Comments on: London Dunderground…Again

By: epicurienne

epicurienne — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:19:34 +0000

Hi Kavey
I second your support of those Underground workers who keep going instead of turning the greedy way of their colleagues. We must be one of the most expensive transport systems in the world, yet for the consumer, we get little in return, apart from constant fare rises as our own salaries stagnate or drop. Grrrr.

By: kavey

kavey — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:04:27 +0000

Fantastic post and I totally identify with your sense of irritation and outrage over demands for yet more pay, yet less hours and even better package – even worse in the current climate.

A friend of mine noticed how great the package is, just as you did. He’s not got any academic qualifications nor was he working in any high-flying job but was told he was “over qualified”. He reckoned it may have been because they figured out he wouldn’t be one to join/ support the unions nor play the game as so many of them do.

I raise my hat to those tube workers who resist the pressure and continue working when their greedy colleagues strike over the most facile demands.

By: epicurienne

epicurienne — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:25:01 +0000

Hey, PR, you could make one for your tee-shirt business! With a witty PR picture of a big, black tunnel between the ears, and signals for ears. Sounds like a bestseller to me…

By: planetross

planetross — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:52:27 +0000

You should get a “I mind the gap between your TFL ears” t-shirt. hee hee!

By: epicurienne

epicurienne — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:56:36 +0000

Hi Pat, tell me about it. HR may be bad, but being stuck underground, even as a commuter, next to twitchy people fiddling with mobile phones and backpacks, makes most of us WANT to get off and walk. And occasionally, I do just that, rather than risk being blown to smithereens, especially when we Londoners saw the effect on people who were near the trains when they blew up. One of my colleagues lost his best friend to the bus that was blown up in central London that day. The fear that follows that sort of experience is unquantifiable, but we have to keep going, so we do.
On a happier note, I’m pleased you’ve enjoyed Julia’s book. I bought it in hardback, looked after the cover and now it’s a happy book in a very special place at home. I loved learning more about her personality and personal challenges. It gave her a whole new dimension and is to be recommended to anyone who hears “Julia Child” and thinks of no more than a gallumphing chef whacking around pieces of beef.

By: epicurienne

epicurienne — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:49:29 +0000

Tammy – thank you for your comment. The irony is that I was wearing comfy shoes, but 1hr10 will give me a blister any old how because I have cheap feet. It didn’t hurt, really, just looked like a slasher had tried to cut my toe off.
The deserving more issue is prevalent always with the tube strikes here. They have us all over a barrel, because their union will keep putting strike dates on the calendar until they get what they want. Meanwhile, a visitor to London can expect to pay £4.00 for a single tube ticket in the most central zone. It’s daylight robbery.
Yes, HR is where I’m at right now and I’m staying. I get on well with my boss and colleagues, so in spite of the hell of this year, I’m going to stick with it. Can’t imagine calling women like that cross-legged picketeer my colleague. When I think of all the people we’ve lost this year to redundancy, the attitude of the striking tube staff makes me quite ill.

By: w1kkp

w1kkp — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:06:40 +0000

HR is never an easy place to work but in this period of time? Has to be on everyone’s list of least favorite places to be. Except in my case where positions located deep underground involving millions of people in tight spaces and moving vehicles (& an occasional terrorist target) would make me rank HR, the second worst place to work.

Love your spirit, though!! Forgot to tell you that I did read one of the two Julia books…her “My Life in France”…so enjoyed it!! I am amazed she didn’t die sooner due to her insistence on getting each recipe exactly right. French portions may be small but if you are working on a bread recipe for two years? That’s alot of bread!

By: Tammy

Tammy — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:50:10 +0000

I’m sorry for your dealings with your struggling economy, but KUDOS to you for telling the cross-legged Tube Woman what you thought. In addition, DOUBLE KUDOS for walking to work! That’ll show ‘em! Wear comfortable shoes and you will feel empowered as you trek to work demonstrating your self-reliance. That can make all the difference.

We have unions and strikes here in the U.S., but I don’t understand all of that. What I do understand is that even when a person’s needs are met and they are without want, there is still the desire to “deserve” more…an entitlement.

Stick with your HR job if possible. The Tube environment with unions, strikes, sardines and jerks sounds depressing.

Best wishes to you!