Transport problems in Croydon as bus workers strike over Olympic bonus

“Sack them all. The public has had enough.

Only the poor use buses frequently, so bubble9, you are hurting those you claim to represent.”

“Firstly let me point out that I am under 65 and my entire pension comes from final salary pension plans from previous employers - yes wan't I lucky!). Also, I am covered by the French health service only because I pay £150 per month contributions. Mrs Shed is also covered by the French health service but she pays nothing because she is considered indepedently and her income (private pension and annuity) is below the level that requires contributions. We are fortunate in being able to choose where we live, and should circumstances change, and the UK makes me a better offer then I might return to their'shop' but for the moment I 'shop' elsewhere. I am not avoiding paying tax - just avoiding paying it to the UK government. I paid all my working life when I had little choice (emigrate?) - but for now they will have to do without.

Bubble - you don't get paid piecework - you get the same pay whether you drive 50 miles or 500 miles in a week so sitting in traffic shouldn't bother you, as it might a DHS driver or salesman.
Who will pay this bonus - not the passengers? I've already said that the buses are susidised by £400 million, so I guess it will be the dwindling number of taxpayers who will ultimately foot the bill, either directly or via the Olympic committee.”

“Bubble9 you ARE greedy and you ARE selfish.

Bus drivers are not educated people nor highly skilled, anybody can be trained to drive a bus so what makes you think you are not lucky to have your job? Also what makes you think you could not be easily replaced if you walked out?

Croydon buses will not be carrying any passengers to the Olympic games sites so why should YOU get a bonus?

I pay your wages and I say no. Your union can go and do one.”

“@bubble9

And in response to your two furter strike days, this is the 21st century, so all I'm going to do is tell everyone in my directorate to work from home on those days if they have any problem getting in.

I already have a flexible and home working policy in place, simply to lesson wasted time for staff on daily commutes and to decrease stress and increase productivity (all studies show work productivity goes up when you offer flexible/home working options).

So you can take your strikes and shove them as far ... as you like, all you are doing is losing support, firming up management and public attitudes and helping a lot more people to work from home. Thanks and enjoy getting f all hopelfully.”

“@bubble9

Your comments over bonuses are exactly what is wrong with the public sector.

A bonus should be paid where there is valid reason for doing so (having more passengers is not a reason, neither is bribery to avoid strikes), it should not be a one size fits all across multiple providers within one industry.

The money will have to come either from tax payers or commuters. Like most of the left you seem to think there is a never ending supply of cash and that "tax payers" only means the "rich" who ought to pay 60%, 70% and so on and be happy to do so.

If we fired all you bus drivers,I'm sure we could train more up. No one is indespensible and it seems your only real argument is down to how much disruption you can cause. In the end people like myself pay your wages through high rates of taxation and high rates of transport costs (including incredibly high petrol taxes) and I guess we are largely all sick to death of a group of people who are not that intelligent, not well qualified, doing modern "manual" jobs holding us to ransom at a time they think they can get away with it.

I hope what happens if that in months and years to come any bonus you get is taken out of future pay awards, if that time comes and you want to complain and seek public support then don't be surprised when public and taxpayers stick two fingers up at you and tell you what to do with yourself.”

“bubble9

"I am not greedy, I am not selfish."

Yes you are greedy and yes, you are selfish. Your contract of employment doesn't entitle you to a bonus so why should you get one? Blame your union. Are they so stupid that they don't anticipate such an event? Just because the tube and train drivers get a bonus doesn't mean you should get one. And, how is Croydon going to be affected by the Olympics - there are no events nearby.

Don't think you are indispensable. Read the papers - there are plenty of people who could do your job. As for getting to work - that's easy - people walk to tube and train stations - the tubes and trains aren't on strike. And, you might have heard of "working from home", or taking the day off?

Your pathetic attempts at blackmail will only harden the public's opinion against you. But you are probably so customer orientated you probably don't give a toss do you?”

“So there you have it. Even Boris Bike Staff are to get the bonus. Is that somebodies idea of a joke. I am not greedy, I am not selfish. I have a job to do and I try to do it to the best of my ability. I like to be polite to my passengers, and indeed, I am on first name terms with some of them. But this is now becoming rather annoying. Imagine if you will, that everyone at your place of work was getting a bonus. Everyone apart from your department. Your department has been totally overlooked without an explanation or apology. Wouldn't you feel a little annoyed and ask why?
Some people have posted that bus drivers are lucky to have a job at all. Well, it seems to me that if there were no bus drivers, there would be no buses. And if there were no buses, how would anyone get to work? By using the tube and the trains I hear you shout! Ahh yes, but how would you get to the tube stations or the train stations? During the rush hours the buses are packed to the limit with people making their way to the nearest stations. If there were no buses to take you there, well, how would you get there. London can get by with Tube strikes and Train strikes. But take away the buses, and London stops. And there are 2 more strikes planned for Thursday July 5th and Tuesday July 24th.
Mwaahaaahaaaahaaaaa!!!! (Does that make you feel better, I'm an evil busman and that's how I'm supposed to react isn't it?)”

“I agree with most on here. It almost seems as if the government are saying "do well in life and we will bleed you dry". That message surely scares a lot of high earners off our shores.”

“Ye Gods!

Now Boris Bike staff are set to get a £500 bribe to do their job during the Olympics! What next? Will the poor old Council Tax paying Commuter get some respite! Fat Chance!”

“PeterNT

I agree. High earners shouldn't be bled dry and they shouldn't have to support the "won't work" brigade. The top rate is coming down to 45% but, I don't think that is enough to encourage high earners to remain in the UK.

I don't think Ivor is bragging. Countries with which the UK has Double Tax Treaties mostly require you to pay tax where you are resident. In Ivor's case, he is in the French tax system so he gains some advantage from their rules.

He isn't avoiding tax in any way. However, if he has joined Take That things might be a little different!”