple as dining arrangements!

MrMusician18 · 23-11-2018 1:42pm

This reads just like a couple of hard liners spoiling for a fight. It looks like they want to run Transdev out of the Luas operation tbh.

I wonder what morale is like in the company. I mean the majority of drivers must know this is a spurious cause, but are they that intimidated by the hardliners among them that they just go along with this nonsense? Or do the majority really believe this guff?

LollipopJimmy · 23-11-2018 1:42pm

If anybody believes this is anything other than a ply to get a meal allowance (which are tax free) then they need their head checked. Meal allowances are usually worth in the region of 3k per year where offered.

Daith · 23-11-2018 1:44pm

Outside of this, are all employers required to have these facilities for staff? A place to heat food/eat food?

I know the drivers had these facilities beforehand so I do have sympathy for them but was curious.

troyzer · 23-11-2018 1:44pm

TheQuietFella wrote: »

They should have factored all those details in during the construction of the project. It just goes to show how much consideration they had for the drivers that they never foresaw something simple as dining arrangements!

My office in my building was recently moved as part of a renovation. I don't think my boss considered that I'd have to walk an extra 50m to get to the canteen.

Nor do I care. Instead of eating lunch in Sandyford, they're now being given coolers and asked to eat in Broombridge instead.

And even then, only some of them some of the time.

In fact, what I imagine happens is the lads in Sandyford drive the Luas up in the morning to start the first service of the day from Broombridge. Surely there's a five minute window they can nip out and pop their lunch in the fridge. So what we're really talking about is the unions want Transdev to fork out hundreds of thousands of euro every year to save them from having to eat in a different place?

It's absolutely farcical.

troyzer · 23-11-2018 1:44pm

Daith wrote: »

Outside of this, are all employers required to have these facilities for staff? A place to heat food/eat food?

I know the drivers had these facilities beforehand so I do have sympathy for them but was curious.

The new place does have facilities. They want to eat in the old place.

markpb · 23-11-2018 1:47pm

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Broombridge but it doesn't have a staffed canteen so it's not fit for purpose.

Staff canteen or staffed canteen? There's no requirement for a company to provide a staffed canteen, lots of companies don't.

TheQuietFella wrote: »

They should have factored all those details in during the construction of the project. It just goes to show how much consideration they had for the drivers that they never foresaw something simple as dining arrangements!

What are you on about!? Should they have reduced the distance between Sandyford and Broombridge somehow to ensure that drivers could make it back in time for lunch?

Gravelly · 23-11-2018 1:51pm

Sometimes, when I'm travelling for work, I have to eat my lunch in my car, or, horror of horrors, actually skip lunch.

Little did I know how my human rights were being violated. Thanks for opening my eyes, people who sit pressing a button for for a few hours for €45k, you have done the country some service.

trellheim · 23-11-2018 2:13pm

This is not about lunch its about "sending a message"

Ben D Bus · 23-11-2018 2:27pm

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Broombridge but it doesn't have a staffed canteen so it's not fit for purpose.

Why would they need a staffed canteen if the issue is about eating their packed lunches? Do they want someone to pour the tea for them?

pjohnson · 23-11-2018 2:32pm

Ben D Bus wrote: »

Why would they need a staffed canteen if the issue is about eating their packed lunches? Do they want someone to pour the tea for them?

Apparently.

loyatemu · 23-11-2018 4:14pm

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gourmia-Thermoelectric-Fridge-Cooler-Warmer/dp/B00DQT2ZGE

Gravelly · 23-11-2018 4:31pm

loyatemu wrote: »

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gourmia-Thermoelectric-Fridge-Cooler-Warmer/dp/B00DQT2ZGE

No good, sure they need a manservant to travel with them to serve up their sandwiches to them. Can't be lifting a big heavy hang sangidge up to your own gob after spending two exhausting hours pressing a button.

GM228 · 23-11-2018 4:53pm

troyzer wrote: »

I remember transdev saying that during the week, it only affects 10 drivers and none on the weekends.

12 jobs Monday to Friday and 1 on a Saturday have a break at Broombridge.

Twenty Grand · 23-11-2018 4:55pm

https://youtu.be/0kC2XCiSdEE
Any excuse for this classic.

GM228 · 23-11-2018 5:00pm

Daith wrote: »

Outside of this, are all employers required to have these facilities for staff? A place to heat food/eat food?

Yes, by law an employer must provide for adequate facilities (or access to such) for their employees to portable drinking water, boiling water and for taking meals.

pjohnson · 23-11-2018 5:04pm

Gravelly wrote: »

No good, sure they need a manservant to travel with them to serve up their sandwiches to them. Can't be lifting a big heavy hang sangidge up to your own gob after spending two exhausting hours pressing a button.

Surpised they aren't asking someone chew it for them.

Gravelly · 23-11-2018 5:04pm

pjohnson wrote: »

Surpised they aren't asking someone chew it for them.

Don't be giving them ideas.

listermint · 23-11-2018 5:04pm

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Where then are they supposed to eat their lunch or is that just irrelevant?

I dont know in a place of their choosing just like anyone that has a mobile job.

Have you considered field engineers , Electricians, Plumbers, Brickeys, Labourers. Where do they have their lunch?

I think they cope just fine eating lunch, rather than this coddled nonsense.

listermint · 23-11-2018 5:07pm

GM228 wrote: »

Yes, by law an employer must provide for adequate facilities (or access to such) for their employees to portable drinking water, boiling water and for taking meals.

How does that work for Mobile employees or Site Work ?

Specifically the details in legislation

Reati · 23-11-2018 5:39pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

a case of them not learned their lesson last time.

Colour me incorrect, but didn't they "win" last time and get what they striked for?

Twenty Grand · 23-11-2018 7:35pm

Reati wrote: »

Colour me incorrect, but didn't they "win" last time and get what they striked for?

Yep, pretty much.

They lost a bit of cash in the short term, but they've probably made up for it and more by now.

end of the road · 23-11-2018 7:53pm

hmmm wrote: »

Strikes should be banned in essential public transport services.

for what. a strike usually only ever lasts a day and banning strikes quite likely has plenty of ways around it which are just as, if not probably more disruptive. banning strikes is dangerous and against workers rights and leads to workers being walked over. just ask the gards who are under paid, under funded as a force and who are unable to do their job to the full because of it, yet who are unable to strike. if they had been able to strike, the nonsense they have to put up with would be dealt with by now.

hmmm wrote: »

The public has put up with too much nonsense from transport unions in recent years.

yes we have had to put up with a couple of strikes here and there but that is life. if the conditions for a strike exist, it will happen. don't want strikes, then show support for good industrial relations between management and a work force. a few strikes over genuine issues, even if you don't see them to be yourself or agree with those issues, isn't nonsense, because the workers have decided that the issues are something that they have had no other option but to withdraw their labour to solve, given they have tried all else.

Xterminator wrote: »

yes, the union seems to not give much of a care to public opinion on this one.

gotta pick your battles sometimes and this one is spurious.

it's not the job of the union to care about public opinion, it's job is to look after it's members. public opinion rarely makes any difference to a dispute between workers and management these days anyway, and hasn't for quite a few years.

Xterminator wrote: »

then why do the unions go on the radio/news drumming up public support when there is industrial action ? Because the battle is won and lost in the court of public opinion.

they actually go on the radio to put their side across. if they get public support of course they aren't going to turn it down, it's nice to have. however your statement that the battle is won and lost in the court of public opinion is not really backed up by reality as the mixed results of various strikes have shown.

end of the road · 23-11-2018 7:55pm

mugsymugsy wrote: »

I can't wait till they automate the luas like the DLR in London.

if that is on the basis of a belief that there would be no strikes, unfortunately the dlr has had a number of them which have meant no service dispite being automated. so automating the luas, which is quite likely a long way off due to it's street running and little segregation, won't remove the likelyhood of a strike altogether.

MrMusician18 wrote: »

This reads just like a couple of hard liners spoiling for a fight. It looks like they want to run Transdev out of the Luas operation tbh.

I wonder what morale is like in the company. I mean the majority of drivers must know this is a spurious cause, but are they that intimidated by the hardliners among them that they just go along with this nonsense? Or do the majority really believe this guff?

i'd imagine the majority of them agree with what is to them, a genuine issue and not guff. i'd very much doubt they want to run transdev out of the operation as it would achieve absolutely nothing. if a few of them want CIE running the operation, they will find that they won't enjoy the same pay and perks they have currently.

troyzer wrote: »

My office in my building was recently moved as part of a renovation. I don't think my boss considered that I'd have to walk an extra 50m to get to the canteen.

Nor do I care. Instead of eating lunch in Sandyford, they're now being given coolers and asked to eat in Broombridge instead.

And even then, only some of them some of the time.

In fact, what I imagine happens is the lads in Sandyford drive the Luas up in the morning to start the first service of the day from Broombridge. Surely there's a five minute window they can nip out and pop their lunch in the fridge. So what we're really talking about is the unions want Transdev to fork out hundreds of thousands of euro every year to save them from having to eat in a different place?

It's absolutely farcical.

hundreds of thousands of euro? last time i checked, a fridge does not cost that much.

BBFAN · 23-11-2018 7:57pm

Jesus Christ it's arrived.

duckofdeath · 23-11-2018 7:59pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Incentive for things like not missing days and general productivity.

More like leverage to prevent industrial actions like these. "Complain and it'll cost you dearly...". Americanized employee management at its finest.

amcalester · 23-11-2018 8:01pm

BBFAN wrote: »

Jesus Christ it's arrived.

Time to unfollow the thread.

BBFAN · 23-11-2018 8:03pm

end of the road wrote: »

if that is on the basis of a belief that there would be no strikes, unfortunately the dlr has had a number of them which have meant no service dispite being automated. so automating the luas, which is quite likely a long way off due to it's street running and little segregation, won't remove the likelyhood of a strike altogether.

i'd imagine the majority of them agree with what is to them, a genuine issue and not guff. i'd very much doubt they want to run transdev out of the operation as it would achieve absolutely nothing. if a few of them want CIE running the operation, they will find that they won't enjoy the same pay and perks they have currently.

hundreds of thousands of euro? last time i checked, a fridge does not cost that much.

It's not a fridge though is it? It's 5 extra employees to ensure they eat their lunch in the same place every single day.

Absolute madness.

Salespeople most often eat their lunch in the car whilst driving.

Working class heroes · 23-11-2018 8:13pm

The per way lads with Irish Rail, how do they cope?

Stephen15 · 23-11-2018 8:24pm

The DB canteen in town sounds like a dump and it's open to the general public so it's not only for DB staff. Also Go-Ahead staff don't have anywhere to take their breaks in DL from what I hear.

Gravelly · 23-11-2018 8:32pm

Stephen15 wrote: »

The DB canteen in town sounds like a dump and it's open to the general public so it's not only for DB staff.

Oh god, the horror. Having to eat with the fûcking plebs. Next you’ll be telling us there’s no separate room for ones butler to dine.

Stephen15 · 23-11-2018 8:35pm

Gravelly wrote: »

Oh god, the horror. Having to eat with the fûcking plebs. Next you’ll be telling us there’s no separate room for ones butler to dine.

I don't work for DB but from what I hear the place is full of junkies who would like junkies coming into your workplace and using the canteen.

Luas Drivers Cooler Bag Row

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