Road gritters threaten winter strike action (From Daily Echo)

Did have to smile when I saw one being driven along the Marchwood bypass this morning, the sun was glinting off its plough!

Amey have no excuses of not sorting out this dispute before the cold weather comes (unless it happens in the next few weeks) they have been given plenty of time to be able to.
If amey fails to come to some sort of agreement with the unions then they should lose the contract.

Nothing about the demands these guys feel they are entitled to in the article.

actually the roads will not remain ungritted since there is a statutory obligation to do so, so someone else will do it while these lazy overpaid union puppets play x-box this winter.

Many years ago when the gritters were out on strike I had to collect my Mother in Law from Ramsgate and bring her back to the Medway Towns where I lived at the time. New years eve it decided to snow heavily but I mistakenly thought all would be well when I reached the M2. How wrong I was the drive was a nightmare both ways. The good thing however was that the M-I=L was so scared she never said a word all the way back.

southy wrote:
Amey have no excuses of not sorting out this dispute before the cold weather comes (unless it happens in the next few weeks) they have been given plenty of time to be able to.
If amey fails to come to some sort of agreement with the unions then they should lose the contract.

Maybe the contract could be awarded to G4S, after that sterling job they did organising security at the Olympics?

These people wouldnt know hardship if it was shovel shaped and smacked them in the face.Spineless,give the jobs to Poles.

bigfella777 wrote:
These people wouldnt know hardship if it was shovel shaped and smacked them in the face.Spineless,give the jobs to Poles.

Are suggesting that financial hardship is something to aspire too and should be an ambition to aim for?
Spineless for wanting a living wage?
Give the jobs to the Poles?
Why brand them as dumb as you?

I can do that, it's only driving a lorry full of sand

£15k a year is not a living wage in 2012, good luck to them.

Goldenwight wrote:

southy wrote:
Amey have no excuses of not sorting out this dispute before the cold weather comes (unless it happens in the next few weeks) they have been given plenty of time to be able to.
If amey fails to come to some sort of agreement with the unions then they should lose the contract.

Maybe the contract could be awarded to G4S, after that sterling job they did organising security at the Olympics?

Your right, G4S should have used staff already on the pay roll to force those lazy knobbers out bed.

Goldenwight wrote:

southy wrote:
Amey have no excuses of not sorting out this dispute before the cold weather comes (unless it happens in the next few weeks) they have been given plenty of time to be able to.
If amey fails to come to some sort of agreement with the unions then they should lose the contract.

Maybe the contract could be awarded to G4S, after that sterling job they did organising security at the Olympics?

lol

yes, polish people can drive trucks and are not interested in lining the pockets of millionaire union leaders.. give the contract to them... super idea....

Shoong wrote:

Goldenwight wrote:

southy wrote:
Amey have no excuses of not sorting out this dispute before the cold weather comes (unless it happens in the next few weeks) they have been given plenty of time to be able to.
If amey fails to come to some sort of agreement with the unions then they should lose the contract.

Maybe the contract could be awarded to G4S, after that sterling job they did organising security at the Olympics?

Your right, G4S should have used staff already on the pay roll to force those lazy knobbers out bed.

That was the problem they could not. they did not want to pay any expenses in lodging or traveling money.

MGRA wrote:
actually the roads will not remain ungritted since there is a statutory obligation to do so, so someone else will do it while these lazy overpaid union puppets play x-box this winter.

The obligation falls on the local council and not the contractors or any person that get out to grit the roads, Gritting roads to the worker who do this job, it is over time work.

Dave of Dibden wrote:
I can do that, it's only driving a lorry full of sand

Almost !!! ...... but you may have overlooked something ...... Its not sand, hence "gritters" and you do have to put some on the road as opposed to just carrying around.
.
Apart from that you were spot on !!!

MGRA wrote:
yes, polish people can drive trucks and are not interested in lining the pockets of millionaire union leaders.. give the contract to them... super idea....

Fine if you what to pay for them to be train in plant opperation. I don't think the polish would pay out for this plant opperator ticket.

That's ok. The army will do it. Convoys of Bedford lorries with 'payback' convicts in the back with shovels.......... lovely jubbly!!

I come from a union-minded family background where it was firmly believed that the working man should always have the right to withdraw his labour, should the need arise.

Arthur Skargill brought the unions into disrepute, and Margaret Thatcher made them a dirty word.

And that's what we have today : "disreputable, dirty words" threatening to cause chaos if they don't get their way, like the ISB (Infamous Southampton Binmen) last year. It's tempting to think that the ordinary working man is just a puppet of the extreme Left, but have the rank and file become so isolated that they don't give a d amn what trouble they cause or who they hurt in their blinkered quest to grab what they can ?

It has always been the way here. The least intelligent people do the toughest but essential jobs that no one else wants to do. That puts them in a very strong position when it comes to making demands, reasonable or otherwise. The dockers, the miners, the binmen.

The trouble is we are such selfish, uncaring people that we don't think about those doing the dirty jobs until they refuse to do it for some reason. Then they are "lazy scum that ought to get off their backsides and get on with it". What do most of us really know about those men and those jobs, eh ? So long as the bins are emptied, and the roads gritted, then "stuff 'em".

Yes they are isolated. Right at the bottom of the social scale, but they have one valuable asset : power. Let's hope the bright young negoiators get it right, cos them roads ain't gonna be much cop covered in ice.

So gritters going on strike (threatening). Let them. and when their pints of milk aren't in the shops; or their pint of ale is still at the depot, or their pay is delaid because the bank clerks can't get to work whatch them squinny then.

And why were they gritting two weeks ago in Fareham area? Too much sun!!!

sarfhamton wrote:
£15k a year is not a living wage in 2012, good luck to them.

As somebody on basically the same wage (from one of the largest richest companies in the city too) I can sympathise with these guys and hope they get somewhere, their jobs are alot harder then mine aswell (being I sit on a computer all day) and am very surprised they are on so little.

ToastyTea wrote:

sarfhamton wrote:
£15k a year is not a living wage in 2012, good luck to them.

As somebody on basically the same wage (from one of the largest richest companies in the city too) I can sympathise with these guys and hope they get somewhere, their jobs are alot harder then mine aswell (being I sit on a computer all day) and am very surprised they are on so little.

15k a year and they only have to work a 3rd of the year,nice.

bigfella777 wrote:

ToastyTea wrote:

sarfhamton wrote:
£15k a year is not a living wage in 2012, good luck to them.

As somebody on basically the same wage (from one of the largest richest companies in the city too) I can sympathise with these guys and hope they get somewhere, their jobs are alot harder then mine aswell (being I sit on a computer all day) and am very surprised they are on so little.

15k a year and they only have to work a 3rd of the year,nice.

As an 8 hour working day is a third of a 24 hour day on this opccasion you may be about right, however I would hope they actually do get some days off, and they do have other duries extra to duming grit on the roads in winter.

A lorry driver in Essex last winter was stopped at the lights when a blonde lady shouted from her car that he was loosing his load. He ignored her and continued on to the next red light where the blonde lady got out of her car and stood by the drivers door shouting at him that he was loosing his load. Very patiently he explained to her that he was gritting the road.

ToastyTea wrote:

sarfhamton wrote: £15k a year is not a living wage in 2012, good luck to them.

As somebody on basically the same wage (from one of the largest richest companies in the city too) I can sympathise with these guys and hope they get somewhere, their jobs are alot harder then mine aswell (being I sit on a computer all day) and am very surprised they are on so little.

you will get piles if you sit on a computer all day!

carlyb wrote:

ToastyTea wrote:

sarfhamton wrote: £15k a year is not a living wage in 2012, good luck to them.

As somebody on basically the same wage (from one of the largest richest companies in the city too) I can sympathise with these guys and hope they get somewhere, their jobs are alot harder then mine aswell (being I sit on a computer all day) and am very surprised they are on so little.

you will get piles if you sit on a computer all day!

Not piles of money apparently

saintalive'n'kicking wrote:
So gritters going on strike (threatening). Let them. and when their pints of milk aren't in the shops; or their pint of ale is still at the depot, or their pay is delaid because the bank clerks can't get to work whatch them squinny then.

And why were they gritting two weeks ago in Fareham area? Too much sun!!!

I'm glad I'd still be able to get around on my bike if the roads ice over while the gritters go on strike.

Hope no one in their family needs a fire engine or ambulance as they won't be able to get from A toB
Stop whingingas I'm sure there are plenty of people who would like 15 k a year for the hours involved

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

saintalive'n'kicking wrote:
So gritters going on strike (threatening). Let them. and when their pints of milk aren't in the shops; or their pint of ale is still at the depot, or their pay is delaid because the bank clerks can't get to work whatch them squinny then.

And why were they gritting two weeks ago in Fareham area? Too much sun!!!

I'm glad I'd still be able to get around on my bike if the roads ice over while the gritters go on strike.

Would you be kind enough to explain exactly what you mean by your comment. I would have thought a cyclist on an icy road or pavement would be extremely dangerous to pedestrians.

HAMPSHIRES road gritters are threatening to cause "huge disruption"

I bet the snow beats you to it!

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

saintalive'n'kicking wrote:
So gritters going on strike (threatening). Let them. and when their pints of milk aren't in the shops; or their pint of ale is still at the depot, or their pay is delaid because the bank clerks can't get to work whatch them squinny then.

And why were they gritting two weeks ago in Fareham area? Too much sun!!!

I'm glad I'd still be able to get around on my bike if the roads ice over while the gritters go on strike.

The time you spend posting anti-car/pro-bicycle comments to any story that has a slight motoring link suggests that you never leave your computer so will it affect you at all? If you were in employment it would be a concern but I doubt whether you can disguise your attitude enough to get through an interview unless you find work at a shop selling bicycles.

BillyTheKid wrote:

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

saintalive'n'kicking wrote:
So gritters going on strike (threatening). Let them. and when their pints of milk aren't in the shops; or their pint of ale is still at the depot, or their pay is delaid because the bank clerks can't get to work whatch them squinny then.

And why were they gritting two weeks ago in Fareham area? Too much sun!!!

I'm glad I'd still be able to get around on my bike if the roads ice over while the gritters go on strike.

Would you be kind enough to explain exactly what you mean by your comment. I would have thought a cyclist on an icy road or pavement would be extremely dangerous to pedestrians.

Not at all, it's safer to pedestrians than driving a car in the same conditions but the principles are the same, reduce tyre pressure to maximize grip and handle all controls with great care, like if they were new born babies, by doing this I was able to ride most of the way up an untreated road with minimal loss of traction and all while I was riding on tires that had been made with a treadless central band to ride on that's intended for speed, if I had the money or known about them, I would have bought studded tyres.

Torchie1 wrote:

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

saintalive'n'kicking wrote:
So gritters going on strike (threatening). Let them. and when their pints of milk aren't in the shops; or their pint of ale is still at the depot, or their pay is delaid because the bank clerks can't get to work whatch them squinny then.

And why were they gritting two weeks ago in Fareham area? Too much sun!!!

I'm glad I'd still be able to get around on my bike if the roads ice over while the gritters go on strike.

The time you spend posting anti-car/pro-bicycle comments to any story that has a slight motoring link suggests that you never leave your computer so will it affect you at all? If you were in employment it would be a concern but I doubt whether you can disguise your attitude enough to get through an interview unless you find work at a shop selling bicycles.

I don't always post such comments but my words always have truth in them and yes, it would affect me, I still have to get to interviews you know and employers probably don't really care what your attitude towards cars is just as long as you do your best to turn up on time all the time, also I'll be getting the qualifications to work in a place like cycle world so that's certainly a possibility.

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

Torchie1 wrote:

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

saintalive'n'kicking wrote:
So gritters going on strike (threatening). Let them. and when their pints of milk aren't in the shops; or their pint of ale is still at the depot, or their pay is delaid because the bank clerks can't get to work whatch them squinny then.

And why were they gritting two weeks ago in Fareham area? Too much sun!!!

I'm glad I'd still be able to get around on my bike if the roads ice over while the gritters go on strike.

The time you spend posting anti-car/pro-bicycle comments to any story that has a slight motoring link suggests that you never leave your computer so will it affect you at all? If you were in employment it would be a concern but I doubt whether you can disguise your attitude enough to get through an interview unless you find work at a shop selling bicycles.

I don't always post such comments but my words always have truth in them and yes, it would affect me, I still have to get to interviews you know and employers probably don't really care what your attitude towards cars is just as long as you do your best to turn up on time all the time, also I'll be getting the qualifications to work in a place like cycle world so that's certainly a possibility.

I think you need to look back and see what you've written in the past. As for 'words of truth', you only post your opinion unless you are related to a certain Tusc member in Millbrook who is another one who only knows the truth and has decided everyone else is wrong.

Torchie1 wrote:

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

Torchie1 wrote:

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

saintalive'n'kicking wrote:
So gritters going on strike (threatening). Let them. and when their pints of milk aren't in the shops; or their pint of ale is still at the depot, or their pay is delaid because the bank clerks can't get to work whatch them squinny then.

And why were they gritting two weeks ago in Fareham area? Too much sun!!!

I'm glad I'd still be able to get around on my bike if the roads ice over while the gritters go on strike.

The time you spend posting anti-car/pro-bicycle comments to any story that has a slight motoring link suggests that you never leave your computer so will it affect you at all? If you were in employment it would be a concern but I doubt whether you can disguise your attitude enough to get through an interview unless you find work at a shop selling bicycles.

I don't always post such comments but my words always have truth in them and yes, it would affect me, I still have to get to interviews you know and employers probably don't really care what your attitude towards cars is just as long as you do your best to turn up on time all the time, also I'll be getting the qualifications to work in a place like cycle world so that's certainly a possibility.

I think you need to look back and see what you've written in the past. As for 'words of truth', you only post your opinion unless you are related to a certain Tusc member in Millbrook who is another one who only knows the truth and has decided everyone else is wrong.

Why is it that so many commenters here think that if you make a clear statement about something, you are trying to imply that you are right and everyone else is wrong ? And if you did, so what ? Just argue back - no one will mind ! It's the nature of discussion, debate, argument, row or whatever you want to call it.

Yes, Gingercyclist is a self-obessessed, controversial, "right-to-ride" campaigner who goes on about all kinds of things, but that is what makes him interesting. And equally strong, identifiable characteristics are what make Southy, Loosehead, and Georgem interesting, too. Ginger never insults anyone, takes insults levelled at him with a pinch of salt, and makes a whole range of observations from the unutterably trivial to the most extraordinarily insightful.

Anyway, Torchie ( always trying to en"light"en us ? lol ), I always thought it was ME, William The Juvenile, who was always right and everyone else was wrong ! But if you have discovered all the people who think they are always right, and you know they are not, then YOU must be the one who is always right !

Glad we sorted that out, o Torchie, the All Knowing One !

Torchie1 wrote:

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

Torchie1 wrote:

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

saintalive'n'kicking wrote:
So gritters going on strike (threatening). Let them. and when their pints of milk aren't in the shops; or their pint of ale is still at the depot, or their pay is delaid because the bank clerks can't get to work whatch them squinny then.

And why were they gritting two weeks ago in Fareham area? Too much sun!!!

I'm glad I'd still be able to get around on my bike if the roads ice over while the gritters go on strike.

The time you spend posting anti-car/pro-bicycle comments to any story that has a slight motoring link suggests that you never leave your computer so will it affect you at all? If you were in employment it would be a concern but I doubt whether you can disguise your attitude enough to get through an interview unless you find work at a shop selling bicycles.

I don't always post such comments but my words always have truth in them and yes, it would affect me, I still have to get to interviews you know and employers probably don't really care what your attitude towards cars is just as long as you do your best to turn up on time all the time, also I'll be getting the qualifications to work in a place like cycle world so that's certainly a possibility.

I think you need to look back and see what you've written in the past. As for 'words of truth', you only post your opinion unless you are related to a certain Tusc member in Millbrook who is another one who only knows the truth and has decided everyone else is wrong.

You're right, I do post MY opinion and in my opinion, town and city centers should be closed to all traffic that isn't deliveries, public transport, emergency vehicles, maintenance/construc
tion vehicles (when needed) and blue badge holders (for obvious reasons), not only would it be healthier for us and the environment but it would also make town and city centers safer as you would then only have about a tiny fraction of the amount of traffic that passed through before hand, it's what the Dutch have done and because of it they have such a high quality of life for their people that it's in the top 3 of the world whereas British people have a lower quality of life in some poorer countries like China or even some African countries.

The figure of 15k per annum has been mentioned i don't know what this figure represents, if that is a basic wage then the actual earnings could be far greater when you take overtime/bonus/unsoc
ial hours payments etc into account so maybe if their actual earnings were made clear it would be easier to come to an informed decision. But i do think its about time that regulations regarding strike ballots etc were laid down i.e. 75% of total union membership should have to vote and for a strike 51% vote in favour.