Bus drivers in Sheffield have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action over their pay and conditions. seen on the NEWS

Bus drivers in Sheffield have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action over their pay and conditions. seen on the NEWS

I notice that the bus company have got the ol spin doctor out of the cupboard & dusted him off ready to spout on about what a generous offer they have made to the staff.

letys hope that they will go on strike

:mad: :rant:

Bus drivers on strike, again?! :loopy:

Worst Mainline suck.

letys hope that they will go on strike

personally i hope they dont, other wise my boyfriend will not be able to get to work and we cant afford for him not to be working, I suppose your one of those people who has a car so really couldnt give a stuff about those of use who have to rely on public transport.

letys hope that they will go on strike

Did you notice that there was less congestion, the air was fresher, and town was a more pleasant place to be the last time the buses went missing as well?:thumbsup:

Surley such public spirited members of Sheffield's workforce would never do such a thing. What are we doing slandering them. Think of all they do for us and always with such a happy smile and cheery wave as they pass you by.

What a selfish bunch us passengers are, expecting bus drivers to drive us about all week for only a salary in exchange. They can have a pound of my flesh anyday and welcome to it too. They are lovely men who do so much for us and we are quite frankly not worthy of all there selfless sacrifices and public spirited efforts.

Good on the bus drivers I say. I would gladly walk 10 miles each day if it means they receive even a penny more on the abismally low wage. It really makes my blood boil to think of all us top hatted capitalistic passengers grinding the faces of those honest hard working bus drivers and exploiting their labour for our own sellfish travel whims.

Pressed enter twice. Sorry.

Let me tell you this also- when Comrade Scargill takes over (come the glorious day Brothers) those bus drivers will get the recognition they deserve and us selfish passengers will be put in our places once and for all.

when are they going on strike?

Bus drivers in Sheffield have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action over their pay and conditions. seen on the NEWS

They wanna grow up and start paying more attention on getting to a destination on time and cleaning the buses.:rant: :rant:

when are they going on strike?

Only during the middle of the night so as not to inconvenience any passengers. What gentlemen they are.:thumbsup:

amazing how this issue gets the selfish to pop out of their holes and demand that bus drivers keep driving no matter how hard first try to screw them over.

I hope they go on strike. Will this be the end of First in Sheffield.

Yorkshire Terrier (or now Stagecoach Sheffield) run a far better service. Not only are they cheaper, there drivers are more friendlier, and they do not drive like they are at Brands Hatch. Or in the case of service 52, come in 2 or 3's.

I used Stagecoach 52 this afternoon, and there was an old lady, almost blind and 93. The driver was most helpful towards her. Made people wait to get on whilst she got off, spoke to her. He was polite and friendly

Tell me a First driver who is like this.

Lets hope Stagecoach take over

I hope they go on strike. Will this be the end of First in Sheffield.

Yorkshire Terrier (or now Stagecoach Sheffield) run a far better service. Not only are they cheaper, there drivers are more friendlier, and they do not drive like they are at Brands Hatch. Or in the case of service 52, come in 2 or 3's.

I used Stagecoach 52 this afternoon, and there was an old lady, almost blind and 93. The driver was most helpful towards her. Made people wait to get on whilst she got off, spoke to her. He was polite and friendly

Tell me a First driver who is like this.

Lets hope Stagecoach take over

Stagecoach don't come up Stannington though, only worst Mainline... Even though the service is so pants... Half an hour's wait nearly for an 81 on Snig Hill last week, eh?! :loopy: :rant:

I hope they go on strike. Will this be the end of First in Sheffield.

Yorkshire Terrier (or now Stagecoach Sheffield) run a far better service. Not only are they cheaper, there drivers are more friendlier, and they do not drive like they are at Brands Hatch. Or in the case of service 52, come in 2 or 3's.

I used Stagecoach 52 this afternoon, and there was an old lady, almost blind and 93. The driver was most helpful towards her. Made people wait to get on whilst she got off, spoke to her. He was polite and friendly

Tell me a First driver who is like this.

Lets hope Stagecoach take over

While I agree with this post in general regards friendliness etc it must be remembered that the vast majority are ex First drivers so it must be that they do not have such tight schedules to attempt to keep to so there is more time to be friendly polite etc and less stress also that is the reason ask them and see what they say.

They all want treating with contempt!!

http://www.sheffieldtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=1645737

great - what about those of us who need to get 2 busses to work every morning???!!!!!! will there be compesation for taxi fares???

They all want treating with contempt!!

http://www.sheffieldtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=1645737

Already a thread on this one.

They do this every year now, then fares increase and we blame the company.

Who is to blame, seems like quite an aggressive union if that is the cause.......:suspect:

Mod Note: Threads merged.

They do this every year now, then fares increase and we blame the company.

Who is to blame, seems like quite an aggressive union if that is the cause.......:suspect:

Maybe you can see a pattern then. Every year first try to screw them over regarding pay and conditions, every year they don't like it, every year selfish people deride them for standing up for themselves.

Although having said that, if you check it's not every year.

Hope they dont go on stirke just yet, I trashed my mountain bike and never got it fixed so getting to work will be a bugger without it.

Maybe you can see a pattern then. Every year first try to screw them over regarding pay and conditions, every year they don't like it, every year selfish people deride them for standing up for themselves.

Although having said that, if you check it's not every year.

It is not just the driving staff in South Yorkshire that are in dispute with this firm several other subsidiaries of this firm are currently in dispute over pay and conditions in other parts of the country so its not just these 'nasty' South Yorkshire drivers alone.

yep, they are trying to impose the changes to the pension scheme (which is the main problem) across the group, the union have only just cottoned onto what is happening as several of the regional companies already capitulated.
It seems likely that engineering may also go on strike, although it will be a few weeks after the drivers as they are seperate unions and so have seperate pay negotiations.

They wanna grow up and start paying more attention on getting to a destination on time and cleaning the buses.:rant: :rant:

It isn't the drivers job to clean the buses, they have cleaners for that!

Surley such public spirited members of Sheffield's workforce would never do such a thing. What are we doing slandering them. Think of all they do for us and always with such a happy smile and cheery wave as they pass you by.

What a selfish bunch us passengers are, expecting bus drivers to drive us about all week for only a salary in exchange. They can have a pound of my flesh anyday and welcome to it too. They are lovely men who do so much for us and we are quite frankly not worthy of all there selfless sacrifices and public spirited efforts.

Good on the bus drivers I say. I would gladly walk 10 miles each day if it means they receive even a penny more on the abismally low wage. It really makes my blood boil to think of all us top hatted capitalistic passengers grinding the faces of those honest hard working bus drivers and exploiting their labour for our own sellfish travel whims.

You have gotta be kiddin? HAPPY SMILING FACES!!!!!!! What buses have you been getting on?

You have gotta be kiddin? HAPPY SMILING FACES!!!!!!! What buses have you been getting on?

I think he is just having a joke

I was wondering how long it would take the bus drivers to decide to strike again. They usually manage to get a week or so extra summer holiday from it.

2003
http://www.tgwu.org.uk/Templates/News.asp?NodeID=89475&int1stParentNodeID=89397&int2ndParentNodeID=89397&Action=Display

2004
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/sheffield/2004/07/295199.html

2005
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/sheffield/2004/07/295294.html

If the bus drivers weren't such a bunch of miserable, inconsiderate, rude, incompetent and frankly dangerous cretins, I'm sure I'd be only too pleased to stick up for them.

As it is, they can whistle. And hopefully when they go on strike, more people will re-discover the joys of walking, and abandon buses in droves. Then they can all get made redundant and spend all their time moaning about that.

If the bus drivers weren't such a bunch of miserable, inconsiderate, rude, incompetent and frankly dangerous cretins, I'm sure I'd be only too pleased to stick up for them.

As it is, they can whistle. And hopefully when they go on strike, more people will re-discover the joys of walking, and abandon buses in droves. Then they can all get made redundant and spend all their time moaning about that.

I am sure they would be overjoyed to welcome you aboard after reading this post.

If the bus drivers weren't such a bunch of miserable, inconsiderate, rude, incompetent and frankly dangerous cretins, I'm sure I'd be only too pleased to stick up for them.

As it is, they can whistle. And hopefully when they go on strike, more people will re-discover the joys of walking, and abandon buses in droves. Then they can all get made redundant and spend all their time moaning about that.

:loopy: :loopy: :rant:

And what do those of us who can't walk everywhere do? Stay in?!

Being disabled, I can't walk very far without severe back pain, so if the buses go on strike, how the fuff do I get around? I don't drive for reasons I don't want to go into in public.

There will be a one-day strike on Sunday, 20 August (according to Look North).

Stagecoach buses are great :thumbsup: - let's hope they increase the number of their buses

:loopy: :loopy: :rant:

And what do those of us who can't walk everywhere do? Stay in?!

Being disabled, I can't walk very far without severe back pain, so if the buses go on strike, how the fuff do I get around? I don't drive for reasons I don't want to go into in public.

It's a business, not a personal service for you. Get a taxi.

It's a business, not a personal service for you. Get a taxi.

Taxis cost money, which I don't have a lot of.

Next idea?! :rolleyes:

There will be a one-day strike on Monday, 20 August (according to Look North).

:shocked: :o

Look North feature a story that isn't based in Leeds or Hull?!

More to the point, it's a 1 day strike huh? Hmm, that may not be so bad then.

:loopy: :loopy: :rant:

And what do those of us who can't walk everywhere do? Stay in?!

Being disabled, I can't walk very far without severe back pain, so if the buses go on strike, how the fuff do I get around? I don't drive for reasons I don't want to go into in public.

Rich, didn't you once say you did the Stannington pub crawl now and then ? isn't that all up-hill ?

Rich, didn't you once say you did the Stannington pub crawl now and then ? isn't that all up-hill ?

Yeah it is but I don't walk it, I get a lift off me Dad :D

good job i wont be hear then lol

The 20th of August is a Sunday.So very little Stagecoach bus services and I guess First SY will get a fine off the PTE for not operating its Sunday bus tenders?

The 20th of August is a Sunday.So very little Stagecoach bus services and I guess First SY will get a fine off the PTE for not operating its Sunday bus tenders?
Oh bugger, so it is!

Maybe the strike will be on Monday, 20 August 2007:D

Did you notice that there was less congestion, the air was fresher, and town was a more pleasant place to be the last time the buses went missing as well?:thumbsup:

Yes, and the traffic flowed FAR better than it does when the %$"*&?! buses are clogging up everything....

I think they should get more money.....so they can afford driving lessons.

What is this "timetable" they often refer to? Utter useless company. Sack the board!

The 20th of August is a Sunday.So very little Stagecoach bus services and I guess First SY will get a fine off the PTE for not operating its Sunday bus tenders?

That is correct.

Let them go on strike forever.
I dont give a rats ass, I have a bike & a minibus so all it will mean to me is less numptys to worry about when im out on the road.

It's a business, not a personal service for you. Get a taxi.

Do you disagree with or challenge everyone Cyclone ? :huh:

:loopy: :loopy: :rant:

And what do those of us who can't walk everywhere do? Stay in?!

Being disabled, I can't walk very far without severe back pain, so if the buses go on strike, how the fuff do I get around? I don't drive for reasons I don't want to go into in public.

Right, so my views are loopy because they don't take into consideration a minority? I don't mean to sound harsh, but I think it's a bit rude that you've decided my opinion is loopy just because it would be bad for you personally.

In an ideal world, the bus service would be regulated and public-owned, but the harsh truth is that it isn't, and whilst First are making profit hand over fist without providing something that even approaches a service the status quo is never going to change. Let them drive themselves into the ground and then maybe we can have a better system.

Do you disagree with or challenge everyone Cyclone ? :huh:

certainly not, only the people who's opinion I don't like.
Quite a few people often agree with me.

Let them go on strike forever.
I dont give a rats ass, I have a bike & a minibus so all it will mean to me is less numptys to worry about when im out on the road.

And what do those of us who don't drive or can't walk everywhere do while the buses are on strike? Stay in?!

Answer me that please! :rant:

Find an alternative. I'm sure you've had to do it before, and you'll have to do it again no doubt - just like the rest of us.

I don't live on a Supertram route, and I can't afford Taxis, suggestions would be welcomed... :rolleyes:

every year selfish people deride them for standing up for themselves.



Just out of interest Cyclone do you have a car or access to one?

you know full well that I do.
But it wouldn't alter my opinion about the right to strike when mistreat by a company.

The views against the strike are based on purely selfish reasons.

you know full well that I do.
But it wouldn't alter my opinion about the right to strike when mistreat by a company.

The views against the strike are based on purely selfish reasons.

Actually no I didn't know you had a car. Perhaps it is rather easier to be 'unselfish' if one does not have to rely upon buses as a means of getting about. Just a thought.

Also, who decides what is selfish? Why is it any more selfish to want buses to run than to stop them running for one's own financial gain?

The views against the strike are based on purely selfish reasons.

As are many of the views of the "pro-strike" posts:P:D.

Actually no I didn't know you had a car. Perhaps it is rather easier to be 'unselfish' if one does not have to rely upon buses as a means of getting about. Just a thought.

Also, who decides what is selfish? Why is it any more selfish to want buses to run than to stop them running for one's own financial gain?

Maybe you should try to remember posting on my thread about which new car I might buy... Although to be fair, maybe you didn't and I am the one who's memory could be better.

I see your mistake though. You think that the drivers are taking action against buses and/or you personally. Think again, you aren't the centre of the universe.
The drivers are striking as a negotiation tactic with a large and predatory company. The fact that when they don't work buses don't run is actually secondary to the issue. Maybe if you try empathising rather than critising for a few minutes you'd understand that.

It's very difficult to empathise with bus drivers. And also, if you consider that bus drivers most likely get paid more than the people who use their services (based on the fact that the main reason for using public transport is not being able to afford a car), their striking is something of a slap in the face and does appear to the casual observer to be greedy.

When such a poor "service" is operated - and some of this poorness is due to the drivers themselves - it's hard to feel sympathy for their staff.

I don't see how it's difficult at all. Forget what job they are doing, it's irrelevant. Consider just the situation.

Scheduled pay negotiations are taking place 3 months late.
The company tries to make an illegal link between a pay increase and an alteration in pension arragements, an alteration which would just happen to ruin the pensions of the people involved and save the company money.
When the union refuses to accept this link the company says that there will be no payrise without it.
As already mentioned, an illegal negotiating tactic (which is going to be taken to court by the union).

Then also consider that the people in question are the lowest paid of people doing the same job for the same company across the country.

And that they work long hours and probably consider themselves to be semi-skilled and hard working.

What they are actually doing isn't relevant to empathising. Whatever their job was i'd support strike action in order to stand up to a company behaving like that. The fact that they are the frontline staff for a public service company just means that the company should have more sense than to push them so far.

certainly not, only the people who's opinion I don't like.
Quite a few people often agree with me.

Even your reply was loaded full of ego :rolleyes:

Answer me that please! :rant:
I notice my post has been removed after your bleating - so therefore I have reported your post.You asked for a reply and you got one.

Not my fault you dont like the reply - its true - you are a troll

All I did was state that if you have mobility problems you could/should be entitled to a mobility vehicle'
And what do you do ?
Run off and report me to the mods :nono:

Even your reply was loaded full of ego :rolleyes:

and what a useful contribution you've made so far.
What do you want, a slow handclap? :loopy:

and what a useful contribution you've made so far.
What do you want, a slow handclap? :loopy:

Well done for proving his point :suspect:

is this 'bate cyclone' evening. Seriously, if you can't talk about the topic, why waste the time posting just to insult someone? I don't care if you don't like what I post, at least generally I stick to the topic in hand and not just random insults.

I don't care if you don't like what I post, at least generally I stick to the topic in hand and not just random insults.

Sorry, say that again? :suspect:

and what a useful contribution you've made so far.
What do you want, a slow handclap? :loopy:

I use First Maineline and Yorshire terrier and I find there are good and bad drivers on both companies, same as there are good and bad passengers as well........

You carry on supporting them, Cyclone, and I'll carry on thinking that they're a bunch of ill-mannered, offensive, dangerous drivers who don't deserve my support. There, everyone's happy.

You carry on supporting them, Cyclone, and I'll carry on thinking that they're a bunch of ill-mannered, offensive, dangerous drivers who don't deserve my support. There, everyone's happy.

Rich C,

Perhaps you could give us some examples of the alleged dangerous driving that you have described.

As for ill mannered I am sure you are right in some instances but you know usually attitude problems start at the top for example the bus managers and I use the word manager loosely.

Rich C,

Perhaps you could give us some examples of the alleged dangerous driving that you have described.

As for ill mannered I am sure you are right in some instances but you know usually attitude problems start at the top for example the bus managers and I use the word manager loosely.

The number of times my girlfriend has been cut up by buses in Sheffield when she's driving is ridiculous. It makes you wonder whether they actually use the mirrors at their disposal, or whether in fact they just pull out whenever they feel like it as their vehicle will come off better, and anyway they don't have to pay the insurance.

Driving along Hucklow Road in Firth Park far too fast, and then complaining that the speed bumps give them back problems.

Swinging the bus into the road which comes off the wicker and hitting cars that are parked there - I've witnessed this twice, and whilst it's true that the cars shouldn't have been parked there, this doesn't give the bus drivers carte blanche to steam into them.

Waiting until passengers are just about to sit down and then pulling away as fast as they can so the passengers fall over. Hilarious, that one.

The old lady who got knocked down by the front of the bus (thankfully it was moving quite slowly) as it pulled into the 52 stop in Broomhill.

An ex bus driver I drink with who was telling me about a mate of his who took exception to the amount of cars parked on Penistone Road when the Owls were playing at home and decided to knock wingmirrors off at least three cars. Again, the cars shouldn't have been there, but who gave the driver the right to take the law into his own hands? Oh yeah, it's because he thought he was king of the road due to driving a large vehicle.

Those examples good enough for you?

And you can try and excuse their rudeness by blaming the managers all you like; these drivers are adults though and have to take responsibility for their own actions. And it's their poor customer service, coupled with their arrogance and the outrageous prices that First charge to use their buses, that led me to boycott them in the first place.

The number of times my girlfriend has been cut up by buses in Sheffield when she's driving is ridiculous. It makes you wonder whether they actually use the mirrors at their disposal, or whether in fact they just pull out whenever they feel like it as their vehicle will come off better, and anyway they don't have to pay the insurance.

Driving along Hucklow Road in Firth Park far too fast, and then complaining that the speed bumps give them back problems.

Swinging the bus into the road which comes off the wicker and hitting cars that are parked there - I've witnessed this twice, and whilst it's true that the cars shouldn't have been parked there, this doesn't give the bus drivers carte blanche to steam into them.

Waiting until passengers are just about to sit down and then pulling away as fast as they can so the passengers fall over. Hilarious, that one.

The old lady who got knocked down by the front of the bus (thankfully it was moving quite slowly) as it pulled into the 52 stop in Broomhill.

An ex bus driver I drink with who was telling me about a mate of his who took exception to the amount of cars parked on Penistone Road when the Owls were playing at home and decided to knock wingmirrors off at least three cars. Again, the cars shouldn't have been there, but who gave the driver the right to take the law into his own hands? Oh yeah, it's because he thought he was king of the road due to driving a large vehicle.

Those examples good enough for you?

And you can try and excuse their rudeness by blaming the managers all you like; these drivers are adults though and have to take responsibility for their own actions. And it's their poor customer service, coupled with their arrogance and the outrageous prices that First charge to use their buses, that led me to boycott them in the first place.

Rich C,

I would not condone these alleged practises at all although some are merely hearsay.

What I do know a little about though is Customer Service Training etc and is a well known fact that the attitude or lack of politeness directed at the customer filters down from the top management to the troops so to speak that is why some companies are better than others for example take Stagecoach whom a lot of fellow Forummers on here have openly stated that the driving staff are far more polite, friendly etc than their counterparts on the company mentioned in your post. when in fact the vast majority where employed by this firm previously.

Rich C,

I would not condone these alleged practises at all although some are merely hearsay.

What I do know a little about though is Customer Service Training etc and is a well known fact that the attitude or lack of politeness directed at the customer filters down from the top management to the troops so to speak that is why some companies are better than others for example take Stagecoach whom a lot of fellow Forummers on here have openly stated that the driving staff are far more polite, friendly etc than their counterparts on the company mentioned in your post. when in fact the vast majority where employed by this firm previously.

Two of them are hearsay - although I have first hand experience of them driving too fast along roads with speedbumps (including Hucklow Road).

And I'll reiterate that regardless of where the source of their poor manners and aggressive nature lies, they alone are responsible for the way they deal with the public. I've worked for some customer-orientated companies with dreadful managers and managed to maintain a professional, dignified and polite manner.

anyone see the letter in the star this week about buses very obnoxious and one minded car driver not caring about the people who need to use a bus to get to work very selfish person at least the bus strkike is a sunday if it goes ahead

anyone see the letter in the star this week about buses very obnoxious and one minded car driver not caring about the people who need to use a bus to get to work very selfish person at least the bus strkike is a sunday if it goes ahead

If the strike goes ahead which I believe at the moment that it could well do as this company seem resolute in their determination to save money on the drivers pension scheme having the strike on a Sunday will cost this company dearly as most Sunday work is tendered from the PTE and they will not be happy bunnies over this.

good idea to have it on a sunday then, hits the company where it hurts the most.

reg. the dangerous driving. one of my first mainline drivers was actually talkign on his MOBILE PHONE the other day while driving along - and no he wasn't even using hands free!!!!

Ugh, some people don't deserve driving licenses.. :rant:

The whole law about driving while on the phone is a farce IMO, the jobsworths don't enforce it (Government) so everybody and his dog does it cos they know they'll probably never get their collar felt for it.

I notice my post has been removed after your bleating - so therefore I have reported your post.You asked for a reply and you got one.

Not my fault you dont like the reply - its true - you are a troll

All I did was state that if you have mobility problems you could/should be entitled to a mobility vehicle'
And what do you do ?
Run off and report me to the mods :nono:

Fool.

It was the way you ASSUMED I was wheelchair bound that made me report you.

I don't like people making unfounded assumptions about me.

I get enough grief from numpties for being disabled as it is without YOU starting as well :rant:

Jesus... he didn't assume, as he said he'd seen you before. You've got a right chip on your shoulder, haven't you? And the way you call people 'fool' like that makes you look like a proper ****.

Jesus... he didn't assume, as he said he'd seen you before. You've got a right chip on your shoulder, haven't you? And the way you call people 'fool' like that makes you look like a proper ****.

If he'd seen me before, he'd know I'm not wheelchair bound.

He said I probably was, therefore he can't have seen me.

Logical conclusion is it not?

Jesus... he didn't assume, as he said he'd seen you before. You've got a right chip on your shoulder, haven't you? And the way you call people 'fool' like that makes you look like a proper ****.

:hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: Nice One. :thumbsup:

Fool.

It was the way you ASSUMED I was wheelchair bound that made me report you.

I don't like people making unfounded assumptions about me.

I get enough grief from numpties for being disabled as it is without YOU starting as well :rant:

Can you not manage to be polite for just one post?

Fool.

It was the way you ASSUMED I was wheelchair bound that made me report you.

I don't like people making unfounded assumptions about me.

I get enough grief from numpties for being disabled as it is without YOU starting as well :rant:

Rich, chill.

I don't want to have to warn you again, so please don't start name calling. It's not nice, not clever and often results in a short holiday.

So, can we ALL now just carry on with the thread?

Thanks.

Speaking about the working conditions...
An ex of mine who works part time driving buses in a completely different area was attacked last night as he walked into the bus station that he's based in.
No provocation whatsoever.
Group of teenagers, one asked his name, he gave it (1st name only) then walked off. Said lad then says "don't walk away", grabs him from behind and starts hitting his head and laughing, in front of over 20 witnesses.
Fortunately he wasn't injured and help was at hand. The police were also there in under a minute having been called about an earlier unrelated incident. Lad arrested and hauled off.

I've never experienced any of this dangerous driving (although don't get me started on the taxi who was doing 100mph and going through red lights last week) on First, and I use them all the time. The drivers are generally polite, or friendly at least. The buses tend to be on time when I use them as well at the moment, as opposed to the 37 that was 20 minutes late the other day and cost me my wages. First also manage to run buses on Sundays and Weekday evenings - if Stagecoach could manage this, I'd be able to use them all the time.

I am bound to using First buses, and would still support a strike - as Cyclone said, forgetting that they are bus drivers, if the company is doing something illegal and refusing to negotiate (properly, saying 'we have offered to negotiate' is a tactic usually used to mean they'll go no further than what they want).

That's your opinion and you're entitled to it; if you're happy with First's services then by all means carry on using them and support them in their strike. I was just pointing out exactly why I boycott their service and why I shan't be supporting their strike action. I hope you continue to be lucky and not experience any dangerous driving or discourteous staff.

I can understand the boycott if you're not happy, but I don't see why you wouldn't support the strike action given the understanding of how the company are treating them.

Because I don't think that the bus drivers with whom I have had any dealings deserve my support. I know it doesn't make any difference to whether they strike or not, or indeed anything else in the grand scheme of things, but I couldn't care less about how they're being treated to be quite honest. I'll save my concern for people who are less arrogant, rude and downright undeserving.

And yes, I know that the ones like this are probably a minority, but I seemed to always get the rude ones when I used to service so that's the impression that I've been left with.

I can understand the boycott if you're not happy, but I don't see why you wouldn't support the strike action given the understanding of how the company are treating them.

Ah, Cyclone, didn't you know that the worst thing that can befall someone in this day and age is to be inconvenienced? The London edition of Metro once printed a letter from a reader after a one-day tube strike. She had apparently "suffered" as a result of the RMT action. That's right, thanks to that nasty Bob Crow, she found herself in the same bracket as people in South Lebanon and Darfur. Due to her experiences, she could, in a very real sense, feel their pain. One can only imagine the extreme distress she endured in having to wait for a bus. And not just any bus, but one which was by all accounts quite full.

Because I don't think that the bus drivers with whom I have had any dealings deserve my support. I know it doesn't make any difference to whether they strike or not, or indeed anything else in the grand scheme of things, but I couldn't care less about how they're being treated to be quite honest. I'll save my concern for people who are less arrogant, rude and downright undeserving.

And yes, I know that the ones like this are probably a minority, but I seemed to always get the rude ones when I used to service so that's the impression that I've been left with.

The majority od bus driveres are decent ppl but there is a fair few arrogant and ignorant drivers.

As for the strike, i'd support it as the roads will be clearer :D Just a shame they resort to striking quickly as they know that in a public serving position it is the easiest threat to make.

quickly. the pay negotiations are now over 4 months late. They could have gone on strike 1/3rd of a year ago.
How is that quickly?

bus drivers won't be striking. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/5214120.stm