Topic: Political Rant - most unusual for me!!

[tim]

Tanker driver - dangerous job - £36,000 per year. Seeking 13% increase.

Operational Jet Fighter Pilot -  cushy job? - £22-30,000.

Have we got it right??

Of course, I'm not prejudiced!!

[katynewbie]

 :(

I find it incredibly hard to sympathise with anyone earning that kind of money. Dangerous job? Yes, but I think the current salary reflects that. Comparison to Jet Fighter Pilot? Don't think it is a fair comparison, military salaries have never been a real reflection of their value to us as a nation. I don't think it's right, just the way it is! That is said by someone who has served in the Navy!!

[keef]

The increase is a little much to expect, most people are lucky to get more than 4% per year.

But i think the point is they hav'nt had a rise in line with the average for a few years. It is quite dangerous job really, driving round all day with a massive tank full of petrol behind you, and coping with the general public driving abilities...

Although a Jet fighter pilot is not a cushy job if there's a war going on, the rest of the time i bet its amazing... Also i assume they get accommodation costs subsidised or even paid for.

[ACE]

Do you really believe that tanker drivers earn  £36000 a year, I don't  Perhaps some one driving illegally doing double shifts might otherwise I reckon £18,000 will be more on the mark.

Also do you think that tanker drivers really want to be tanker drivers, I bet they would rather be flying jet fighters. Even at the pay rate quoted.

[Froglegs]

£36000 Thats alot a yorkies

[legendaryone]

Do you really believe that tanker drivers earn  £36000 a year, I don't  Perhaps some one driving illegally doing double shifts might otherwise I reckon £18,000 will be more on the mark.

Also do you think that tanker drivers really want to be tanker drivers, I bet they would rather be flying jet fighters. Even at the pay rate quoted.

A tanker driver on the news this evening said he was paid £20,000 a year.

[Mr Smith]

The £36,000 will be for doing in the region of 65-70 hours per week or it could be for a four day rolling week which takes in weekends. Oil companies and other industries that operated their own in house transport got rid of it because it became expensive and also gave the companies loads of hassel with dealing with the powers that be like the Ministry of Transport 'VOSA' and just the general operation of running lorries, they put the transport out to tender to haulage companies. Now the haulage companies take on the work and in some cases the drivers are transferred over to the transport operator under 'TUPE' rules, in some cases  the drivers are made redundant and have to apply for their jobs with the new operator and inmost cases  on a completely different contract of employment which I can assure you will be in the new operators favour, you might see the tankers in Shell livery but they are not Shell vehicles but belong to the transport company. The new operator when they take on the work which is normally over a five year contract so consequently the pay rises are related to this figure each year or it might be every two years, the  tanker drivers complaint is that they are falling behind with their annual pay rise so the complaint is not with Shell but with the transport company, I have been in this exact situation and I'm in total agreement with the tanker drivers and I hope no one crosses their picket lines or scabs,  this post is not from a socialist or Labour supporter. ;)

[tim]

Nice to hear the nitty-gritty from someone who knows. Although I said rant, I really meant open thinking. Yes, there are always 2 sides & I'm the last to begrudge a living wage.

1. Tankers dangerous? Yes. Maybe I should have said Nimrod aircrew? 12,000 gallons of fuel is it?
2. Cheap lodgings? Yes - base accommodation when you are young, but I paid for it all for 30 years.
3. No COL increase? However, they've had that very good sum for many years - as said.
4. Not £36,000? If that is not the whole truth, why is it allowed to be published without more objection?
5. I DO appreciate the difference in job security - a VERY big consideration. And there is always the matter of Pensions?

Yes - I would rather fly - for any money - than drive a lorry!!

[grawrc]

There was a tanker driver on the radio yesterday who claimed they only want to catch up with Asda and (I forget which other company) tanker drivers who get £40,000. He said the last 2 pay rises Asda etc gave Shell didn't.

[djbrenton]

By their own admission in live TV yesterday their current basic salary for a 45 hour week is £31,800.

OTE = An AVERAGE of £36k last year

[kimbobill]

The increase is a little much to expect, most people are lucky to get more than 4% per year.

But i think the point is they hav'nt had a rise in line with the average for a few years. It is quite dangerous job really, driving round all day with a massive tank full of petrol behind you, and coping with the general public driving abilities...

Although a Jet fighter pilot is not a cushy job if there's a war going on, the rest of the time i bet its amazing... Also i assume they get accommodation costs subsidised or even paid for.

Yeah a tent in Afganistan

[debster]

yes and a staff nurse in accident and emergency who has a risky and at times dangerous job, obviously nothing like a fighter pilot or tanker driver

£21,000 a year  and ive been hit, slapped and yesterday puked on from head to toe?

would i swap it to be a fighter pilot or tanker drive, no i wouldnt  ;D

[grawrc]

I wonder what the statistical probability is of tankers burning/ exploding and the driver being killed. Certainly if something goes wrong then the consequences are likely to be severe, but how likely is it that it would happen? I'd hazard a guess that it is not very likely at all.

And thinking for example of nurses and fighter pilots.... I wonder how many years' training it takes to be a tanker driver?

[redimp]

The £36,000 will be for doing in the region of 65-70 hours per week or it could be for a four day rolling week which takes in weekends. Oil companies and other industries that operated their own in house transport got rid of it because it became expensive and also gave the companies loads of hassel with dealing with the powers that be like the Ministry of Transport 'VOSA' and just the general operation of running lorries, they put the transport out to tender to haulage companies. Now the haulage companies take on the work and in some cases the drivers are transferred over to the transport operator under 'TUPE' rules, in some cases  the drivers are made redundant and have to apply for their jobs with the new operator and inmost cases  on a completely different contract of employment which I can assure you will be in the new operators favour, you might see the tankers in Shell livery but they are not Shell vehicles but belong to the transport company. The new operator when they take on the work which is normally over a five year contract so consequently the pay rises are related to this figure each year or it might be every two years, the  tanker drivers complaint is that they are falling behind with their annual pay rise so the complaint is not with Shell but with the transport company, I have been in this exact situation and I'm in total agreement with the tanker drivers and I hope no one crosses their picket lines or scabs,  this post is not from a socialist or Labour supporter. ;)

Hypocrite - no sympathy for the teachers who spend four years on nothing (in fact incurring fees) whilst training and then start on a damned lot less than Tanker drivers rising to less than tanker drivers whilst working a 70+ hour week. >:(

[Zoglet]

Surely in these times of record profits for oil companies there is room for the employees who ultimately make those profits to expect a share?

Frankly I'm surprised  anyone would take the side of these unscrupulous profiteering  multinational cartels that are the oil companies.

Perhaps the oil companies should be contributing to the  pay of  our pilots and soldiers salaries, after all, for what other purpose are they risking their lives in Iraq if not to secure oil?

Just my two pence worth.

Z

[kimbobill]

The £36,000 will be for doing in the region of 65-70 hours per week or it could be for a four day rolling week which takes in weekends.

65-70 hours per week!




1, the working time directive can be very confusing the maximum working week is 48 hours but can be exceeded by averaging over a period of 17-23 weeks
the maximum amount of hours driven in a week must not exceed 56,
the maximum number of hours worked in a week must not exceed 60 , 90 in a fortnight.
maximum hours worked per shift must not exceed 15
ten hours if you work nights,
maximum number of shifts in a week must not exceed 6,
minimum daily rest is 11 hours can be reduced to 9 no more than twice a week and no more than 3 times a fortnight,
weekly rest must be of at least 45 hours but can be reduced to 24 but must be repaid by the end of the 3rd week following the week in question.

[Mr Smith]

Redclanger,
                         I thought my post would wind you up you being a junior school teacher,  by your previous posts it seems to me that you are a sixth form drop out, in fact I would rather have a decent debate with 'Tim' so go back to you private eye mag or any of the other left wing rubbish that you read and leave us adults to to discuss this topic, in two words P--- Off,  

[debster]

Kimbobill, does that working directive cover all workers? the reason im asking is it says can only work 10 hours a night did i read that correctly?

[kimbobill]

Kimbobill, does that working directive cover all workers? the reason im asking is it says can only work 10 hours a night did i read that correctly?

This is from the TUC website.


Most workers who normally work at night are protected under the Working Time Regulations, (including regular rotating shifts, but excluding those who only occasionally work nights).. Night work is defined as at least 3 hours work taking place during the hours 11 pm to 6 am. Over a reference period of 17 weeks workers are not required to work more than an average of 8 hours on night work in every 24 hours (eg 48 hours per week over 6 working nights). An exception to the average is where night work involves special hazards, heavy physical or mental strain. In these cases there is an absolute daily limit - work cannot be continued beyond 8 hours in any 24 hours. For some workers, (for example, security guards, caretakers, and those doing certain jobs which cannot be interrupted), the regulations restricting the length of night work to eight hours do not apply. As with day workers, night workers are entitled to at least 20 minutes rest during any period of work lasting 6 hours or more.

You cannot 'opt-out from these nightwork limits.

There are different rules for mobile transport workers and tougher rules for 16 and 17 year old workers

[Sinbad7]

I often wonder, why do people join the armed forces, become teachers, policemen, firefighters, nurses etc, when they know the pay is not the same as the private sector, then drip they aren't being paid enough and compare their wages to the private sector? ???

I always thought you joined the above jobs in the public setor to get your pension at the end of the day, so why go on about your lowly wages now?

Shell make the profits let them spread it among their workers.

Sinbad