10th February 2016,
A two day Luas strike will affect 90,000 commuters this Thursday and Friday
Star Trek fans will be familiar with the opening lines that set the scene for the science fiction TV series
“Space: The final frontier
These are the voyages of the Starship, Enterprise
Its 5 year mission
To explore strange new worlds
To seek out new life and new civilizations
To boldly go where no man has gone before”
@martinwallIT of @IrishTimes writes this morning that… Luas drivers believe that historically they have been grossly underpaid for the role they perform in stressful and demanding environments…Driver and Siptu shop steward Richard McCarthy says that from his cab he operates routes that vary from areas thronged with pedestrians and other traffic to very isolated areas…
@luas lines are deliberately routed through major population centres. We have failed to spot the isolated areas on the map below.
The Irish Times article continues…“We are portrayed as people who just push a lever back and forth. However, the actual job itself is involved and can be quite complex. There is quite a complex signalling system. It is the driver who operates the points; they are not automatic. Mr McCarthy argues that the salary scales, which run to about €42,000 after nine years, do not reflect the remuneration required for the role and responsibility of a Luas driver…
Martin Wall continues…Luas staff are seeking increases of between 8 and 53 per cent, claims which have raised eyebrows across the industrial relations and political worlds. Pay movements in the private sector range from 2-3 per cent on average.
@csoIreland figures show the average industrial wage in Ireland is €35,776. According to @GradIreland a primary level teacher with an honours degree can expect to earn around €39,000. Greed destroyed our economy along with 300,000 jobs. Ludicrous wage claims, backed up by even more ludicrous justifications, have to be resisted.
