Edinburgh Trams

[badassunicorn]

I just watched a BBC news article about the Edinburgh Trams new drivers. It said they get paid £24k. Is there a reason they get paid so much less then mainline drivers?

 

[Eagle]

Because (to put it in probably over-simplistic terms) tram drivers are considered to be in the same sector as bus drivers, not train drivers.

£24k is broadly similar to a typical salary with Lothian Buses.

 

[90019]

Because (to put it in probably over-simplistic terms) tram drivers are considered to be in the same sector as bus drivers, not train drivers.

£24k is broadly similar to a typical salary with Lothian Buses.

But I believe their conditions are worse than ours.

Also, we get more holidays.

 

[Carlisle]

But I believe their conditions are worse than ours.

Also, we get more holidays.

I think wage levels usually reflect how quick and easy it is for a company to replace and train new staff ,the training period involved ,with mainline drivers is at least a year whereas a tram driver like a bus driver has a far less complex rule book and far lower max operating speed so probably only needs a month or two's training

 

[DownSouth]

Base salary or gross earnings including overtime and loadings?

 

[jopsuk]

Brand new operation. Of course they're going to start low. I'd guess it means that they're not so interested in "poaching" tram drivers from elsewhere- they've certainly got the time and space to train up "off the street" drivers.

 

[ex-railwayman]

Brand new operation. Of course they're going to start low. I'd guess it means that they're not so interested in "poaching" tram drivers from elsewhere- they've certainly got the time and space to train up "off the street" drivers.

Looking at the Nottingham Express Transit website, it states, ''Trainee drivers can earn from £14,500 to £19,000 a year. Experienced drivers can earn up to £24,000 a year.''
I doubt if anyone will be on more than £24k per annum then in that case, bus drivers in our city are on about the same, some a bit less. Unsure where Edinburgh tram network will ''poach'' other drivers from, as they are the only city in Scotland to operate a new network, I can't see many folks from Croydon, Manchester, Sheffield or Notts wanting to relocate up to Edinburgh for the same salary, it's a beautiful city though, I'd be up there in a trice.....

Cheerz. ex-railwayman.

 

[CallySleeper]

I think wage levels usually reflect how quick and easy it is for a company to replace and train new staff ,the training period involved ,with mainline drivers is at least a year whereas a tram driver like a bus driver has a far less complex rule book and far lower max operating speed so probably only needs a month or two's training

Understand that LB training only lasts "a month or two"?

To draw comparison, new NET drivers are being recruited at 19.5k rising to 20.8k.

 

[route:oxford]

But I believe their conditions are worse than ours.

Also, we get more holidays.

They'll get more bank holidays though surely?

Don't local authorities in Scotland respect the St Andrew's Day holiday?

 

[PaulLothian]

They'll get more bank holidays though surely?

Don't local authorities in Scotland respect the St Andrew's Day holiday?

Respect it - yes. My council puts up a flag! Give people a day off? Not in the 40 years I have been working in local government.

Although I believe that some organisations do get one of their days off then - most Scottish courts, and legal aid service among them - these are not local authority services.

 

[Carlisle]

Understand that LB training only lasts "a month or two"?

To draw comparison, new NET drivers are being recruited at 19.5k rising to 20.8k.

Cheers so it looks like Edinburgh tram drivers are towards the top end of the earnings league then ,probably not that surprising cos municipal operators like Lothian Busses probably offer slightly better employment conditions anyway than some of the private bus firms

 

[90019]

Understand that LB training only lasts "a month or two"?

From starting training with just a car licence to going out in service on your own is five weeks.

 

[Waikikibaby]

Croydon Tramlink takes 3 months for training and drivers start on around £27K which goes up to around £35K once qualified. Pay rise of around 3.5% expected in December so that'll go up very soon. There's hardly any staff turnaround on Croydon trams.

 

[jopsuk]

another important factor is that as a new operation, it fundamentally isn't unionised and won't be until/unless the new staff organise themselves.

 

[Shrimper]

I thought the staff were effectively part of Lothian Buses? In which case they'll probably tag on to their current union.

 

[Eagle]

another important factor is that as a new operation, it fundamentally isn't unionised and won't be until/unless the new staff organise themselves.

I'm pretty sure they'll follow Lothian Buses and join Unite.

 

[Robertj21a]

another important factor is that as a new operation, it fundamentally isn't unionised and won't be until/unless the new staff organise themselves.

Perhaps that's not such a bad thing having seen what unions have been up to in Falkirk. Last thing a new company and new staff need is rogue unions.

Robert

 

[jopsuk]

It's a bit unfair to tar all union activisits with the hoo-ha in Falkirk.

 

[317 forever]

The Edinburgh tram network is due to open in May, or just before if testing is complete by then. Will the full route from St Andrew Square/ York Place to the Airport open in one go?

 

[12CSVT]

Perhaps that's not such a bad thing having seen what unions have been up to in Falkirk. Last thing a new company and new staff need is rogue unions.

Robert

It's precisely because of rogue employers that we've had unions for the past 100+ years.

 

[jon0844]

What's the cost of living in and around Edinburgh compared to London. I'd expect that a tram driver in London would be earning more, partly due to London weighting, although it still sounds like quite a difference.

 

[Robertj21a]

It's precisely because of rogue employers that we've had unions for the past 100+ years.

Yes, just a shame that certain unions are now reverting to a blatantly aggressive approach in the mistaken belief that Bob Crow is 'the way forward'.

Robert

 

[jopsuk]

Edinburgh's the most expensive place in Scotland to live. Comparable to Cambridge, Bristol etc. Not quite London, more expensive than (say) Manchester.