Wednesday 24 June 2009

Rubbish collection

Just another working day...

The driver sits in the cab of the rubbish truck, and never gets out. He simply drives the truck. He's always Greek. The other two chaps riding on he back are the ones who do all the dirty work. Their work is always outside, they wear masks gloves, and they're nearly always foreigners (economic migrants).

rubbish collection

When we visited London, we had the opportunity to live in a flat and watch everyday activities going on from below our street level residence. My husband was surprised to see a driver and his colleague both sharing the job of collecting the rubbish.

I used to take it for granted that this kind of democratic relationship between workers only existed in English-speaking countries...

9 comments:

  1. ways of the world...
    in mumbai too the driver will just hang around while the guys work behind.

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  2. Where I live, only Hispanics are construction workers. But our trash is automated, and there is only a driver.

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  3. It happens here as well. There are neighbourhoods where smaller vehicles are sent. These look like common small trucks. Both the driver and the second worker get off the vehicle and make their rounds.

    I am just thinking that if you operate a larger vehicle it is probably impractical for the driver to get off the cabin to help. Don't forget that today it is probably very likely to examine the possibility that someone attempts to hijack the truck!!! :-D :-D

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  4. And I'm sure the economic imigrands are glad to have a job, our world can be very cruel, even in the most democratic countries things are not what they seem to be.

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  5. so true rigani, i would have to agree

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  6. I prefer the English model of sharing the work.
    Aloha friend

    Comfort Spiral

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  7. In the UK now the driver doesn't get out and the workers won't even empty the bins if they are not left in the right place.

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  8. This is a very interesting observation. Both get out here but I admit I had to wait for the drop to observe this.

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  9. In our area in London the driver of the truck never gets out either. There are always two guys at the back who hop on and off and manage the rubbish bins. Not sure if the driver is English, but the guys at the back are usually black and, I suspect, economic migrants.

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