72k is a ridiculously good salary': Debate erupts over Tube driver wages

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"Independent readers are split over this week's Tube strikes and the 72,000 starting salary for drivers. While some saw the package as generous and questioned the industrial action, others said it's simply not enough to live in London, echoing Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union. Many readers questioned whether such a salary, plus pensions and perks, is fair for a job that mostly involves operating doors and driving trains, especially compared with nurses, teachers, and junior doctors."

"Some went even further and suggested the introduction of driverless trains, nodding to the success of the DLR. Meanwhile, supporters of the strikes pointed to high living costs and the London housing market, arguing workers are entitled to pay that keeps pace with inflation, emphasising the role of unions in securing fair conditions. Overall, readers were divided, balancing criticism of perceived union overreach with support for workers seeking equitable pay in an expensive city."

The Independent requests donations to fund on-the-ground reporting across issues such as reproductive rights, climate change and Big Tech while keeping reporting free from paywalls. The organization emphasizes parsing facts from messaging and sending journalists to speak to both sides of stories. Readers are split over this week's Tube strikes and the 72,000 starting salary for drivers. Some view the package as generous and question industrial action; others say the pay is insufficient to live in London, compare it with other professions, suggest driverless trains, or support strikes citing high living costs and inflation.

Read at www.independent.co.uk