Blogging driver warned by SMRT

• trainotaku

  27 Dec 11, 17:13

  

  A blogging MRT train driver, who have gone by the name of Gintai, has been given a letter "advise" by his employers, SMRT, to stop commenting on company matters.

  When I told my No: 1 at TNM Crew station that I started a blog some time ago, he asked me if I could make money out of it? What’s the point of wasting my time writing blog posts? I retorted that at least I would have left something behind if I were gone tomorrow whereas he would have left nothing without any legacy. He smirked and snickered at my remark. 

  Alas! HR got wind of it. In no uncertain terms, I was “advised” to refrain from commenting on company matters. A letter of “advice” will be issued to me. My hands are now tied. No more blogging on my job or SMRT related matters.

  I do not wish to break my rice bowl.

  I hope the above will clarify my status quo. Henceforth, I shall still continue with blogging but on other interests or subjects leaving out my job aspect to avoid infringing company’s policy and incur the wrath of those gods up there.

  Gintai has been given insights into train operations. An example of his recent post shared insights about being a SMRT train driver.
  
  Gintai's blog also saw increased readership to the blog with the recent train breakdowns and a MP misquoted statement on language proficiency or rather the lack of it because of race.
  
  SMRT's action in giving a letter of "advise" to Gintai would gather more backlash from the online community. Most of these netizens will soon start to clamour how SMRT's actions including limiting freedom of speech and expression of the Internet space.
  
  Instead, SMRT should have taken this opportunity to work with this blogging community to reach out to the online community to spread information about the transport company. For example, they should have approach this driving blogger to find out drivers can be encouraged to take the initiative to help passengers during emergencies.

  Thomas Friedman wrote in his recent column that in the age of social media "the role of the leader now is to get the best of what is coming up from below and then meld it with a vision from above". This is something SMRT should take into heavy consideration moving forward.

• sbst275

  27 Dec 11, 17:15

  anything is ok, but not into commenting of ops and other related stuff..

  there's still a limit onto wat's era of social media

• watson374

  27 Dec 11, 21:39

  London Underground staff blog - some District line drivers set up a forum.

• charlize

  27 Dec 11, 21:43

  Work already so stressful.

   

  Why blog about it?

• The man who was death

  28 Dec 11, 00:30

  now smrt do what, ppl will buay song

• Jacky Woo

  28 Dec 11, 01:04

  Originally posted by The man who was death:

  now smrt do what, ppl will buay song

  well. smrt can make pple song again by replacing the ah lian CEO auntie for a start

• Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1)

  28 Dec 11, 09:34

  y gt aaron tan pic?

• dangerboi

  28 Dec 11, 15:15

  poor guy....

• charlize

  28 Dec 11, 23:24

  Why not smrt workers blog about sbst?

   

  Sbst workers blog about smrt?