Tube drivers strike and the queue system falls apart!
February 5, 2001 9:26 AM Subscribe
Tube drivers strike and the queue system falls apart! Getting to work was bad enough thanks to strking tube drivers and crack smoking officials at Hammersmith Bus station, now how the hell do I get home?
Lots of big red buses, this morning full of people. Quite a few people turned to the trusty double decker as an alternative to the tube today. Many more probably stayed at home.
The best bit of my morning was being told that the Hammersmith bus station was being closed because too many people were there wanting to catch a bus. They told us to seek alternative transport. With the tubes out and taxis protesting or stuck in traffic that left flying carpets or teleportation.
posted by Foaf at 10:13 AM on February 5, 2001
The best bit of my morning was being told that the Hammersmith bus station was being closed because too many people were there wanting to catch a bus. They told us to seek alternative transport. With the tubes out and taxis protesting or stuck in traffic that left flying carpets or teleportation.
posted by Foaf at 10:13 AM on February 5, 2001
The strike action is the first of three planned one-day actions. Further strikes are planned on 12 and 19 February.
I'm not familiar with this form of labor protest. How is this an improvement over traditional forms such as "walk-out until negotiations are over." If the reason to strike is to pressure management, wouldn't it be better to have one three-day strike (or a strike of indeterminate length) rather than this?
posted by Avogadro at 10:44 AM on February 5, 2001
I'm not familiar with this form of labor protest. How is this an improvement over traditional forms such as "walk-out until negotiations are over." If the reason to strike is to pressure management, wouldn't it be better to have one three-day strike (or a strike of indeterminate length) rather than this?
posted by Avogadro at 10:44 AM on February 5, 2001
Avogadro, it probably would, but given the reliance on public transport, this is probably considered a more humane way of getting the message across. Today being a nightmare, the 12th being less so, and the 19th finding everyone prepared to face the travails of a commute sans Tube. Our public transportation system was shut down in its entirety for 8 days about a decade ago, and it was a nightmare. I give a tip of the cap to the union (or whatever) for the London Tube drivers for not wanting to cause total chaos while still getting their point across.
posted by Dreama at 10:59 AM on February 5, 2001
posted by Dreama at 10:59 AM on February 5, 2001
... the 19th finding everyone prepared to face the travails of a commute sans Tube
Aren't they concerned that they will merely prove that Londoners can get along without the Tube and seriously undermine the purpose of the strike?
posted by kindall at 12:25 PM on February 5, 2001
Aren't they concerned that they will merely prove that Londoners can get along without the Tube and seriously undermine the purpose of the strike?
posted by kindall at 12:25 PM on February 5, 2001
Ah...that makes sense Dreama (confound those Brits and their sense of "fair play"). It also gives them a bit more time to negotiate.
Kindall, I've lived in London for a while, and with or without a car, it is damn difficult to get around in a timely manner without using the Tube. In reconsideration, I don't think that the strike would be undermined.
posted by Avogadro at 12:28 PM on February 5, 2001
Kindall, I've lived in London for a while, and with or without a car, it is damn difficult to get around in a timely manner without using the Tube. In reconsideration, I don't think that the strike would be undermined.
posted by Avogadro at 12:28 PM on February 5, 2001
Kindall....
Of course Londoners can't get around without the Tube. I saw a fair number of people walking but what today's strike proved is that London without public transport is nothing but a sprawling gridlock.
This isn't LA we're talking about; London isn't a city designed for cars. In fact, London is barely 'designed' at all.
London's public transport system needs to be drastically improved and people need to be given an incentive to stop taking their cars into town.
posted by tobyslater at 3:47 PM on February 5, 2001
Of course Londoners can't get around without the Tube. I saw a fair number of people walking but what today's strike proved is that London without public transport is nothing but a sprawling gridlock.
This isn't LA we're talking about; London isn't a city designed for cars. In fact, London is barely 'designed' at all.
London's public transport system needs to be drastically improved and people need to be given an incentive to stop taking their cars into town.
posted by tobyslater at 3:47 PM on February 5, 2001
Tube drivers, huh?
Sounds to me like parts of a guitar amp. Tube drivers might be found in both the preamp and output stages of pre-CBS Fenders, Marshalls, and Hiwatts.
P'raps I'm just showing my colours, tho'. I'm sure they'd be "valve drivers" on your side of the drink.
posted by dfowler at 8:43 PM on February 5, 2001
Sounds to me like parts of a guitar amp. Tube drivers might be found in both the preamp and output stages of pre-CBS Fenders, Marshalls, and Hiwatts.
P'raps I'm just showing my colours, tho'. I'm sure they'd be "valve drivers" on your side of the drink.
posted by dfowler at 8:43 PM on February 5, 2001
Foaf - flying carpets, teleportation or *bicycle*
posted by alexfarran at 2:56 AM on February 6, 2001
posted by alexfarran at 2:56 AM on February 6, 2001
Hundreds of drivers belonging to the union Aslef are protesting over safety concerns in the run-up to the partial privatisation of the tube. Members held peaceful pickets at depots on Monday
Doesn't anyone strike over PAY anymore?
posted by fullerine at 3:36 AM on February 6, 2001
Doesn't anyone strike over PAY anymore?
posted by fullerine at 3:36 AM on February 6, 2001
Cycling - the most efficient form of transport. If I wasn't living in London I would most definitely bike to work. But the traffic, fumes, insane drivers and shit weather have put me off it. And yes - I am still at work :->
posted by Foaf at 4:17 AM on February 6, 2001
posted by Foaf at 4:17 AM on February 6, 2001
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posted by bondcliff at 9:46 AM on February 5, 2001