Comments on: MTA approves TFL deal, but some Londoners object

By: Think twice

Think twice — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:44:41 +0000

I’m loving the comments Londoners are posting on the UK articles on this topic.

Their comments are more or less favorable toward the Oyster Card, but they rail (get it) against the Tube’s expensive fare, the Zone system, it’s lack of 24-hour service, and of air conditioned “carriages”.

By: Transit Boy

Transit Boy — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:50:36 +0000

This is better than the previous guy, who hired a 20something former student of his to be a General Manager.

By: Benjamin Kabak

Benjamin Kabak — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:00:13 +0000

So you’d rather pay McKinsey consultants $500 an hour for the same work? TFL has engaged in subway consulting before, and they come cheaper than the high-priced consultant boutiques.

And Trust me, from a labor perspective, no one – not management, not the TWU workers – wants McKinsey to start evaluating the efficiencies of the New York City subway system.

By: Benjamin Kabak

Benjamin Kabak — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:59:03 +0000

They’re coming in to help with technological innovations and integrating new technologies into a 105-year old subway system. Management and union negotiations don’t figure to be a big part of the TFL-in-New York package.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:58:25 +0000

It seems like what they’re being brought over to deal with is more to do with the technical side of things than with labor relations, though I could be wrong.

For what it’s worth, it seems like this Bob Crow character is a bit cantankerous about everything – see some of the comments from this post to a London Underground blog about the MTA-TFL deal, for example:

Despite … the usual rants from Bob Crowe who seems to be ignoring the fact that this will raise money for the tube, this is not the first time London Underground has offered consultancy services to other networks.

…

Anyhow, I suspect that Bob Crowe might be worried that we will import some US working practices into the UK – such as the fact that it is illegal for NY Metro workers to go on strike.

By: Boris

Boris — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:58:21 +0000

At least these cronies are transportation professionals, which can’t be said about most of the previous cronies. Which is the difference between getting paid well to do what benefits the many and getting paid well to do what benefits the few.

By: Working Class

Working Class — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:53:13 +0000

We don’t need them this is a blatant example of taking care of your cronies for big money the same way everyother MTA head has done.

By: Boris

Boris — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:40:03 +0000

How did New York end up so far to the left of Socialist England that we need their people to teach us management and union negotiations?