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Second bus strike

7:34am Friday 12th September 2008 in News By Daniel Knowles

Bus drivers are striking again today Bus drivers are striking again today

Commuters face delays today as hundreds of bus drivers strike on routes including those in southwest London.

First bus drivers started their 48-hour strike at midnight while Metrobus drivers stopped work for 24-hours from 3am.

Union leaders are demanding a standard £30,000 salary for all bus drivers across London.

Bus drivers have formed pickets at depots including one in Croydon.

But bus company managers say drivers are getting a good deal following pay rises in recent years.

They say First drivers pay rose by 34 per cent between 2003 and 2007 and most earn more than £25,000 a year.

Metrobus say their drivers are among the highest paid in the southeast, with top salaries hitting £27,612 a year.

The Unite union says pay can differ by as much as £6,000 a year among London’s 18 bus companies, as well as sick pay, pensions and holiday entitlements.

• For the latest traffic and travel reports, see our Local Information section by clicking here

Comments(41)

cr2 says...
9:25am Fri 12 Sep 08

PLease tell your OAPS neighbours about this many will be left stranded again we are getting fed up with these s trikes.Many OAPS have hospital appointmemts that they can not get to.We are going back to the 1970 with all these strikes and it needs to stop before it gets worse.THank you

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scoffer says...
11:28am Fri 12 Sep 08

I've knocked and told all my elderley neighbours Cr3... guess what ? they don't care!!... they've all got motorised scooters here in cloudy Beckenham... but I do tend to agree... these strikes are becoming a joke and I don't personally think they deserve a pay rise - Oops... have I upset any bus drivers by saying this ??

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ric says...
11:45am Fri 12 Sep 08

£30k for driving a bus around, are they having a laugh?

i hope they lift the congestion charge to help stranded people out.

fat chance i guess

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ohdearyme says...
12:49pm Fri 12 Sep 08

I don't care who I upset. Bus drivers need to learn how to use the road safely. Not bullying their way round their route. The amount of times I've nearly been squished in my little Corsa.. it's a joke! And now they're having a paddy about pay?????? Get over yourselves!

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ANNE GILES says...
2:40pm Fri 12 Sep 08

It's just an excuse for a day off! cr2 - take a cab and tell your neighbours likewise. My 97 year old mother always takes one.

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ohdearyme says...
2:46pm Fri 12 Sep 08

If I went and knocked on my elderly neighbours door she'd tell me to stop fussing. Many OAP's like having their independence! Obvioulsy not you CR2.

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gertrude grendal says...
6:53pm Fri 12 Sep 08

CR2 Croydon

Thanks, but no thanks. Not all of us OAPs live only to go out for medical appointments. Some of us have social or professional appointments. Even dates! Life doesn't and shouldn't stop at a certain age.
Actually, the few good drivers there are deserve every penny they earn. Unfortunately, there are too many useless ones. Also the clip-board carriers who prance around are mainly a waste of money and space. They call themselves Controllers, I call a lot of them Useless Timewasters!

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ANNE GILES says...
11:13pm Sat 13 Sep 08

It all depends on when a person chooses to call themselves an OAP. I have plenty of over 60s friends who are not OAPs. They receive a pension and also work. They travel abroad, go out and about, drive, and one of them even had a lover. Now how about that, cr2?????

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gertrude grendal says...
10:14am Sun 14 Sep 08

Anne Giles, Selsdon

Good for you! My sentiments exactly.

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scoffer says...
8:43pm Mon 15 Sep 08

I agree with Anne... just because there is snow on the roof, doesn't mean that the fire has gone out!!... but then again Cr3 won't put the fire on in the first place!!

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ANNE GILES says...
9:53pm Mon 15 Sep 08

scoffer wrote:
I agree with Anne... just because there is snow on the roof, doesn't mean that the fire has gone out!!... but then again Cr3 won't put the fire on in the first place!!
I love it!!

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cr2 says...
10:15am Tue 16 Sep 08

Please you are not funny one tiny bit.THis is what has happened in this country when standards drop to the gutter level hospitals never had security guards in years ago poeple came and went without the need for security again standards have dropped because of poeple like you we now have to have security gaurds in tesco and sainsbury again why? standards gone and thugs taking over and we all suffer.SRtikes on buses and trains again greed is the word and all YOU People can do is make fun of OAPS and twist things around for your own agenda stop saying you know poeple who are in there 60 and doing this and that go to mayday h ospital as a volunteer and see the stroke victims some in there 50 you have no right to make fun or say this is not the case just because you see some one who is 60 working there are others in hospitals or centers who need help you should go and *look* around before coming on here slating me or o thers for telling the truth

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ohdearyme says...
10:28am Tue 16 Sep 08

Rant rant rant. Change the record.

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gertrude grendal says...
12:25pm Tue 16 Sep 08

cr2 Croydon

You are a sad lady (or man). I'm a very old lady, but even if I wasn't, I wouldn't mock old people. The hospitals are also filled with very young people, children too. Illness, unfortunately get terrible illnesses too! I was a NHS worker, and saw how people of every age are prey to disease. I can see that for you the glass is half empty, but remember it is also half-full! Unfortunately you sound a right moaning Minny.

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scoffer says...
12:42pm Tue 16 Sep 08

Cr3... I know a very nice 'mature' lady with amazing... hands!! lighten up fer gawd sake!!

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Bob Peel says...
1:59pm Tue 16 Sep 08

I bought a folding bike - up yours busmen!

If Cr2 bought one he'd be as mobile as I am.

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cr2 says...
8:29am Wed 17 Sep 08

Again i am accused of everything on hear for speaking the truth of modern britain i dont care what you say greed is everywhere yesterday i asked a neighbour who has two apple trees why he lets the fruit drop to the ground instead of collecting apples for OAPS who could make some pies and freeze them he just shrugged and walked away again greed and waste.THis is typical and would noy of happened years ago when poeple looked out for each other its called neighbourly but young poeple dont care unless its there own family years ago we were all one family and could leave our doors and windows open.even in shops we have to have security guards why? again rudeness is everywhere even on hear with rude poeple your parents would be ashamed of the comments left by poeple who should know a lot better i wont say who they are but we can all see the comments which are really horrible and disgusting.THank you

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gertrude grendal says...
9:26am Wed 17 Sep 08

r2 Ceoydon

What's with you and OAPs? I'm over 90, and if you came to me with your apples I'd tell you to shove them where the sun don't shine!

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ohdearyme says...
10:07am Wed 17 Sep 08

I give up... you are obviously a stubborn old man with too much time on your hands.

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ANNE GILES says...
10:53am Wed 17 Sep 08

Thank goodness I haven't got an apple tree in my garden. It is far more wasteful to stuff yourself than to leave food on your plate and throw it away. When I was a child, I used to hide food I wasn't going to eat and then surreptitiously take it to the kitchen and chuck it in the bin. Otherwise there was no room for the pudding (most important bit).

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Angela M says...
12:56pm Wed 17 Sep 08

Why is everyone attacking 'cr2'? They were merely pointing out that a lot of older people (especially 80plus) wouldn't have internet access, so they wouldn't necessarily know that the bus wasn't coming. This is somebody who clearly cares about the welfare of their neighbours, and they would rather let people know what's going on so they can make alternative travel arrangements (instead of watching some poor old lady stand at the bus stop for an hour wondering why the bus hasn't come).

And by the way, we've always shared our excess fruit and veg with our neighbours.

I still don't understand why everyone is ganging up on the do-gooder!

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ohdearyme says...
2:39pm Wed 17 Sep 08

I'm not ganging up on anyone Angela. I dont agree with some of the things he says so I am stating my opinion. As is my right. And he is perfectly capable of answering for himself.

Fair enough some old people don't have the internet. That's their choice. But I'm pretty sure they watch TV. The bus strikes were covered in depth by the BBC, ITV News and I believe it was featured on the Channel 4 News in the evening.

CR2 demands that we go and bother our elderly neighbours and give them fruit etc. As I mentioned if I went and spoke to the lovely old lady in the flat downstairs and asked if she wanted any of the food I was throwing away she'd be highly insulted. She values her independence and is proud that she doesnt have to rely on anyone. CR2 seems to think all people over 60 need assistance in everything they do which is simply not the case.

I'm merely pointing out (for the 100th time!!) that not all old people think like Cr2 does.


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Brian Sewer says...
4:30pm Wed 17 Sep 08

Ohdearme where did CR2 say that everyone over 60 needs assistance? Im afraid you got your own agenda for making it up as you go along
I dont see the things you claim he said

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gertrude grendal says...
7:58pm Wed 17 Sep 08

Must say again, that I am over ninety, and find CR2 a dreadful old bore. Thank the Lord, he/she isn't my next door neighbour. No wonder the neighbour shrugs and walks away when she appears. Rather like Hyacinth Bucket's neighbours in "Keeping Up Appearances". CR2 is in urgent need of assistance. Any volunteers? Didn't think so!

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ANNE GILES says...
10:14pm Wed 17 Sep 08

Being old is in the mind. Some 50 year olds feel old and some 75 year olds are young. It's how one feels. The word "elderly" really only applies to the over 80s anyway.

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gertrude grendal says...
10:51pm Wed 17 Sep 08

Thanks, Anne, thought we were in agreement. Now watch my lips - I AM NOT ELDERLY!

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ohdearyme says...
9:30am Thu 18 Sep 08

Brian Sewer.
Have a look at most other posts made by CR2 on other threads.

If there is a bus strike it's "Go and inform your elderly neighbours". Do they not watch television? My neighbours do not want to be patronised!

If there's a guy who has taken drugs and ended up dead it's "Elderly people don't like to see drunken or drugged people in hospital". I don't like looking at drug addicts in the hospital either and I'm 22!

The point I keep trying to make is people should look out for all of their fellow men not just people who are meant to be incapable but in more cases than not, are perfectly able to do whatever they want to do.

Brian would you like to explain to me what agenda I could possibly have? And by saying I am making it up as I go along you are flat out calling me a liar which couldn't be further from the truth.

As you can see from the Lovely Gertrude's posts, I am not the only person who disagrees with Cr2. I didnt know a difference of opinion was considered as "ganging up" or "having my own agenda". I mean please!


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scoffer says...
12:32pm Thu 18 Sep 08

I'm not getting involved with this petty argument... the last time I commented on Cr3 I was met with the most foul, horrible, nasty, attack, by someone who thankfully has cleared off to another site no doubt to cause disruption and mayhem... lucky i'm thick skinned!!

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cr2 says...
7:46am Fri 19 Sep 08

AGain rude comments are left for me to read.When poeple have fruit trees apple plum in there gardens and just leave the fruit to fall into the ground t hat benefits no one you would rather see fruit been wasted than hand it around to neighbours i have lived hear for forty years and previous neighbours supported each other by sharing the fruit and veg out young poeple either chop the trees down or just leave the fruit to rot.PLease explain this also i never said ask OAPS when leftovers of food i said un used food like bread where we can make bread puddings should not be thrown away young poeple throw alot away as they have told me this in tesco also a throw away soicety does not help.PLease do not ask personal questions to me about the war we dont like talking about this subject also when i said this country was better years ago i meant there was *less* crime *no* security gaurds in shops we could leave doors and windows *open* we *shared* what we had with our neighbours if you say you are 90 you will rember t his.poeple in hospitals who need quite are all ages *but* there are *more* elderley poeple go to mayday hospital as a *unpaid* helper or adviser on the desk and see how many OAPS are in hospital alot.OAPS give up there time to help the young as voulenteers at mayday its not the other way round i like to remind you please do not ask me any more questions just *think* before you type.THank you

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Brian Sewer says...
9:42am Fri 19 Sep 08

actually CR2 you are correct in a lot of what you say,people on here cannot say that conditions in england have got better over the years.The governments,local authorities,and even the police have become untrustworthy and inept to the majority of local people.i suspect it hurts many folk to realise that inner city english towns and cities like croydon are now like mini americas of the worst kind,the recent murders and attacks dominate the local news stories and demonstrate how bad croydon has become.You CR2 pointing out weaknesses in local peoples ways and the system is seen as an attack against them and they will be hurt and upset by what you say, deep down they know you are mostly correct in what you deliver, but its a bitter pill to swallow

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ohdearyme says...
10:09am Fri 19 Sep 08

I'm with Scoffer, there is no point trying to reason with a person who cant see past their own views. Very small minded if you ask me.

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gertrude grendal says...
10:20am Fri 19 Sep 08

Sorry, or perhaps other readres will be glad, but I'm not wasting more time on this posting. There are other issues in the paper, yet we keep on writing to this one. Yes, CR2 is a dreadful whiner. Yes, she nags none stop. Yes, she is probably very lonely because everyone runs away when they see her coming. I read back on her previous comments and she has a real obsession with OAPs. Maybe she should stand in the local or even general elections as a minister for OAP affairs. Heaven help us all!

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ANNE GILES says...
10:31pm Fri 19 Sep 08

Actually, things are a thousand times better than they were before. We have mobile 'phones, the internet, Google searches, a wonderful continental atmosphere with cafes serving espressos instead of the ghastly weak coffee in a mug we had before. Argentine restaurants serving good steaks, Spanish, Italian, etc. etc. Whitgift centre much improved, the House of Fraser, pedestrianed areas, tables and chairs outside, colour TV, DVDs - one can go on and on and on........... Women no longer feel that they have to get married. Being single is fine. Man as the main breadwinner does not have to be. Being openly gay is acceptable when once it was not. Less racism than before. Summer fruit available in the winter. Wheat free bread, cakes, etc. Dairy free products. Decent wines. Modern cinemas like the Virgin Vue. The Clocktower. Smoke free restaurants, cafes and bars. Air conditioned cars. Safer Neighbourhood Teams. Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers. Cheaper flights. I'll post some more when I can think of anything else. Sorry, cr22 - life is far better now.

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cr2 says...
8:56am Sat 20 Sep 08

PLease dont include cups of coffee and gadgets and been gay its disgusting to say these things are so important to you that you list them!also in the news heat or eat is what choice many OAPS are facing this winter and before you say the f uel payment it is not enough when food stuffs are going up every week again this is widely known except the wealthy and pensions the worst in the EU also overcrowded hospitals voilence murder stabbing muggings more disease less respect cramped bedsits for OAPS scams against OAPS please *think* and *read* ALl of the wonderfull croydon gaurdian its in the news and onradio 4.Also we need more charitys to tackle OAPS poverty and try get back the *old* community spirit where poeple looked after the elderley instead of reading about them dying in the winter and been found 6 months later.ALso we need to stand up to bullys.THank you

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gertrude grendal says...
10:58am Sat 20 Sep 08

put another sweater on, CR2, and move your limbs. Get a life! Wasn't going to write again, but the way you continued moaning even after Anne's bright letter, was too much.

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Brian Sewer says...
1:33pm Sat 20 Sep 08

whilst anne points out all the pleasant things that surrounds her in her life, the retail business in croydon will certainly suffer if consumer confidence is fearful over the spate of violence happening at the moment,the espressos will soon be empty as consumers choose areas that are more civilised

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cr2 says...
11:35am Sun 21 Sep 08

AGain we see rudeness and ignorance comments about wearing more clothes for OAPS to keep warm this winter these comments was said before by BR itish gas chairman on radio 4 who then had to apologise to the public for such crude comments .PLease if you have gardens this is the time to prepare for the autumn please be carefull when moving things around small wildlife could have made homes in the earleir part of the year also it is a good idea to put different layers in the compost for a quicker breakdown grass c uttings then shredded paper then footwaste such as fruit or peelings makes a good comost *if* you keep turning it over through the year.Why cant we have a garden section please on hear where we could swop tips on gardening and help each other out many OAPS love to tend to the garden and have a lot of tips for younger poeple to follow in our footstep.THank you

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gertrude grendal says...
4:04pm Sun 21 Sep 08

At last, good positive ideas from CR2. Please Mr Editor, offer this person a job, a little weekly column to keep him/her out of mischief. All those in agreement, please comment here.

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ANNE GILES says...
4:26pm Sun 21 Sep 08

Hear, hear, gertrude. I'm with you!!!

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cr2 says...
8:20am Mon 22 Sep 08

THank you for your support to have a gardening section many OAPS would enjoy this also please ask around and try get more senior poeple on to the intenet there are courses for 0APS to go to all *free* which is a great idea and community spirit also neighbourhood watch needs more voulunteers to check there area and check on the elderley again this is c ommunity spirt.THank you

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scoffer says...
1:10pm Tue 30 Sep 08

Err... we don't want or need a gardening section Cr3... you discussing your mouldy old turnips and cabbages on here would frighten most decent people way from the CG!! anyway, this is another thread that 'died' online once Cr3 got his fangs into it!!... can't we have a thread soley for Cr3 to grumble her way through instead of her blocking each thread with bile as it appears ??

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