Strike Action

[MW]

The £10.80 figure is what training drivers get, a full time qualified driver gets £11.80 and drivers that have 3+ years with the company get just over £14. I am personally disappointed with the way this has been handled as I just want to actually get to start doing the job.

You are wrong. What about the 2 hours or so that you're standing around in between driving?

[dw1308]

You are wrong. What about the 2 hours or so that you're standing around in between driving?

I don't think I am wrong as I have been getting paid £10.90 per hour whilst doing my training with NX and I am now on £11.80 per hour as a newly qualified driver. 

[MW]

I don't think I am wrong as I have been getting paid £10.90 per hour whilst doing my training with NX and I am now on £11.80 per hour as a newly qualified driver.

As a newly qualified driver, are you paid from the time you start work to the time you finish work? If so, I stand corrected.

[John]

Would be nice to know why was a no 14.3% a good deal  yet nurses 5% took that another firm offered 2%pay rise

Because its not all about the pay. Its the terms and conditions that drivers want improving

[Tony]

Because its not all about the pay. Its the terms and conditions that drivers want improving

But the Union haven't been negotiating on conditions. The Union only went in to negotiate on a pay deal, and won a good deal which the drivers have rejected. The Union weren't asked to go in to negotiate on conditions.

[MW]

What are the conditions that drivers want improving?

[MasterPlan]

I am curious as to whether there are definitely enough drivers to cover the 'strike timetables', if you will, or whether that's conditional. 

[18WilliamsLi]

I am curious as to whether there are definitely enough drivers to cover the 'strike timetables', if you will, or whether that's conditional.

Of course there's anough drivers 

[Tony]

Of course there's anough drivers

How do you know how many will turn up for work tomorrow?

Incidently I have been working at Coventry garage this morning. It does like like they may get a reasonable service on several other routes as well tomorrow

[Coventrybususer95]

How do you know how many will turn up for work tomorrow?

Incidently I have been working at Coventry garage this morning. It does like like they may get a reasonable service on several other routes as well tomorrow

Wonder what routes may get drivers 

[John]

These are just my thoughts and observations so am not expecting it to be correct

I haven't worked at NX for well over a year now. I'm under the impression this deal was rejected as if it was accepted then it would means the terms and conditions would not be improved for the drivers. Proposals for improvements were supposed to be implemented back in January but have been delayed numerous times, which is why I think the drivers want to go on strike.

I didn't realise the unions were not negotiating for improved conditions, only for the pay side of things

Like othes have said these strikes will not do any good for the public/driver relationship as it is going to be a massive disruption to their everyday lives and I think will impact the already suffering public transport sector with falling passenger numbers. This in some part due to the driver shortages and missing services, which in turn is a vicious circle leading to less people using buses becuase they simply can not rely on them to get around

Personally I think on the surface of things the pay deal offered by NX seems decent but it would mean giving up an improvement on terms and conditions which is what the drivers don't want
A lot of people are just thinking the strikes are down to pay, and it doesn't help when the media only states what they want the public to hear to create a better news story, and friction between the public and staff. Bus driving is a thankless job and you are looked down upon by the general public and treated like you are something on the bottom of their shoe. One of the reasons why I had enough and left (amongst many others I know and some had been in the job 20+ years. I had done 8 years), one decision i don't look back on at all even now I only work part time working 27.5 hours a week before overtime and with overtime I pick up £40 less a week than with NX with no overtime, I feel I actually have a life outside of work, and not working all hours of the day burning myself out for no appreciation whatsoever. It just goes to show that money isn't everything. I found the pay to be decent while I was there, enough to live on comfortably. Granted this was before this cost of living crisis. But its not enough to be treated like dirt from all sides. 

What people don't seem to realise just what driving a bus requires from you. The majority of the public just seem to think you are sitting down all day doing nothing and its a very easy job, this is what i gather from comments on facebook posts and news items. And people are then saying why should drivers get an increase for doing stuff all all day every day. I can tell them that its a very mentially draining job requiring 100% concentration all the time which I felt I was not giving the job towards the end. The final nail in the coffin for me anyway was COVID. Thats what I feel changed the publics attitude towards others (not bus drivers but everyone as a whole), and all respect and courtesy just seemed to vanish. And also just peoples selfishness to abide by the rules imposed by the government at the time regarding lockdowns, unessecarry travel and mask wearing, unregardless on what you may have thought of the rules

There is much more to these strikes than just a pay increase which is what most people don't seem to realise.

I am sorry for the long rant but want to get my understanding of these strikes across

Would also like to wish the drivers at NX the best of luck with these strikes and hope they get resolved asap

[BMJ1970]

These are just my thoughts and observations so am not expecting it to be correct

I haven't worked at NX for well over a year now. I'm under the impression this deal was rejected as if it was accepted then it would means the terms and conditions would not be improved for the drivers. Proposals for improvements were supposed to be implemented back in January but have been delayed numerous times, which is why I think the drivers want to go on strike.

I didn't realise the unions were not negotiating for improved conditions, only for the pay side of things

Like othes have said these strikes will not do any good for the public/driver relationship as it is going to be a massive disruption to their everyday lives and I think will impact the already suffering public transport sector with falling passenger numbers. This in some part due to the driver shortages and missing services, which in turn is a vicious circle leading to less people using buses becuase they simply can not rely on them to get around

Personally I think on the surface of things the pay deal offered by NX seems decent but it would mean giving up an improvement on terms and conditions which is what the drivers don't want
A lot of people are just thinking the strikes are down to pay, and it doesn't help when the media only states what they want the public to hear to create a better news story, and friction between the public and staff. Bus driving is a thankless job and you are looked down upon by the general public and treated like you are something on the bottom of their shoe. One of the reasons why I had enough and left (amongst many others I know and some had been in the job 20+ years. I had done 8 years), one decision i don't look back on at all even now I only work part time working 27.5 hours a week before overtime and with overtime I pick up £40 less a week than with NX with no overtime, I feel I actually have a life outside of work, and not working all hours of the day burning myself out for no appreciation whatsoever. It just goes to show that money isn't everything. I found the pay to be decent while I was there, enough to live on comfortably. Granted this was before this cost of living crisis. But its not enough to be treated like dirt from all sides.

What people don't seem to realise just what driving a bus requires from you. The majority of the public just seem to think you are sitting down all day doing nothing and its a very easy job, this is what i gather from comments on facebook posts and news items. And people are then saying why should drivers get an increase for doing stuff all all day every day. I can tell them that its a very mentially draining job requiring 100% concentration all the time which I felt I was not giving the job towards the end. The final nail in the coffin for me anyway was COVID. Thats what I feel changed the publics attitude towards others (not bus drivers but everyone as a whole), and all respect and courtesy just seemed to vanish. And also just peoples selfishness to abide by the rules imposed by the government at the time regarding lockdowns, unessecarry travel and mask wearing, unregardless on what you may have thought of the rules

There is much more to these strikes than just a pay increase which is what most people don't seem to realise.

I am sorry for the long rant but want to get my understanding of these strikes across

Would also like to wish the drivers at NX the best of luck with these strikes and hope they get resolved asap

A good point well made 👍.

[BK63 YWP]

@Solo1 it's not all about pay... It's terms and conditions. Some of the comments by some enthusiasts about the strikes show they don't know alot at all about Strikes. I'm sorry that your hobby of bus riding around the Midlands is being interrupted. Wish I could ride around the Midlands all day but I need a job to survive. 

[MW]

Here's a comment I saw on the NX Facebook page, which sums it up.

Imagine waking up at 0445 and then going to work for up to 12/13 hours a day, only getting paid for an average (usually around 7 hours).
You're in rush hour traffic so now you're 20+ mins late. You get abused by passengers who now blame you for being late and call you every name under the sun.

...You get cut up by a car so you sound your horn, then they proceed to get out of the car to call you a "fat f**k".

Later on in the day you get bricks thrown at you because you haven't let little timmy with a rough upbringing on with his fake pass. He want's you to know he's unhappy because you've said no (for the first time in his life he has been denied something)...

You've been cut up all day by van and car drivers who are too impatient to save 3 seconds of their life.

Now it's 1845 and you're done for the day. Emotionally damaged and drained, you head home, holding on to that slither of hope that tomorrow will be better... Your mental health decreasing day by day after the hundreds of passengers you've carried have abused and taken advantage of you.

After getting home at 1930 you have just 3 hours to relax before heading to bed and getting a whole 6 hours sleep (if you're lucky) before having to do it all over again.

Imagine doing this for a whole week, you've worked 65 hours over 5 days but you're only being paid for 38.

Now ask yourself...
Do you think its greedy to be paid WHAT YOU'RE WORTH?
Is it too much trouble to be paid for the hours you work?

Every job has its issues but you wouldn't believe the amount of issues the bus industry has until you work in it.
It wouldn't have had to come to strike action if NX weren't being so greedy with their profit margins. If drivers were offered a decent wage for the work they do, there wouldn't be a need to strike. Only through inconveniencing others, will action finally be taken.

Just my two cents.
Any views expressed here are my own. (And from experience)

[Tony]

Here's a comment I saw on the NX Facebook page, which sums it up.

Imagine waking up at 0445 and then going to work for up to 12/13 hours a day, only getting paid for an average (usually around 7 hours).
You're in rush hour traffic so now you're 20+ mins late. You get abused by passengers who now blame you for being late and call you every name under the sun.

...You get cut up by a car so you sound your horn, then they proceed to get out of the car to call you a "fat f**k".

Later on in the day you get bricks thrown at you because you haven't let little timmy with a rough upbringing on with his fake pass. He want's you to know he's unhappy because you've said no (for the first time in his life he has been denied something)...

You've been cut up all day by van and car drivers who are too impatient to save 3 seconds of their life.

Now it's 1845 and you're done for the day. Emotionally damaged and drained, you head home, holding on to that slither of hope that tomorrow will be better... Your mental health decreasing day by day after the hundreds of passengers you've carried have abused and taken advantage of you.

After getting home at 1930 you have just 3 hours to relax before heading to bed and getting a whole 6 hours sleep (if you're lucky) before having to do it all over again.

Imagine doing this for a whole week, you've worked 65 hours over 5 days but you're only being paid for 38.

Now ask yourself...
Do you think its greedy to be paid WHAT YOU'RE WORTH?
Is it too much trouble to be paid for the hours you work?

Every job has its issues but you wouldn't believe the amount of issues the bus industry has until you work in it.
It wouldn't have had to come to strike action if NX weren't being so greedy with their profit margins. If drivers were offered a decent wage for the work they do, there wouldn't be a need to strike. Only through inconveniencing others, will action finally be taken.

Just my two cents.
Any views expressed here are my own. (And from experience)

The profit margins bit is what is wrong with that statement. West Midlands Travel Limited would be making large losses with the government funding due to finish in 3 months. There is no large profit margins. Yes ALSA appears to be doing well at the moment, but no-one in the UK is currently being greedy with their profit margins, and most bus companies will be lucky to survive until the end of 2024 without changes to funding. Perhaps Unite ought to buy WMT from NX and pay their members out of the revenue and see how long the company would last.