Following on from the Union thread most people say that the unions are this and that, and reps and shop stewards as bad etc etc.
That is correct in many cases but not all. However on the other side of the coin what about the drivers they are meant to represent?
The solidarity thing is a joke as most (not all) drivers are a bunch of spineless yes men.
Look at some of the threads on here,.such as…
My boss says I have to xyz in so many hours… what should I do.
. I have planners on my back watching my every move, pushing me too hard, …what should I do.
I have a camera in my cab I don’t think it’s right, …what should I do.
My boss won’t pay me nights out…what should I do.
They then go on to moan at everybody except who they should moan to, get no joy there, and moan and complain on here.
ffs Grow a set and stand up for yourselves, I don’t mean militant Scargill style, or being a compIete arse refusing to do everything, that is even worse. I do mean putting your point of view forward politely and clearly with no effin & jeffin it does work …trust me. 
As for sticking together in a union? well judging by what I have just said, I won’t hold my breath 
That is very true you hear the same drivers whingeing but when we have a drivers meeting with management they sit there with nothing to say,then it’s down to the usual couple of drivers to speak up,then we get branded as troublemakers, ■■■■ me right off!!!
Right,own up. Who peed in robroys slippers? 
I don’t need a union, drivers rep or any brotherhood. I use the tongue I was born with. If things are wrong, I make my point, if nothing changes for the better, I find a job with better T’s and C’s. If nobody swallowed ■■■■, the job would sort itself out
to be fair I think a whole lot of threads on here are written by very lazy people who cant be arsed to perform a basic search online or do some research, what it is easier to do is ask a whole loads of strangers who you think you know. which in turn spoils it for the genuine people who cant find the info they need (look at the endless hours/stobrat threads).
I stood up for myself all through my working life regarding what I would and wouldn’t do, upset a fair few along the way and possibly had I got on my knees and brown nosed a bit more may have been a lot higher up than I am at present. having said that I wouldn’t change a thing I have my rules do’s and dont’s and have done ok overall, I took on asda and won (well I got my job and all back pay from them so a moral victory to me).
your bang on the button robroy
but then just look at the cpc rubbish, drivers had the best chance of ever standing together on the bolox but what happened ? they all moaned about it but they still went off to get one like the good little boys they are, what were they scard of ? losing a job that pays crap money to a polish driver or worse another driver who might be a smart arse and think let the others make a stand i will get in there quick and steal there job
that is the measure of the men there are in transport today but to be fair its been like that ever since i can remember, i think one day many driver will just get ■■■■■■ off with it all and sod the job off like so many have done these days
in case anyone hasnt noticed there is a huge shortfall in drivers coming into the game the average age for drivers is now getting towards 50, the kids today take one look at whats on offer and head off to other jobs and who can blame them ?
only the mugs who have no others skills bother coming into driving now as its the only way they can make 400 quid a week or more but they have to do how many hours ? how many night out ?
well they deserve all they get in my book, it will not be long before the national minimum wage over takes drivers pay, the only reason driver make a living is because they have to do a weeks and half work in there week compared to other industry’s
but hey you all hear my moans about drivers all the time, you all know it bloody true
still good to have a rant on here about it but it will do nothing at all to change a dam thing
Wouldn’t you be a bit floppy without a spine? Talking of floppy, er indoors has just come in.
I know this because the walls have only just stopped shaking. Why do they slam the front bloody door so hard?
It not just a driver’s thing, you can find spineless folks in every type of job out there.
Nowadays, I am happy to confront anyone about anything, albeit in a calm, polite and respectful way where I use persuasion and constructive dialect to resolve issues. A lot of people out there think truck drivers are brainless neanderthals, so I really try not to reinforce the stereotype. 
What’s the worst any employer can do - give you the sack? Not the end of the world as you can approach most agencies next day and they won’t give a monkeys chuff as to why your last job ended. As long as you still got your license you good to roll… 
No good getting stressed in someone else’s business… 
bobbya:
That is very true you hear the same drivers whingeing but when we have a drivers meeting with management they sit there with nothing to say,then it’s down to the usual couple of drivers to speak up,then we get branded as troublemakers, ■■■■ me right off!!!
Vary well said, they take all the benefit and contribute ■■■■ all
desypete:
your bang on the button robroy
but then just look at the cpc rubbish, drivers had the best chance of ever standing together on the bolox but what happened ? they all moaned about it but they still went off to get one like the good little boys they are, what were they scard of ? losing a job that pays crap money to a polish driver or worse another driver who might be a smart arse and think let the others make a stand i will get in there quick and steal there job
that is the measure of the men there are in transport today but to be fair its been like that ever since i can remember, i think one day many driver will just get ■■■■■■ off with it all and sod the job off like so many have done these days
in case anyone hasnt noticed there is a huge shortfall in drivers coming into the game the average age for drivers is now getting towards 50, the kids today take one look at whats on offer and head off to other jobs and who can blame them ?
only the mugs who have no others skills bother coming into driving now as its the only way they can make 400 quid a week or more but they have to do how many hours ? how many night out ?
well they deserve all they get in my book, it will not be long before the national minimum wage over takes drivers pay, the only reason driver make a living is because they have to do a weeks and half work in there week compared to other industry’s
but hey you all hear my moans about drivers all the time, you all know it bloody true
still good to have a rant on here about it but it will do nothing at all to change a dam thing
Why do you have to turn everything into an anti CPC rant? The requirements for the job changed, change too or get left behind. It’s the same in any industry, I speak from experience. Maybe you think lorry driving is a special case and exempt from interference.
LIBERTY_GUY:
It not just a driver’s thing, you can find spineless folks in every type of job out there.
Nowadays A lot of people out there think truck drivers are brainless neanderthals.
you only have to read many of the threads on this site to see how that thought comes about
Captain Caveman 76:
desypete:
your bang on the button robroy
but then just look at the cpc rubbish, drivers had the best chance of ever standing together on the bolox but what happened ? they all moaned about it but they still went off to get one like the good little boys they are, what were they scard of ? losing a job that pays crap money to a polish driver or worse another driver who might be a smart arse and think let the others make a stand i will get in there quick and steal there job
that is the measure of the men there are in transport today but to be fair its been like that ever since i can remember, i think one day many driver will just get ■■■■■■ off with it all and sod the job off like so many have done these days
in case anyone hasnt noticed there is a huge shortfall in drivers coming into the game the average age for drivers is now getting towards 50, the kids today take one look at whats on offer and head off to other jobs and who can blame them ?
only the mugs who have no others skills bother coming into driving now as its the only way they can make 400 quid a week or more but they have to do how many hours ? how many night out ?
well they deserve all they get in my book, it will not be long before the national minimum wage over takes drivers pay, the only reason driver make a living is because they have to do a weeks and half work in there week compared to other industry’s
but hey you all hear my moans about drivers all the time, you all know it bloody true
still good to have a rant on here about it but it will do nothing at all to change a dam thing
Why do you have to turn everything into an anti CPC rant? The requirements for the job changed, change too or get left behind. It’s the same in any industry, I speak from experience. Maybe you think lorry driving is a special case and exempt from interference.
i dont turn it all into an anti cpc rant
but the cpc thing was the best chance i think the drivers had of standing up together over it
but there is far more things i rant about from eupope who brought in this cpc nonsense and forced us all to have one or not, to the colour of knickers these days worn by male drivers in silk stockings
its just not the same job anymore and the driver that are replacing the old school are a dam sight worse than we ever were.
besides i have a right to rant if i want to, its still a free county so far, where i can have my say, but dont hold your breath on that one lasting long, as if we stay in Europe no doubt even me being able to have my say will not be allowed under European law sub section 10 para 8 which states all Englishmen will have to lose there national identity and be a part of Europe. and work along side all the proud irish, scots, welsh, and polish etc for the good of Europe and for the good of being a good European
in time i will have to give up my home for those people lucky enough to come over here and take the work they can have our homes as well, please dont worry about us as we have the safety net of food banks
as you can see i do rant about more things than just a cpc
Captain Caveman 76:
desypete:
your bang on the button robroy
but then just look at the cpc rubbish, drivers had the best chance of ever standing together on the bolox but what happened ? they all moaned about it but they still went off to get one like the good little boys they are, what were they scard of ? losing a job that pays crap money to a polish driver or worse another driver who might be a smart arse and think let the others make a stand i will get in there quick and steal there job
that is the measure of the men there are in transport today but to be fair its been like that ever since i can remember, i think one day many driver will just get ■■■■■■ off with it all and sod the job off like so many have done these days
in case anyone hasnt noticed there is a huge shortfall in drivers coming into the game the average age for drivers is now getting towards 50, the kids today take one look at whats on offer and head off to other jobs and who can blame them ?
only the mugs who have no others skills bother coming into driving now as its the only way they can make 400 quid a week or more but they have to do how many hours ? how many night out ?
well they deserve all they get in my book, it will not be long before the national minimum wage over takes drivers pay, the only reason driver make a living is because they have to do a weeks and half work in there week compared to other industry’s
but hey you all hear my moans about drivers all the time, you all know it bloody true
still good to have a rant on here about it but it will do nothing at all to change a dam thing
Why do you have to turn everything into an anti CPC rant? The requirements for the job changed, change too or get left behind. It’s the same in any industry, I speak from experience. Maybe you think lorry driving is a special case and exempt from interference.
So tell us all what the CPC has contributed to the business. ■■■■ all, it’s just another way of making up jobs for people who know nothing about anything and making you think it’s a great cert to have.
Driver Certificate of Professional Competence, Sounds good, looks good, is ■■■■ all good.
OVLOV JAY:
I don’t need a union, drivers rep or any brotherhood. I use the tongue I was born with. If things are wrong, I make my point, if nothing changes for the better, I find a job with better T’s and C’s. If nobody swallowed [zb], the job would sort itself out
I wasn’t suggesting we need either an old style militant union, or some kind of brotherhood as you put it, where we all wear cloaks funny hats and stand in a circle and chant .
I agree with your point about speaking up and I do so myself, but as we both know others do not.
Companies only take the ■■■■ because drivers allow them to, no other reason, and many fail to see this.
If there was an element of union in the broader sense of the word, in every company maybe they would not …that was my point.
I aint looking through rosy gregorys, but I do not remember the older guys when I started taking as much ■■■■ as some do today.
I blame hipsters with beards
Bach home:
I blame hipsters with beards
to many drivers who wear glasses in the game today, so its there fault
robroy:
Following on from the Union thread most people say that the unions are this and that, and reps and shop stewards as bad etc etc.
ffs Grow a set and stand up for yourselves, I don’t mean militant Scargill style, or being a compIete arse refusing to do everything, that is even worse.
Ironically Scargill etc was actually the definition of ‘standing up’ to the guvnors notwithstanding the misguided connection with Socialism as part of that.No surprise that it is the employers who had everything to gain by crying ‘militancy’ etc in that case.
IE realistically there is no way for the working class to stand up for itself without being branded as ‘militant’.
desypete:
LIBERTY_GUY:
It not just a driver’s thing, you can find spineless folks in every type of job out there.
Nowadays A lot of people out there think truck drivers are brainless neanderthals.
you only have to read many of the threads on this site to see how that thought comes about
Oh the irony. Brainless to me is jacking a job to go on the dole in some kind of straw man quest to prove… who knows what?
Know what I mean, Phil?
I’ll speak my mind no problem,but you’ll get the odd few who will start telling everyone we should be out on strike over every little thing…how many times did we hear that over the CPC…thing is,those that recommended us all out on strike are the “older” drivers amongst us that,financially maybe have paid off their mortgage,got no kids at home and are financially comfortable where as us “young uns” (yes mid thirties is still young,to me anyway)have mortgages to pay,and kids to provide for and this alone will always be put before “let’s bring this country to its knees and get out on strike”,in the mean time us “young uns” use up our savings,those that have them or struggle and that phone call to everyone that requires our coin every month will never go like this…
“I can’t pay my mortgage,I’m striking to bring this country to its knees to make a point”
Will never be followed by a response of-
“Sure thing Mr lorry driver,you show them and whilst you are forget about your morg/gas/electric bills we’ll cover those for you”
This is also partly why the government would like us all to be homeowners as opposed to living in social housing as you are far less likely to get involved in industrial disputes if you are living in a propert you have a mortgage on,as opposed to living in social housing where realistically the council will not kick you out for missing a few months rent,the mortgage companies on the other hand are not so lenient.
This thread subject is a argument I’ve had at work with a few of the elder statesman of the trucking world,yes I will speak my mind and argue my point but going on strike is out of the question.
Also very few “big” operations run their own transport/warehousing ie sainsburys/tesco ect ect,and every contract has a renewal date,this is also worth bearing in mind.
ckm1981:
I’ll speak my mind no problem,but you’ll get the odd few who will start telling everyone we should be out on strike over every little thing…how many times did we hear that over the CPC…thing is,those that recommended us all out on strike are the “older” drivers amongst us that,financially maybe have paid off their mortgage,got no kids at home and are financially comfortable where as us “young uns” (yes mid thirties is still young,to me anyway)have mortgages to pay,and kids to provide for and this alone will always be put before “let’s bring this country to its knees and get out on strike”,in the mean time us “young uns” use up our savings,those that have them or struggle and that phone call to everyone that requires our coin every month will never go like this…
“I can’t pay my mortgage,I’m striking to bring this country to its knees to make a point”
Will never be followed by a response of-
“Sure thing Mr lorry driver,you show them and whilst you are forget about your morg/gas/electric bills we’ll cover those for you”
This is a argument I’ve had at work with a few of the elder statesman of the trucking world,yes I will speak my mind and argue my point but going on strike is out of the question.
Also very few “big” operations run their own transport/warehousing ie sainsburys/tesco ect ect,and every contract has a renewal date,this is also worth bearing in mind.
Firstly a strike to succeed in a way which has any large scale effect it needs cross industry support in the form of sympathy/secondary action with the intention of lifting terms and conditions and/or protecting jobs across the economy as a whole.Which is what defeated the miners in 1984.
As for the old v young argument if it hadn’t been for people facing up to all the implications of strike action over the years the working class would still be where it was in the 1930’s in real terms.
While it is that change in attitudes which arguably defines the title of the topic.Although to be fair it ‘should be’ spineless working class,at least over recent generations,rather than just picking on one specific trade group.