tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42926946137179697192024-03-13T01:08:30.723+00:00busworkerBusworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.comBlogger489125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-8632054944216319672015-06-15T11:55:00.001+01:002015-06-15T11:55:12.216+01:00Bradford bus drivers settle dispute with First<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An eight-day strike by bus drivers in Bradford has been called off after they reached an agreement with their employer.<br />In April, 380 bus drivers walked out for 48 hours in a dispute with First in Bradford over job losses. Unite had warned of a further eight day strike if crunch talks with the company failed this week.<br />But yesterday, members based at the Bowling Back Lane depot voted 215 to 38 to accept a new agreement, which was drawn-up after two days of talks earlier this week. Mohammed Taj, the branch secretary for Unite in Bradford, said: "We've worked together to reach an agreement that has been strongly accepted by our members.<br />It was agreed after the talks that depot members would be given full consultation over any future potential job losses at the Bradford site.<br />Union members were also given reassurances by First over its commitment to the city after the company announced it would invest £2 million to bring 12 low emissions buses to Bradford from next month. The promise followed union criticism about the level of investment in the company's fleet.<br /><a href="http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/13329723.UPDATE__Bradford_bus_drivers_settle_dispute_with_First_to_avoid_further_strike_action/">http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk</a></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-18126676704196759802015-04-27T11:09:00.001+01:002015-04-27T11:09:42.536+01:00Strike causing 'massive disruption' in Bradford<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1LWS_vXztWpmULrom_w-uwt5gFr29eLdqbqGy1lvbfM3LxIapIDmLKeO7v4SqBJMvNM-56TpEwNOxf8U1iNUtTAG3QB3hCb45_0X0DSpt_jcA9nslM6IvfziIsMfBu7ld-MiiwQ6qTHu/s1600/bradford+bus+strike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1LWS_vXztWpmULrom_w-uwt5gFr29eLdqbqGy1lvbfM3LxIapIDmLKeO7v4SqBJMvNM-56TpEwNOxf8U1iNUtTAG3QB3hCb45_0X0DSpt_jcA9nslM6IvfziIsMfBu7ld-MiiwQ6qTHu/s1600/bradford+bus+strike.jpg" height="236" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">380 bus drivers are on strike in Bradford today. The 48-hour walkout started at 1.30am after crunch talks broke down on Saturday.<br />Unite union members says the primary reason for the action is the transfer of part of the 576 bus service from Bradford to Halifax which it says has cost eight jobs. But First deny this allegation.<br />Mohammed Taj, Unite branch secretary, said more than 200 people had joined the picket lane at the First Bradford depot in Bowling Back Lane today, including Bradford West parliamentary candidate George Galloway.<br />"It is going well," said Mr Taj. "As far as we are concerned we are absolutely rock solid… There is a lot of support, lots of people are backing us. People are pipping their horns."<br />A spokesman for First said the company was running skeleton service of 15 buses in Bradford, covering main routes. He said the strike was causing "massive disruption", and added: "We would like to bring the dispute to a close as quickly as possible."<br /><a href="http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/12915135.Bus_strike_causing__massive_disruption__in_Bradford/">http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk</a></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-71160646552461629472015-04-22T12:18:00.001+01:002015-04-22T12:18:33.967+01:00First Bradford: drivers vote to strike over depot row<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Drivers at First Bradford are due to walk out for 48-hours next week in a row over service cuts.<br />The dispute centres on the transfer to the Halifax depot of part of the 576 bus service from Bradford to Halifax, with the claimed loss of eight jobs. The 380 bus drivers at the First Bradford depot, members of Unite, plan to strike all day on Monday and Tuesday. The drivers voted by 89 per cent for strike action and by 93 per cent for industrial action short of a strike.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /><b>Running down</b><br />Unite had accused the company of running the bus depot down with the intention of closing it in the future. The union also claimed there was “bullying and harassment on a daily basis”.<br />Unite regional officer Harriet Eisner said: “This blinkered management has let services wither on the vine over the last four years – for example, the number of drivers employed has shrunk from 470 to 380 in that time... There is a big shortage of drivers with no recruitment of new drivers and this is coupled with the movement of jobs without consultation from Bradford to other towns.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/business/business-news/drivers-to-strike-over-bradford-and-halifax-depot-row-1-7219422">http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk</a><br /><br />Talks at ACAS between the union and the operator are due to begin tomorrow.</span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-22275474686784844522015-04-14T10:42:00.000+01:002015-04-14T10:42:08.099+01:00Oxford: Unite calls off strike for vote on new pay offer<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Yesterday drivers at Oxford Bus Company had planned to strike over pay, but it was called off after a revised offer. Workers were demanding a four per cent pay rise but the operator was only offering three per cent.<br /><a href="http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/12883800.Monday_s_Oxford_Bus_Company_strike_called_off/">http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk</a><br /><br /></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-74365604527866800442015-04-08T11:50:00.002+01:002015-04-08T11:50:45.724+01:00RIP Abdul Omer Mohsin, 1952-2015<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><i>By Roger and Sarah Cox
</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Abdul arrived in Britain on a stretcher, a starved four stone wreck after the defeat of the Sudanese Communist Party in the 1970s. He had been a student organiser for the party and was part of a student uprising that was crushed. He was tortured by the police. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Harrow </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Abdul was a man of considerable audacity, skill and experience. He became a bus driver in Harrow and it was not long before he won the position of Unite union rep. Very quickly he organised the branch, involving the other drivers. He understood the importance of fighting and winning on seemingly minor issues like facilities for prayers and meal breaks, as well as major issues like wage equality. Abdul stood out among bus reps as a fighter, always wanting to have a go, even if sometimes it might not be the best thing to do. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Socialist </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">He joined the Socialist Workers Party he said, because the comrade standing outside his garage week after week selling Socialist Worker and giving out leaflets reminded him of himself in his youth. When Nazis tried to protest in Harrow he mobilised bus workers to join the anti-fascist demonstration in their uniforms. It was a great example of how to organise joint action. Before long he faced opposition from management and he was victimised. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Tribunal</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The process of industrial tribunal hearings and securing support from Unite exhausted him and took their toll. Abdul suffered a heart attack followed by the loss of kidney function and suffered increasing ill health until last week when he passed away. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Passion </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">He studied engineering and during his illness returned to another passion. He designed and tried to create an interest in his schemes for harnessing tidal power. This is what was so important about Abdul—to the end he was always a fighter, not just for better conditions in the daily grind of our working lives, but also to build a better world for us all.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/40291/Abdul+Omer+Mohsin+1952-2015">http://socialistworker.co.uk</a></span></div>
Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-1083117983886157872015-04-08T11:32:00.003+01:002015-04-08T11:32:39.926+01:00London’s bus companies agree to talks <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Bus drivers in London could be striking again soon if talks fail between Transport for London (TfL), bus operators and Unite. The talks are set for Thursday of this week. </span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Drivers at the capital’s 18 bus operators struck twice earlier this year demanding an end to unequal pay and sector wide negotiations. After months of the employers refusing to talk action by the drivers and pressure from their union has at least forced the bosses and TfL to sit round the table. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">If nothing progresses from the talks more strikes will need to be called to rebuild the momentum lost since the last strike in February. </span><br />
<a href="http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/40283/London%E2%80%99s+bus+companies+agree+to+talks"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> http://socialistworker.co.uk</span></a>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-18936777107986937882015-03-27T22:47:00.000+00:002015-03-27T22:47:16.678+00:00South Yorkshire: strike ballot over pay<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bus drivers at First in Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster are balloting for strikes over pay. The workers rejected bosses’ offer of a pay freeze this year<br /><a href="http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/40223/Transport+round-up">http://socialistworker.co.uk</a></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-83768496881589303022015-03-27T22:43:00.000+00:002015-03-27T22:43:05.729+00:00Abellio drivers vote to strike over broken promises<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unite union members at five Abellio bus depots in London are set to ballot for strikes after bosses reneged on the second year of two-year pay deal. Drivers at Battersea, Beddington, Hayes, Twickenham and Walworth depots voted by 528 to 12 for strikes in a recent consultative ballot. Meanwhile at Metroline bosses are attempting to force through new contracts and at Tower Transit workers are resisting attacks on the union.</span><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/40223/Transport+round-up">http://socialistworker.co.uk</a></span></div>
Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-56033627655220917972015-01-29T13:45:00.000+00:002015-01-29T13:45:22.815+00:00London-wide bus strikes escalate<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Unite announced three more 24 hour London-wide bus strikes yesterday. The stoppages are on Thursday 5 February, Friday 13 February and Monday 16 February. They follow a continued refusal by London’s 18 bus operators to enter into collective talks over ending pay disparities. A 24 hour strike in January saw bus services across the capital brought to a standstill as over 20,000 bus workers walked out. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>One rate for the job </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Unite regional officer Wayne King said: “Bus passengers pay one fare, so why don’t bus drivers get paid the same rate for doing the same job? We urge London’s bus operators to see sense and collectively engage in talks to give London’s bus workers a fair deal.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">In contrast to tube drivers, there isn’t one collective pay deal for bus drivers in the capital, whose pay is negotiated on a company by company basis leading to pay inequality and disparities. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">There are over 80 different pay rates covering London’s bus drivers, doing the same job, even driving the same route but for different rates of pay. Drivers’ pay can differ by £3 per hour, from £9.30 to £12.34.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/london-bus-talks-urged-as-more-strike-dates-are-announced/">http://www.unitetheunion.org</a></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-32538935352450505732015-01-14T11:48:00.000+00:002015-01-14T11:48:17.217+00:00London bus strike hits back at the bosses<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Lines of buses remained parked in garages across London on Tuesday as over 20,000 drivers struck to demand better pay. Commuters faced delays, and tube and rail services were overcrowded. Transport for London (TfL) urged Londoners to “walk or cycle where possible” as bus services ground to a halt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Power</b><br />The walkout showed the collective power that workers have to win their pay dispute with the capital’s 18 bus operators and TfL. And it showed there’s an alternative to submitting to the Tories and the bosses—or waiting for Labour.<br />The workers, in the Unite union, are demanding an end to pay disparities where 80 different pay rates see over £3 an hour difference across the companies. Bus companies have refused to enter collective negotiations.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Impact</b><br />Mostafa, a Unite rep at Putney garage in south west London, told Socialist Worker, “We’re totally solid. Bosses will be afraid of the impact we are having.”<br />Picket lines were huge, noisy and multicultural. At Abellio’s Fulwell garage in Twickenham some 60 pickets chanted “United we stand, let’s strike together” in Polish, Vietnamese, Nepalese, Somali and English.<br />Drivers blocked scab buses and desperate bosses even called police. The lively pickets demonstrate the overwhelming support among drivers for the walkout. But they also prove the perfect antidote to the anti-migrant racism of the likes of Ukip.<br />Mostafa explained that many underlying reasons other than pay made the strike so well supported. <br />“Drivers face bullying managers, long hours and unfair treatment. It’s all about profits rather than providing a public service,” he said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Ransom</b><br />Right wingers attacked the turnout for the strike ballot, with the Tories using the opportunity to renew calls to curb the right to strike. They say London is being held to ransom by a militant minority. Yet even TfL and Tory mayor Boris Johnson could only try and claim that a third of bus services were running. In fact TfL claimed just 44 out of 673 bus routes ran a normal service.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Years</b><br />The dispute has been years in the making. Companies have driven down pay to squeeze more profit from the public subsidy that TfL gives for running bus routes. This has created a two-tier workforce. <br />As pay stagnates, the cost of living continues to rise.<br />“It’s about time!” said Jay, a driver for Tower Transit in north west London. “Over 20,000 drivers in London are out for equality... There’s only one winner with inequality and that’s the bosses. This is the first time I’ve seen a collective strike across London.” <br />Westbourne Park driver Patrick told Socialist Worker, “I feel like I’ve got a big family —that’s a powerful feeling.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /><b>Unequal</b><br />Mike Weston, TfL’s director of buses, justified unequal pay by insisting that “bus drivers have different skills and experience”.<br />Mostafa said this was “nonsense”. He said, “We all do the same training for the same job—it’s the same skills that are required... The companies are just cutting back to save money.”<br />The bus operators’ latest accounts show combined profits of £172 million, with directors pocketing £7.24 million a year. That’s public money that could be invested in the bus service. It’s money that could bring down fares and raise pay so that drivers get the same rate across the city.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Escalate</b><br />Bus drivers have the power to win this dispute, but Unite now needs to escalate the strikes. Tower Transit rep Hanafi told Socialist Worker that union organisation is crucial to beating the bosses.<br />He said, “If you don’t fight for it, you can’t win it. <br />“They are never going to hand it on a plate to us—that’s why we’ve all got to back each other up now.”<br /><i>Some workers’ names have been changed. </i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art/39743/London+bus+strike+hits+back+at+the+bosses">http://www.socialistworker.co.uk </a></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-84081048447942906212015-01-07T11:40:00.000+00:002015-01-07T11:40:18.546+00:00London-wide bus strike called for 13 January<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Unite has announced that up to 27,000 bus workers will be taking part in a London wide bus strike on Tuesday 13 January. The historic 24 hour stoppage is in response to the continued refusal by the capital’s 18 bus operators to enter into talks about a single London-wide agreement covering bus workers’ pay, terms and conditions.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Disparities</b><br />In contrast to tube drivers, there isn’t one collective pay deal for bus drivers in the capital, whose pay is negotiated on a company by company basis leading to pay inequality and disparities. There are over 80 different pay rates covering London’s bus drivers, doing the same job, even driving the same route but for different rates of pay. A refusal by the bus operators to address the issue has led to pay gaps of over £3 an hour for new starters opening up, with pay varying from £9.30 to £12.34 an hour depending on the company.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Companies</b><br />Unite represents over 27,000 bus workers working for 18 bus companies who serve Greater London. These are: Arriva North, Arriva South, Selkent, London General, Metroline, Metroline West, Metrobus, CT Plus, London United, Abellio South, Abellio West, London Sovereign, Stagecoach, Blue Triangle, Northumberland Park, Tower Transit, Docklands and London Central.<br /><a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/londons-bus-workers-strike-over-unfair-pay-disparities/">http://www.unitetheunion.org</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Pickets will be from 3.30am, with a peak time from 5am-9am. They will be big and lively. Please visit your local garage to show your support. A list of them can be found here: <br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bus_garages_in_London">http://en.wikipedia.org</a><br /><br /></span></div>
Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-79714227560179711042015-01-03T16:09:00.000+00:002015-01-03T16:09:07.970+00:00London: Tower Transit drivers strike for two days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyJf_n7zdrKTUJSsLlgoiqBmhqIUqNoV_A99rT47mC6_wYT5Bwu3ScgwsRzncvQXnuMCw1pUCFtG1S8dlLuTmyCMihI_FLYYNqCyyi0DrTYG0A85oQ0appbxsIWcWXk8xHux8sSy7bq5D/s1600/tower-transit-picket-line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyJf_n7zdrKTUJSsLlgoiqBmhqIUqNoV_A99rT47mC6_wYT5Bwu3ScgwsRzncvQXnuMCw1pUCFtG1S8dlLuTmyCMihI_FLYYNqCyyi0DrTYG0A85oQ0appbxsIWcWXk8xHux8sSy7bq5D/s1600/tower-transit-picket-line.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
Drivers at Tower Transit's Lea Interchange garage in East London struck for 24 hours on Monday 29 December in a dispute over pay and conditions. <br />The Unite members action hit 13 routes. A union spokesperson said: "Faced with an increasingly hostile management which is hell bent on driving down the pay, terms and conditions, our members have been left with little option but to take the unusual step of striking... Tower Transit need to get back around the negotiating table and start treating its workforce with respect." <br />The industrial action is the first strike over the dispute, with a second 24-hour walkout planned for Monday 5 January. <br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-30612808">http://www.bbc.co.uk</a><br /><br /><div>
Tower Transit is a relative newcomer to London. It was formed when Transit Systems (a transport group based in Australia) bought up the Atlas Road, Lea Interchange and Westbourne Park garages from FirstLondon (a subsidiary of FirstGroup) in 2013.</div>
Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-27122271305126910872014-12-18T16:32:00.000+00:002014-12-18T16:32:49.429+00:00London's bus drivers vote 85% for strikes<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">London’s bus drivers have overwhelmingly backed industrial action in a dispute over unfair pay disparities between the capital’s 18 bus operators, their union Unite announced today. <br />The vote in favour, which averaged 85 percent across the 18 companies, raises the prospect of a London wide bus strike in the new year if the operators refuse to enter talks about the formation of a single London wide agreement covering bus workers’ pay, terms and conditions. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>A widening pay gap</b><br />A refusal by the bus operators to address the issue has led to pay gaps of over £3 an hour for new starters opening up with pay varying from £9.30 to £12.34 an hour depending on the company. As well as strike action members also backed action short of a strike by 89 per cent.<br />Unite represents over 27,000 bus workers working for 18 bus companies who serve Greater London. These are: Arriva North, Arriva South, Selkent, London General, Metroline, Metroline West, Metrobus, CT Plus, London United, Abellio South, Abellio West, London Sovereign, Stagecoach, Blue Triangle, Northumberland Park, Tower Transit, Docklands and London Central.<br /><a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/london-bus-drivers-back-strike-action-to-end-unfair-pay-disparities/">http://www.unitetheunion.org</a><br /></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-62051331026691384342014-12-15T10:30:00.000+00:002014-12-15T10:30:45.457+00:00Arriva London strikes suspended for talksDrivers at Arriva North and Arriva South buses in London were due to strike tomorrow over pay. This has now been suspended for talks at ACAS. Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-14199999453886052272014-12-12T12:01:00.001+00:002014-12-12T12:01:34.494+00:00Arriva London drivers to strike on Tuesday<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">On Tuesday 16 December over 3,000 Unite members at Arriva North and Arriva South buses in London are set to strike for 24 hours over pay. They were offered just 1.85 percent by the operator. <br />The vote for action was a massive 86 percent. Please come and show your support on the picket lines. Here is the list of garages: <a href="http://www.arrivalondon.com/ourgarages">http://www.arrivalondon.com/ourgarages</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">This action follows recent pay settlements at London United (5 percent over 18 months), Stagecoach (2.5 percent) and London Sovereign (£700 lump sum for the first year and 4 percent for the second year)</span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-28158970163263663192014-12-03T17:55:00.001+00:002014-12-03T17:55:41.964+00:0020,000 London bus drivers in strike vote over pay<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Over 20,000 bus drivers across London’s 18 bus operators began voting today on whether to strike over pay disparities across the capital’s buses – in a campaign to secure a London-wide agreement covering pay, terms and conditions. <br />In contrast to London's metro drivers, there is not one collective pay deal for bus drivers in the capital, whose pay is negotiated on a company by company basis leading to pay inequality and disparities between drivers driving the same routes. <br />A refusal by the bus operators to address the issue has led to pay gaps of over £2 an hour for new starters opening up with pay varying from £9.30 to £11.46 an hour depending on the company.<br />The ballot of the members of Unite closes on Thursday 18 December, raising the possibility of strike action in the new year if London’s bus operators continue with their refusal to enter talks. A consultative ballot in November saw 96 per cent of members indicate they would be willing to strike.<br /><a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/london-bus-drivers-in-strike-vote-over-farcical-pay-disparities/">http://www.unitetheunion.org</a></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-85373092172738130752014-11-06T16:32:00.001+00:002014-11-06T16:32:36.849+00:00Three fires on London buses this week<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">A bus caught alight in Mitcham, south-west London at 12.26pm today. It is the third such incident in the capital this week. It took firefighters half an hour to extinguish the blaze on Western Road. It follows fires on buses in Barnet on Monday (after a collision with a car) and Wallington on Wednesday (apparently due to the rear brake seizing).<br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-29938715">http://www.bbc.co.uk/29938715</a><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-29913960">http://www.bbc.co.uk/29913960</a><br /></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-9815931982542010502014-11-06T10:27:00.002+00:002014-11-06T10:27:55.660+00:00London drivers want to strike to end inequality<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">An overwhelming majority of bus drivers across London’s 17 operators have said they are willing to take strike action to end ‘glaringly unfair’ pay disparities across the capital’s buses in a campaign to secure one London wide agreement covering pay, terms and conditions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The consultative ballot run by their union, Unite, saw 96 per cent vote in favour of action as frustration mounts over the ‘farce’ of 17 separate pay negotiations.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Collective </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">In contrast to tube drivers, there is no one collective pay deal for bus drivers in the capital whose pay is negotiated on a company by company basis leading to pay inequality and pay gaps of over £2 an hour for new starters. Starting rates for drivers vary from £9.30 to £11.46 an hour depending on the bus company.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The consultative ballot paves the way for a formal industrial action ballot of London’s bus drivers if the Capital’s bus operators continue with their refusal to establish a collective negotiating forum that covers the pay and conditions for all London’s bus drivers.</span><br />
<a href="http://uniteresist.org/2014/11/london-bus-drivers-willing-to-take-strike-action-to-end-pay-disparities-warns-unite/%20"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">http://uniteresist.org</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-52112756872067969892014-10-06T10:36:00.000+01:002014-10-06T10:36:36.811+01:00Bedford: Stagecoach strike suspended after new offer<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Plans for bus workers to strike in Bedford this week have been called off. Drivers had voted to go on strike after negotiations over pay with Stagecoach East broke down. However the industrial action has been suspended following further talks with management.<br />Members of Unite will now be balloted on a restructured pay and conditions package, which has been recommended for acceptance by the union, on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. <a href="http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/BREAKING-Bus-drivers-strike-action-new-pay-offer/story-23026791-detail/story.html">http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk</a></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-51326664619555492732014-10-01T11:07:00.002+01:002014-10-01T11:07:47.112+01:00Bedford: Stagecoach drivers vote to strike over pay<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Unite has announced its members will strike between 3-9am on Monday 6 October and the same time on Wednesday 8 October after negotiations over pay with Stagecoach East broke down. <br />The strike will be carried out by 250 drivers and engineers angered by the company’s offer of a less than three per cent rise for June 2014 - June 2015.<br />Unite regional officer Steve Linger, said: “Stagecoach East offered a two-year deal which amounted to a real terms cut in wages, following a below inflation pay increase last year, and the year before... This latest offer does nothing for our members and their families struggling with the cost of living crisis.<br />“The company has consistently refused to enter into meaningful and constructive negotiations, leaving our members with no alternative but to strike in support of their claim.<br />A spokesperson for Stagecoach East said: “We are disappointed the Unite union has called for strike action over a 2.2 per cent pay deal which was accepted five months ago by employees at other depots within the company... We are due to meet representatives from the union today (Wednesday)."<br /><a href="http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/Bus-drivers-strike/story-23019770-detail/story.html">http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk</a></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-17532496784609675752014-10-01T10:52:00.000+01:002014-10-01T10:52:30.388+01:00Wigan: Stagecoach drivers strike against attack on conditions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJp2wTTDPYttXG3_KSfF7bEVI75Ll-diSFN5Sr-1MVoyDgOVmchjFK5mC2mTidDvqnlzSCukmm9OMZIhN0O4PySAfxasXx-WqGS-71cG5KM8Iu-37WDbWexyLqWWCEPK-zU1OBnc8MFC9/s1600/wigan-stagecoach-strike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJp2wTTDPYttXG3_KSfF7bEVI75Ll-diSFN5Sr-1MVoyDgOVmchjFK5mC2mTidDvqnlzSCukmm9OMZIhN0O4PySAfxasXx-WqGS-71cG5KM8Iu-37WDbWexyLqWWCEPK-zU1OBnc8MFC9/s1600/wigan-stagecoach-strike.jpg" height="283" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The pickets were out on Saturday at the Stagecoach depot in Lockett Road, Bryn, when the first of four planned walk-outs took place. That’s because the area’s biggest operator is threatening to scrap existing “hard won” job deals. Stagecoach operates more than 90 bus services - including school contracts ferrying hundreds of pupils - per day.<br />Company chiefs insist they have contingency plans in place to beat the industrial action, although they concede that a “small number of routes” face a reduced service. This includes drafting in managers with public service licences to drive the routes in place of picketing drivers.<br />But Unite union officer John Boughton said that although staff regretted potential disruption of passengers and commuters, drivers were determined to maintain existing rostering, allocation and scheduling Stagecoach took on when it brought the Wigan First Group operation recently. Further strikes are planned for October 8 and 14.<br /><a href="http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local/bus-services-hit-by-new-strike-1-6869810">http://www.wigantoday.net</a></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-79582612951389254942014-09-18T11:02:00.000+01:002014-09-18T11:02:07.977+01:00London bus workers march for equality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVHXsfX2xmrTy0hMRzD-lCrN7z2qcXXvv4Ssv8ia09OU1xmbhaD5y3cSF8wKBqWBKBy3bfEItiOZ387VkPfpty-G-bWiv1UExq2hnmssSFtuqI9L3Tab0UsGnsxXjhX6I-Lq5sCH7VfYb/s1600/bus-drivers-london-demo-sw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVHXsfX2xmrTy0hMRzD-lCrN7z2qcXXvv4Ssv8ia09OU1xmbhaD5y3cSF8wKBqWBKBy3bfEItiOZ387VkPfpty-G-bWiv1UExq2hnmssSFtuqI9L3Tab0UsGnsxXjhX6I-Lq5sCH7VfYb/s1600/bus-drivers-london-demo-sw.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Over 150 bus workers marched in central London on Thursday of last week in protest at unequal pay and conditions. The Unite union, which represents the workers, is demanding joint negotiations with over a dozen companies over conditions in London’s bus garages.<br />“New drivers are being let down by these companies,” said Mohammed, a driver at Willesden garage. “They’re squeezing everything they can out of them.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Slashing pay</b><br />Since privatisation in the mid-1990s London bus workers have seen their conditions attacked. Intense competition for lucrative routes has boosted profits and slashed workers’ pay.<br />Workers within the same company can now be on several different rates of pay. A Unite rep from north west London told Socialist Worker, “Some companies won’t let new starters progress to higher pay levels. “But why shouldn’t they get the same as experienced drivers? ...They’re picking up the same people and doing the same job.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Fiddling terms</b><br />One driver from Silvertown garage in east London told Socialist Worker, “In my garage drivers can be paid up to £4 an hour difference... Whenever a company takes over they fiddle our terms. I used to work for First but now it’s Go Ahead. When they took over they got rid of final salary pensions.”<br />A driver from Lea Interchange was clear what needs to happen, telling Socialist Worker, “We need to strike—the bosses have to know we mean business.” United action can win. In 2012 solid strikes forced bosses to pay a £500 bonus for working during the Olympics. However many believed more could have been won.<br />If Transport for London can force all companies to introduce cashless payments they, and company bosses, can be forced to negotiate one rate for the job across the capital.<br /><a href="http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/38970/Bus+workers+call+for+strikes+over+unequal+pay">http://socialistworker.co.uk</a></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-48626117022394006222014-08-05T12:51:00.000+01:002014-08-05T12:51:13.203+01:00New Stagecoach CEO rakes in £2.27 million<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Stagecoach Group chief executive Martin Griffiths 'earned' £2.27 million for his first year in the top job. The company's annual report shows his salary and performance-related bonus was £600,000 – while the value of long-term shares he received was £597,311.<br />He also received his bonus in full after Stagecoach matched its profit target of £214m. Griffiths was promoted to the top job in May 2013 after Brian Souter decided to step back from day-to-day management of the company he founded.</span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-83873730096067367482014-06-30T10:58:00.000+01:002014-06-30T10:58:08.303+01:00Engineers at First Glasgow vote to strike over payEngineers at Commonwealth Games bus operator First Group Glasgow have overwhelmingly rejected a 1.2% pay offer for 2014-15 after a consultative ballot, prompting Unite to re-serve notice of impending industrial action to the employer.<br />The latest offer was tabled before Unite members’ following ACAS negotiations last week. However, the new offer – which amounts to a small increase of less than £6 a week for day shift operatives – was kicked-out by a majority of 145 to 3.<br />
<br />
<b>Boss doubles his pay</b><br />Anger among the workers increased in the aftermath of ACAS negotiations when it was revealed First Group Executive Tim O’Toole saw his pay award double to £2 million for 2014-15, while other directors enjoyed pay rises worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.<br />Unite regional industrial officer Eddie Duffy said: “This resounding rejection by the First Glasgow engineers should serve as a wake-up call to the company and the local managing director, Fiona Kerr.<br />“Last week’s revelations that executive pay at First Group shot through the roof while our members were being consulted on a meagre 1.2% pay offer proved the final straw for a proud workforce that is steeped in the best traditions of the Glasgow bus industry.<br />
<br />
<b>In your face </b><br />
“For years they have worked through below-inflation pay awards to help sustain the company’s Glasgow operations but with such pay disparity being so publicly flaunted when many of our members are struggling to keep up with the basic cost of living, its little wonder anger is intensifying.<br />“Our message to Fiona Kerr and First Group is this: to avoid strike action, come back with a fair pay offer that meets the expectations of this workforce because it’s clear the finance is there to do so.”<br /><a href="http://union-news.co.uk/2014/06/bus-workers-strike-rejecting-6-pay-rise-boss-doubles-pay-2m/">http://union-news.co.uk</a><br />Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292694613717969719.post-24742825082443917142014-05-29T11:12:00.000+01:002014-05-29T11:23:27.975+01:00Brazil: wildcat strikes continue in four cities<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bus drivers demanding higher wages and better benefits have continued a partial strike in four Brazilian cities, including two host cities of the World Cup, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. Commuters experienced delays in both cities on Wednesday as about a third of bus drivers refused to work.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The ongoing strike was organized by a group of drivers who disagree with a recent deal struck between their union and their bus company.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><b>Strike wave</b><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Brazil has recently seen a series of protests and strikes for better wages and working conditions ahead of the World Cup and elections scheduled for October.</span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On May 26, Brazil’s national football team was forced to pass through 200 striking teachers when heading for the squad’s hilltop tournament training camp.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> Wasted billions</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hundreds of Brazilian protesters took to the streets of Sao Paulo on May 24 to express their anger at the huge expenses of the World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games to be hosted by the country.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Brazil’s police forces also went on strike in 14 states on May 21.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Critics say the billions being spent on the sports event should be invested in better health, education services, transportation, and housing for Brazilians</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/05/29/364594/bus-drivers-continue-strike-in-brazil/"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">http://www.presstv.ir</span></a></span>Busworkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526039324659829416noreply@blogger.com0