Thread by @keikoandgilly

I’m gonna lay down a hard #truth for many people, especially the NIMBY kind that calls us “lazy” “militant” union workers; Also hoping @RMTunion retweets this, as there is a point to be made.

WARNING: Human Bile later in thread.

It’s #Oktoberfest2022, (Get Down) Saturday Night. Obviously, the public are out drinking, obviously the more sensible will be using private hire or public transport.

I’m not celebrating, I’m rostered to work it tonight as it’s my job to clean trains. Sadly, we are short staffed.

Mentally: I’m cool, I spoke with my lass, her love and support fresh in my mind, and I am psyching myself up for what I know will be a hard night ahead. We are two people, and we have twelve very messy trains to clean and one left over from day shift.

Again, no problem, day cleaners help us, we help them, it’s our job, we gotta do it, we achieve results together. Now, one particular road comes in, and on all the trains, it’s PACKED with rubbish, beer cans, and bottles: on floor, in bins, on table, drop down tables, and bogs.

And some seats, unfortunately, suffered causalities of human bile.

And to top it all off, to say of the stench that pervaded the cabin, reeked of ammonia, alcohol, fried food, and heaven forfend what we human beings are capable of.

Now, if we were “lazy”, “entitled”, “militant” union members as some NIMBYs, trolls, and the @Conservatives like to paint us, I would have said “NOPE” and just walk out, clock out, and call it a night. Mind you, I would get fired for sure as an AWOL if I did that.

But, I didn’t, I worked with my TPL and hard. A good work colleague of mine even jumped in when he finished his task to assist, and man was I glad he did. Together, we three bagged all the rubbish. This is a haul from ONE train (imagine a road of four of them).

And after dealing with that brand of hell, I got clean spill cloths and extra rubbish bags to clean and contain the seats that had vomit on it while my colleague and TPL wiped tables down, cleaned toilets, and mopped.

The result? My dear passengers, NIMBYs, trolls, and @Conservatives: You will get a fresh train come the morning rush hour, you will be able to sit and enjoy a fresh train ready to take you to your intended destination on a journey.

All that, dear readers, is done on £10 and a bit an hour. Day shift and subcontracted cleaners have it worse.

I assure you, none of us earn anywhere near the U.K. median wage of £25k a year, unless you live in the south of England or work overtime long hours, sacrificing rest.

The good in the public will thank us, and humbly there is no thanks necessary, as it is our pride and passion to ensure a good job for the travelling public.

However, and I stress this especially to the NIMBYS, Trolls, @Conservatives and @annietrev, the transport secretary, thanks does not pay the bills, it does not put food on our plates, it does not pay gas, petrol, diesel, electricity, mobile bills, internet, phone etc.

So when we ask/demand/request/strike/protest for a pay rise, I will tell you right now, WE. EARNED. IT. It is a job you lot do not want to do, why should you lot dictate what our value of worth is?

And this is why we strike, to ensure this govt adequately staffs all part of our railway, and gives us our fair dues to live comfortably, respects our terms and conditions, and invest in our industry as a greener alternative. #SupportRailWorkers