Dublin Bus Radio nonsense

weldoninhio · 04-03-2016 9:45am #1

Dublin Bus drivers are refusing to use the Port Tunnel from next week and looking at non-collection of fares from next week because the drivers are not allowed use a radio in their cabs.

What is the story with all of the industrial action over the pettiness of things?? Start training up bus and Luas drivers and sack the lot of the whingers. Inconveniencing thousands of people over nonsense.

Captain Chaos · 04-03-2016 9:47am

Did you not get the memo, the boom is back on, FF will be back in power, you can get the sack on Friday and walk into a new job on Monday morning.

jamesbere · 04-03-2016 9:49am

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Did you not get the memo, the boom is back on, FF will be back in power, you can get the sack on Friday and walk into a new job on Monday morning.

Well you'll definitely be walking as all the drivers will be on strike

Captain Chaos · 04-03-2016 9:50am

jamesbere wrote: »

Well you'll definitely be walking as all the drivers will be on strike

It's quicker and cheaper for me to drive to work.

Your Face · 04-03-2016 9:51am

Ginger83 · 04-03-2016 9:55am

Madness, the company would never be able to implement this if drivers ignored it. We have it before with a company telling us we couldn't use our phones during work hours to ring other drivers (driving position/ handsfree kit).
We ignored all contact with base until they came to their senses.

Lollipops23 · 04-03-2016 9:55am

I don't understand why they're not allowed to use the radio in their cabs though? I have no issue with it as a customer- is it a health and safety issue or something?

TallGlass · 04-03-2016 9:57am

Whats the problem with them having there own radio anyway? Like seriously, WTF.

limericklad87 · 04-03-2016 9:58am

Lollipops23 wrote: »

I don't understand why they're not allowed to use the radio in their cabs though? I have no issue with it as a customer- is it a health and safety issue or something?

I thought it was something to do with the fact that tunnel safety announcements are made via FM.

BattleCorp · 04-03-2016 9:59am

The company are saying that it is a health and safety issue.

I wonder how many accidents have been caused by Dubin Bus drivers listening to the radio while they work. I'm guessing zero.

The Backwards Man · 04-03-2016 10:00am

They'd be supposed to have the radio on in the tunnel would they not? For the emergency messages.

After that, it's up to the man that owns the wagon.

mad muffin · 04-03-2016 10:03am

I don't think we'd be having all this discontent if the higher ups getting payed the big bucks, gave two shîts about the happiness and welfare, of those under their employ.

VinLieger · 04-03-2016 10:04am

limericklad87 wrote: »

I thought it was something to do with the fact that tunnel safety announcements are made via FM.

Thats why they are not going to go through the tunnel anymore. Dublin Bus are saying they cant use the FM radios AT ALL which is ridiculous, any passengers who are petty enough to want someone driving all day to not be able to listen to music etc needs to get a life.

The drivers are arguing this ban is a safety issue though cus as you pointed out the tunnel authority use it for safety announcements so not allowing it at all theoretically means buses would not get these messages

weldoninhio · 04-03-2016 10:09am

VinLieger wrote: »

Thats why they are not going to go through the tunnel anymore. Dublin Bus are saying they cant use the FM radios AT ALL which is ridiculous, any passengers who are petty enough to want someone driving all day to not be able to listen to music etc needs to get a life.

The drivers are arguing this ban is a safety issue though cus as you pointed out the tunnel authority use it for safety announcements so not allowing it at all theoretically means buses would not get these messages

I was stuck in the tunnel yesterday on a bus. The safety announcements were made over the tannoy. You probably could have tuned your radio into them, but the tannoy was loud enough to hear.

VinLieger · 04-03-2016 10:14am

weldoninhio wrote: »

I was stuck in the tunnel yesterday on a bus. The safety announcements were made over the tannoy. You probably could have tuned your radio into them, but the tannoy was loud enough to hear.

Fair enough, its still petty as hell on behalf of management though so im on the drivers side on this one and im usually quite anti-union

Menas · 04-03-2016 10:17am

Dublin bus must have a little army of non-unionised workers who are charged with making up these rules.

TallGlass · 04-03-2016 10:17am

VinLieger wrote: »

Thats why they are not going to go through the tunnel anymore. Dublin Bus are saying they cant use the FM radios AT ALL which is ridiculous, any passengers who are petty enough to want someone driving all day to not be able to listen to music etc needs to get a life.

The drivers are arguing this ban is a safety issue though cus as you pointed out the tunnel authority use it for safety announcements so not allowing it at all theoretically means buses would not get these messages

What ever about safety messages, I still fail to understand why they cannot have a radio in there cab, it's not as if they have it blasting or something. I know Garda, Fire and Ambulances don't have them either.

weldoninhio · 04-03-2016 10:18am

VinLieger wrote: »

Fair enough, its still petty as hell on behalf of management though so im on the drivers side on this one and im usually quite anti-union

If the drivers were listening to the radio would DB not have to pay royalties to IMRO, which would mean drivers having to log what hours they listened to the radio, what stations they listened to. Etc??

I doubt it's as petty as just not letting them listen to it.

VinLieger · 04-03-2016 10:23am

weldoninhio wrote: »

If the drivers were listening to the radio would DB not have to pay royalties to IMRO, which would mean drivers having to log what hours they listened to the radio, what stations they listened to. Etc??

I doubt it's as petty as just not letting them listen to it.

So far that hasnt been mentioned at all as a reason and if it was you can bet DB would be using it as its a fair one. The lack of a reason so far is what makes me think its petty

Gator88 · 04-03-2016 10:25am

Let them Listen to the Radio. A happy driver is a safe driver.

Padraig Mor · 04-03-2016 10:25am

VinLieger wrote: »

Fair enough, its still petty as hell on behalf of management though so im on the drivers side on this one and im usually quite anti-union

My understanding is that radios have ALWAYS been banned in the cabs - but that a 'blind eye' was being turned to drivers doing it. So it's not a new rule - it's just enforcing a widely broken pre-existing rule.

JustShon · 04-03-2016 10:28am

I'm on the drivers' side this time. If you head over to the Luas thread you'll see that I'm vehemently opposed to that strike but where the Luas drivers want a completely unreasonable pay rise, all the Dublin Bus drivers want is to listen to the feckin' radio.

I can't begrudge them that.

weldoninhio · 04-03-2016 10:32am

JustShon wrote: »

I'm on the drivers' side this time. If you head over to the Luas thread you'll see that I'm vehemently opposed to that strike but where the Luas drivers want a completely unreasonable pay rise, all the Dublin Bus drivers want is to listen to the feckin' radio.

I can't begrudge them that.

But if it's in their contract that they signed when becoming a driver, then why are they kicking up, much like the Luas drivers who knew the remuneration they signed up for? They knew about the ban but still signed the contract. Adding an extra hour into people's journeys in the morning and the evening is pathetic.

Should everyone demand a radio in work or walk out/work to rule??

JustShon · 04-03-2016 10:36am

weldoninhio wrote: »

But if it's in their contract that they signed when becoming a driver, then why are they kicking up, much like the Luas drivers who knew the remuneration they signed up for? They knew about the ban but still signed the contract. Adding an extra hour into people's journeys in the morning and the evening is pathetic.

Should everyone demand a radio in work or walk out/work to rule??

It wasn't in their contract when they signed up though, was it? (I'm genuinely asking, not being rhetorical)

They're not even striking, they're just not going through the tunnel.

For me it's about how reasonable the demands are. Wanting to listen to the radio while driving = reasonable. Wanting a 50% pay increase apropos of nothing = unreasonable.

Even if it was in their contract when they signed up, I do believe in using industrial action to make positive changes to your working conditions. Reasonable changes.

Gator88 · 04-03-2016 10:37am

weldoninhio wrote: »

But if it's in their contract that they signed when becoming a driver, then why are they kicking up, much like the Luas drivers who knew the remuneration they signed up for? They knew about the ban but still signed the contract. Adding an extra hour into people's journeys in the morning and the evening is pathetic.

Should everyone demand a radio in work or walk out/work to rule??

Can I point out that most people that drive for a living have a radio. Its not the same as someone in an office or call center wanting a radio. I know I have the radio on wherever I drive. Its relaxing.

TallGlass · 04-03-2016 10:38am

weldoninhio wrote: »

If the drivers were listening to the radio would DB not have to pay royalties to IMRO, which would mean drivers having to log what hours they listened to the radio, what stations they listened to. Etc??

I doubt it's as petty as just not letting them listen to it.

No you wouldn't have to pay royalties if it was a radio station as the radio stations are broadcasting to the public anyway so the fees would have been paid by them. Unless I am wrong and they do need to pay, which in that cause is a joke as it paid already by the radio station. Also if that is the case, anyone listening to the radio in there car with people or there windows down should be paying royalties.

weldoninhio · 04-03-2016 10:40am

Gator88 wrote: »

Can I point out that most people that drive for a living have a radio. Its not the same as someone in an office or call center wanting a radio. I know I have the radio on wherever I drive. Its relaxing.

You shouldn't be relaxed while driving, you should be alert. Most people might not have it in their contract that their radio is to be used for communication with the control room only.

Another reason may be that if the driver is in an enclosed booth listening to the radio he may not hear someone call for help etc of something was to happen.

magentis · 04-03-2016 10:43am

weldoninhio wrote: »

But if it's in their contract that they signed when becoming a driver, then why are they kicking up, much like the Luas drivers who knew the remuneration they signed up for? They knew about the ban but still signed the contract. Adding an extra hour into people's journeys in the morning and the evening is pathetic.

Should everyone demand a radio in work or walk out/work to rule??

Not really.When a lot of drivers signed up,many years ago,there was actually radios on the buses.Do you not recall being on a dublin bus with the radio on?Its not that long ago.

Bus Eireann double deckers have radios on them it has never caused an issue.

Dublin Bus are just being petty.
There are a hell of a lot more important issues that lower/middle management should be addressing before they concern themselves with a drivers pocket radio.

TallGlass · 04-03-2016 10:44am

weldoninhio wrote: »

You shouldn't be relaxed while driving, you should be alert. Most people might not have it in their contract that their radio is to be used for communication with the control room only.

Another reason may be that if the driver is in an enclosed booth listening to the radio he may not hear someone call for help etc of something was to happen.

And what if something was to happen on a Dart or an Airoplane for example? The drivers there cannot see or hear what's happening at the ends of the train or plane.

It stupid, let them have there radios for god sake. Never heard as much rubbish to cause a stir. It's not like there bringing boomboxes to work and blasting the things out of it on the bus, there's more complaints on here about little gougers and there mobiles phones, blasting out Shaggy down the back of the bus.

magentis · 04-03-2016 10:50am

Im not a Dublin Bus driver but I believe they put up with enough ****e in their daily grind,and at least deserve to be able to listen to the bloody radio!

weldoninhio · 04-03-2016 10:52am

TallGlass wrote: »

And what if something was to happen on a Dart or an Airoplane for example? The drivers there cannot see or hear what's happening at the ends of the train or plane.

It stupid, let them have there radios for god sake. Never heard as much rubbish to cause a stir. It's not like there bringing boomboxes to work and blasting the things out of it on the bus, there's more complaints on here about little gougers and there mobiles phones, blasting out Shaggy down the back of the bus.

The scobes down the back of the bus aren't in control of a 10 tonne vehicle.

If the drivers don't like the rule they can leave.

Inconveniencing passengers who have nothing to do with the ban and zero influence over the lifting/inposition of the ban is pathetic.

JustShon · 04-03-2016 10:52am

Possible to get a poll on this?

I'm curious to see if opinion is as severely one-sided as the Luas strike.

JustShon · 04-03-2016 10:53am

weldoninhio wrote: »

The scobes down the back of the bus aren't in control of a 10 tonne vehicle.

If the drivers don't like the rule they can leave.

Inconveniencing passengers who have nothing to do with the ban and zero influence over the lifting/inposition of the ban is pathetic.

I take it you're opposed to unions / strikes in general?

SB_Part2 · 04-03-2016 10:54am

I can't understand what's so wrong about them using the radio.

weldoninhio · 04-03-2016 10:56am

JustShon wrote: »

I take it you're opposed to unions / strikes in general?

I would support the Cadbury workers and supported the Dunnes workers. I don't mind strikes or industrial action for a noble cause/retention of workers rights.

Strikes/industrial action over not getting a 50% pay rise to an already decent wage or not being able to listen to Adrian Kennedy can pi55 off as far as I'm concerned. These are not big enough to warrant industrial action. As I've said it's quite pathetic.

JustShon · 04-03-2016 11:03am

weldoninhio wrote: »

I would support the Cadbury workers and supported the Dunnes workers. I don't mind strikes or industrial action for a noble cause/retention of workers rights.

Strikes/industrial action over not getting a 50% pay rise to an already decent wage or not being able to listen to Adrian Kennedy can pi55 off as far as I'm concerned. These are not big enough to warrant industrial action. As I've said it's quite pathetic.

Fair enough I guess.

I think the bus drivers are being quite reasonable, they're skipping the port tunnel, not refusing to drive at all. I know the public shouldn't have to suffer for it but in this case it's not like it's something the bosses at Dublin Bus can't do. Transdev can't give the Luas drivers the ridiculous pay rise they want. The quick solution to this industrial action is for Dublin Bus to just suck it up and let the drivers listen to the radio.

weldoninhio · 04-03-2016 11:06am

JustShon wrote: »

Fair enough I guess.

I think the bus drivers are being quite reasonable, they're skipping the port tunnel, not refusing to drive at all. I know the public shouldn't have to suffer for it but in this case it's not like it's something the bosses at Dublin Bus can't do. Transdev can't give the Luas drivers the ridiculous pay rise they want. The quick solution to this industrial action is for Dublin Bus to just suck it up and let the drivers listen to the radio.

And what rule goes next? Surely if a driver does not follow the route he is assigned then he is in breach of his contract and disciplinary action should follow.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 04-03-2016 11:06am

Think of the most boring job and then make it more boring, somehow.

Some H&S díck read a report conducted by another díck or group of, which stated that their findings show using a radio in the cab of public transport increases the risk of a collision by 1.8%.... or some such crap.

Let them have their radios ffs.

Zombienosh · 04-03-2016 11:09am

There's a driver on my route sometimes that passive aggressively sings opera really loud.

JustShon · 04-03-2016 11:10am

weldoninhio wrote: »

And what rule goes next? Surely if a driver does not follow the route he is assigned then he is in breach of his contract and disciplinary action should follow.

You're not even holding to your own attitude of "If it's in the rules then suck it up"

You said you supported the Dunnes workers, it was in the contract they all signed that they'd work zero hour contracts. Why did they get leeway and the DB drivers don't?

How else do you propose DB drivers make changes to their working environment?

I know you're saying that they should just fcuk off and work elsewhere if they don't like it but then you'd have far more than a 1 hour delay while they find new drivers for that route. This isn't the Luas we're talking about here, it's not just pushing a lever and hitting a dead man's button every few minutes, not every gob****e can drive a bus in a busy city without killing people.

TallGlass · 04-03-2016 11:10am

weldoninhio wrote: »

And what rule goes next? Surely if a driver does not follow the route he is assigned then he is in breach of his contract and disciplinary action should follow.

Would you ever stop and get off that high horse, seriously. Look at your posts, it's a radio.

By your logic no driver in Ireland should have a radio in there car. I can do just as much damage in my car as a bus that's 10 tonnes.

Victor · 04-03-2016 11:13am

I can see a number of arguments from the Dublin Bus side:
* Safety / distraction - talk radio is designed to wind people up.
* Safety - the radio is often plonked on the dashboard in front of the driver, obstructing the view of the speedometer.
* Noise - drivers need to interact with passengers at stops. This is more difficult with the extra noise.
* Royalties

TallGlass wrote: »

And what if something was to happen on a Dart or an Airoplane for example? The drivers there cannot see or hear what's happening at the ends of the train or plane.

Trains have intercoms.

Aircraft over a certain number of passengers are required to have cabin crew.

Aongus Von Bismarck · 04-03-2016 11:16am

Proper order. You are paid to work, not to listen to some crank talking to Joe Duffy.

Reminds me of an incident a few years back where this surly IT fellow arrived down to my desk wearing headphones and listening to godawful heavy metal. Didn't even acknowledge me as he started replacing the toner cartridges in the printer. I confronted him about this and followed it up with a sternly worded letter to his line manager.

magentis · 04-03-2016 11:17am

weldoninhio wrote: »

I would support the Cadbury workers and supported the Dunnes workers. I don't mind strikes or industrial action for a noble cause/retention of workers rights.

Strikes/industrial action over not getting a 50% pay rise to an already decent wage or not being able to listen to Adrian Kennedy can pi55 off as far as I'm concerned. These are not big enough to warrant industrial action. As I've said it's quite pathetic.

Well,from speaking to someone within Dublin Bus the drivers are seeing this as the last straw.
There has been a constant erosion of driver pay and conditions over the last 7 or 8 years.The company also reneged on paying 2 rounds of pay rises under the ppf claiming inability to pay,yet they were able to give pay rises to upper management,and waste money on stupid things.

I commend them for taking a stand.

weldoninhio · 04-03-2016 11:17am

JustShon wrote: »

You're not even holding to your own attitude of "If it's in the rules then suck it up"

You said you supported the Dunnes workers, it was in the contract they all signed that they'd work zero hour contracts. Why did they get leeway and the DB drivers don't?

How else do you propose DB drivers make changes to their working environment?

I know you're saying that they should just fcuk off and work elsewhere if they don't like it but then you'd have far more than a 1 hour delay while they find new drivers for that route. This isn't the Luas we're talking about here, it's not just pushing a lever and hitting a dead man's button every few minutes, not every gob****e can drive a bus in a busy city without killing people.

If you can't see the difference between zero hour contracts and listening to a radio then there is nothing I can say to change that. The drivers work for the company. The company makes the rules. Don't like it? Move to a new company.

Lux23 · 04-03-2016 11:17am

In fairness, there are very few Dublin Bus accidents so I don't see the need for banning drivers from listening to the radio, it was a petty of Dublin Bus management to insist on the ban.

magentis · 04-03-2016 11:18am

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Proper order. You are paid to work, not to listen to some crank talking to Joe Duffy.

Reminds me of an incident a few years back where this surly IT fellow arrived down to my desk wearing headphones and listening to godawful heavy metal. Didn't even acknowledge me as he started replacing the toner cartridges in the printer. I confronted him about this and followed it up with a sternly worded letter to his line manager.

SHOCK HORROR!

Aongus gets the bus!!!!!

RayM · 04-03-2016 11:18am

weldoninhio wrote: »

And what rule goes next? Surely if a driver does not follow the route he is assigned then he is in breach of his contract and disciplinary action should follow.

You are being absolutely ridiculous. Listening to a radio is not going to inconvenience anyone. It's a petty, pointless little rule. It's not like the drivers are demanding that radios are installed in their cabs (which wouldn't actually be that unreasonable, given that coaches have them as standard). All they want is to be able to listen to the radio while driving, and anyone who begrudges them such a harmless pleasure is a pretty miserable individual.

DrumSteve · 04-03-2016 11:21am

Ffs just let them use their radio.

JustShon · 04-03-2016 11:21am

weldoninhio wrote: »

If you can't see the difference between zero hour contracts and listening to a radio then there is nothing I can say to change that. The drivers work for the company. The company makes the rules. Don't like it? Move to a new company.

Again, what happens to the route if all of the drivers who serve that route do move to a new company?

weldoninhio · 04-03-2016 11:26am

TallGlass wrote: »

Would you ever stop and get off that high horse, seriously. Look at your posts, it's a radio.

By your logic no driver in Ireland should have a radio in there car. I can do just as much damage in my car as a bus that's 10 tonnes.

My logic is that the company they work for has said they can't listen to the radio. Don't like it, leave. Don't add 2 hours a day to my commute over something so pathetic.

Dublin Bus Radio nonsense

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