First Cymru strike hits hard

Bus drivers and engineers at First Cymru are on strike today across South and West Wales. Picket lines were solid in Pontardawe, and in Port Talbot only one driver crossed into work. Cars beeped their horns in support, and there was solidarity from postal workers.
Maesteg depot closed with 100 percent support for the strike. One picket told Socialist Worker, "The BBC are putting out that we earn £27,000 a year and have turned down a 5 percent offer. But that’s rubbish. Last year I earned less than £17,000 and that is with overtime. The offer we voted against was for 1 percent this year and 2 percent next year with strings attached”.
At a picket of over 20 at Ravenhill, Unite branch chair Ray Thomas said, “People have not had a decent pay rise for years and drivers are on very low wages. “We don’t want to hurt customers but this is the only way left. There will have to be more action to win.”
Send messages of support to r.thomas33@ntlworld.com
Report by Sarah Ensor, Tim Evans, Jeff Hurford and Huw Pudner
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk