So, who's striking today? Which Side are You On

[flattythehurdler]

If you were renting tar barrels, you’d be on a real winner.

[flattythehurdler]

Why do most TFK in jokes sail serenely over my head?

[Julio_Geordio]

@Juhniallio

This goes to the core of what you believe taxes are for really. Should a state run bus service be profit making or is everyone entitled to a degree of service? I’m for the latter. Obviously there’s a need for efficiencies but if you allow private companies to take all the low hanging fruit you are scuppering your state service.

It’s a tough one. You don’t want to strip away all profitable routes, but the €10 bus from Limerick to Dublin has been a game changer. So much better than the bus eireann one it’s not even a contest. The BE cost base is huge which needs to be addressed for them to compete. I’ve no issue with them paying good money, even above market rates, but the pensions etc. are massive. The unions will be their own downfall eventually.
As aside I don’t know why some of these lesser used routes are still being serviced by 52 seater buses, surely if they are under capacity smaller buses would be quicker and cheaper to run.

[Horsebox]

@Juhniallio

Weirdly, no. Possibly because my work has nothing at all to do with vending machines in reality.

Ah jaysus, Flatty!

[Little_Lord_Fauntleroy]

@Julio_Geordio

@Juhniallio

This goes to the core of what you believe taxes are for really. Should a state run bus service be profit making or is everyone entitled to a degree of service? I’m for the latter. Obviously there’s a need for efficiencies but if you allow private companies to take all the low hanging fruit you are scuppering your state service.

It’s a tough one. You don’t want to strip away all profitable routes, but the €10 bus from Limerick to Dublin has been a game changer. So much better than the bus eireann one it’s not even a contest. The BE cost base is huge which needs to be addressed for them to compete. I’ve no issue with them paying good money, even above market rates, but the pensions etc. are massive. The unions will be their own downfall eventually.
As aside I don’t know why some of these lesser used routes are still being serviced by 52 seater buses, surely if they are under capacity smaller buses would be quicker and cheaper to run.

do you think they haven’t considered this?

[Juhniallio]

I disagree. I don’t mind privatizing some but it should be as bundles. If you get some good routes then you should have to provide some shit ones too. The likes of eircoach and those direct dublin-rural shit hole services are way too easy for companies to make profit on and that strips away money from other services.

[Fagan_ODowd]

@Juhniallio

This goes to the core of what you believe taxes are for really. Should a state run bus service be profit making or is everyone entitled to a degree of service? I’m for the latter. Obviously there’s a need for efficiencies but if you allow private companies to take all the low hanging fruit you are scuppering your state service.

That’s a load of shite.

[Julio_Geordio]

@Little_Lord_Fauntleroy

do you think they haven’t considered this?

They may have considered it, but they haven’t implemented it have they?

[Juhniallio]

@Fagan_ODowd

@Juhniallio

This goes to the core of what you believe taxes are for really. Should a state run bus service be profit making or is everyone entitled to a degree of service? I’m for the latter. Obviously there’s a need for efficiencies but if you allow private companies to take all the low hanging fruit you are scuppering your state service.

That’s a load of shite.

Fair enough. Who is entitled to a bus service? Towns with over 100 people? Towns with over 1000people? Or just Dublin, Fingal and Waterford.

[Little_Lord_Fauntleroy]

@Julio_Geordio

@Little_Lord_Fauntleroy

do you think they haven’t considered this?

They may have considered it, but they haven’t implemented it have they?

I have no idea

[Fagan_ODowd]

@Juhniallio

@Fagan_ODowd

@Juhniallio

This goes to the core of what you believe taxes are for really. Should a state run bus service be profit making or is everyone entitled to a degree of service? I’m for the latter. Obviously there’s a need for efficiencies but if you allow private companies to take all the low hanging fruit you are scuppering your state service.

That’s a load of shite.

Fair enough. Who is entitled to a bus service? Towns with over 100 people? Towns with over 1000people? Or just Dublin, Fingal and Waterford.

Nobody is entitled to a bus service. That’s a stupid fucking question.

[Julio_Geordio]

The Bus Eireann boys would want to be keeping their heads down, we are less than 10 years away from driverless cars, maybe even less from driverless buses.

[TreatyStones]

@Julio_Geordio

The Bus Eireann boys would want to be keeping their heads down, we are less than 10 years away from driverless cars, maybe even less from driverless buses.

Their arguments seem tenuous at best in the interviews I’ve heard so far. If the situation is really as dire as the company make out then I can’t see them escaping without significant job loses.

[mikehunt]

@TreatyStones

Their arguments seem tenuous at best in the interviews I’ve heard so far. If the situation is really as dire as the company make out then I can’t see them escaping without significant job loses.

They have a gripe at how senior mgt have run the company over the years. They have seen the government fold to pay demands in other sectors so are not going to accept pay cuts/job losses for themselves. This is why Lord Ross is staying out of negotiations. Bus Eireann, under instruction from govt are treating it as a business, unions trying to push the public service line. It will result in numerous strikes followed by government folding to worker’s demands.

[TreatyStones]

Talks have collapsed.
Another transport strike on the cards.

[Bandage]

Dermot O’Leary from the National Bus and Rail Union has amused me over the past few months with his incredibly fast paced talking and refusal to pause for full stops.

[artfoley]

@Bandage

Dermot O’Leary from the National Bus and Rail Union has amused me over the past few months with his incredibly fast paced talking and refusal to pause for full stops

…had to be done!

[Bishop_Jordan]

You’d have to admire the cheek of Brian Dobson on the news just there. Grilling that poor Union man over the salaries of the workers in a state owned company that posted huge losses last year.

Brian of course earns about €200k per annum working for RTE who lost about €20 million last year.

Isn’t it time he offered to take a pay cut?

[myboyblue]

Sympathies on your loss today. The bed of heaven to him

[Brimmer_Bradley]

Anyone here involved in the trade union movement?
I’m secretary/ shop steward of our local branch, it’s a fairly big union nationally with 18k members I represent 56 members locally.
The pros of being secretary are 24 days off per annum to do union stuff. A laptop and wifi for same and your phone bill paid, I’ve a €25 per month contract but I receive a cheque for €70 per month. On top of the days off there’s attendance several times a year at seminars/ conferences / training/ wrc/ meetings. These all involve travel and subsistence allowances which can be beneficial.
Cons.
You’re on call 24/7 and I mean 24/7. While on holidays you’re on call. You’re a doctor/dentist/ counsellor/ undertaker/ solicitor/ confidante/ peace maker / shoulder to cry on.
Anyway, there’s stiff competition most years for the job, it’s generally between the 2 groups, the Bradley’s and the other cunts.
My group being the former, the mud slinging is great leading up to the secretary election each year.
I was taken on last night by another lad at our AGM and hammered him out the gate by a margin of 42 to 8. His cohort was pissed and made a show of himself by throwing all sorts of bizarre allegations against myself at the top table, I batted each jibe straight back at him in TFK style and made him look like a tool.
Does this stuff go on in every workplace or is it just where I am ?