London’s Burning With Rage as Subway Strikes Cause Chaos
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In a matter of hours, a strike by London Underground staff will cause commuter chaos for the 3.5 million people who take the Tube every day.
Well Londoners, strap yourselves in for another round of “crappy commute” because at 5pm (GMT) this evening, hell will come to London Town and it’s bringing all of its favourite tricks. I hope you like one or all of the following:
- Being crushed so closely to other human beings that you will know them more intimately than lovers.
- The undulated smell of rage, despair and bodily odour so powerful that you could bottle it and sell it as a biological weapon.
- Hearing the words “screw-up”, “nightmare” and “ridiculous” over and over until they imprint themselves onto your brain like some horror-movie tattoo torture.
3.5 million London commuters can expect all this and more until Wednesday morning when the agents of chaos release their grip on London and normality returns.
Strike One, Strike Two, Strike… How Many?
(Warning: Rude language)
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) have decided to take the capital’s subway system once again in its pudgy, overpaid fists and shake it like a baby’s rattle until it gets what it wants.
The issue that’s caused all this ruckus is the proposed cutbacks of 800 positions in the London Underground system. Fewer staff are needed to man the ticket booths because more and more London commuters are not buying tickets but instead are using the highly successful Oyster Card system. The pre-paid Oyster Card automatically opens the station barriers when swiped, negating the need for so many staff at each station.
But hey, transport workers like sitting on their asses all day and by God they’ll exercise their democratic right to strike in order to keep it that way. Manning the ticket booths are just one of the many ways that the subway workers get to earn their pay cheque, and taking away that opportunity is something that the RMT boys are not going to take lying down (although that is another of their favourite hobbies).
Sticking it to The Man
This statement of intent from the unions pretty much sums up the situation:
Terror Troubles
So Operation Subway Strike is on it seems. The RMT argument seems to be that security will suffer if staff are let go. Take a look at these ardent terrorist-stoppers, how could the London subway system possibly remain safe without these guys on alert?
Looking across the table, given the money that London Underground workers are on, I’d be reluctant to give that up too. Tube train drivers are on an average annual salary of around $62,000 (£40,000). Even if this current issue gets resolved, it’s only a matter of time before RMT starts kicking up another stink for another general pay rise for its button-mashing legions.
Unholy Union
Let’s not forget the RMT union leadership who led this regressive charge into transport chaos. Big Bad Bob Crow, RMT’s General Secretary, earns over $150,000 (£100,000) annually when his salary, benefits and expenses are taken into account. Clearly this is a pay packet that reflects the “working-man sympathies” of a former card-carrying communist. Marx would be proud.
So, thanks RMT. Thanks Bob. Thanks for tomorrow’s madness. I’ll be devoting every extra second of my hellish commute to imagining your painful demise. I doubt that I’ll be alone, 3.5 million people can generate a lot of hate.
Do you even have a clue what you’re talking about?
People losing their jobs is no joke. If you had the power to strike, you would too. In these grim economic times, people do what they have to in order to not lose their livelihood.
Granted, my journey was a whole 10 minutes longer today because of the strike, but I can’t feel ill will towards people that just want to keep their jobs.
Stick to inane babble, this stuff doesn’t suit you.
There are no Subways in the London Underground. WTF?
You’re not allowed to cook below ground level in a public area due to the distance to fire emergency exits.
There’s a Tube strike tomorrow though.
Tube drivers got £30k in the early 2000s (if you believe the London Underground song) for pressing a few buttons and announcing delays on the service. They get paid more than social workers who help and support needy poor families. It’s a disgrace.
Thing is, how bloody hard is it to drive a Tube train?
Can’t we just sack the current moaning lot (who already earn more than I do, despite having a degree and being a programmer, just for sitting on their asses) and hire some other people who aren’t so prone to whinging?