Drivers at London United are set to strike for 24 hours on Monday after voting by 525 to 295 to reject a revised pay offer.
The original offer of 1 percent for this year was rejected. Bosses then offered 4 percent over two years, but have refused to backdate this to April when the pay negotiations should have begun. A driver from London United’s Stamford Brook garage told Socialist Worker, “There is a mood for a strike but its needs leadership. The union needs to step up a gear.”
It is believed that the annual end of year bonus has been withdrawn. In the past this has been worth £400. The driver added, “Management announced that there would be no bonus after the rejection of the second offer. They want to use it to blackmail people not to strike.
“We should not let the company drag out the pay talks towards Christmas.” The strike must go ahead unless there are major improvements to the offer. The firm has garages across west and south west London.
17 Nov 2010
CT Plus strike ends
Strikes by drivers at CT Plus in east London have ended. Details are unclear, but it appears workers have not made gains. Bullying and the use of drivers from other routes run by CT Plus’s parent company helped bosses ride out the action. The union has a very determined group at CT Plus. Patient work needs to be done to win over other drivers to join any action in the future.
11 Nov 2010
15-hour-a-day drivers on strike over “stingy” pay
Around 80 drivers working for Gillingham-based bus company Kings Ferry went on strike on Monday for five hours in protest at what union leaders called its “stinginess”.
Unite says the company, part of the National Express group, has refused to consider a £2 per day pay rise for drivers who routinely work 15-hour shifts; and that the company has reneged on an agreement to attend talks at the conciliation service Acas.
Unite says the company, part of the National Express group, has refused to consider a £2 per day pay rise for drivers who routinely work 15-hour shifts; and that the company has reneged on an agreement to attend talks at the conciliation service Acas.
Metroline seeks to transfer drivers
Drivers at Metroline’s Holloway garage, in north London, are angry at plans to transfer 13 drivers on the W5 route to the CT Plus firm.
Drivers will be expected to move from Holloway, where some have worked for up to 40 years. One driver told Socialist Worker, “The drivers being moved are being sacrificed to a tendering system that encourages undercutting and treats workers as ‘shuttle slaves’ to be moved around at will.”
Drivers will be expected to move from Holloway, where some have worked for up to 40 years. One driver told Socialist Worker, “The drivers being moved are being sacrificed to a tendering system that encourages undercutting and treats workers as ‘shuttle slaves’ to be moved around at will.”
Derisory pay offer at Metroline
Workers at Metroline buses in London are set to vote on a derisory pay offer. Bosses have made two pay offers. The first is a £200 lump sum for this year. The second is a £250 lump sum this year, followed by a one percent pay rise from April 2011.
Metroline can afford decent pay rises. Profits at its parent company, ComfortDelGro, rose by 1.6 percent in the three months to June this year. The Unite union is asking its members to reject the offers. If members throw out the bosses’ proposals the union will then move to ballot for a strike.
Metroline can afford decent pay rises. Profits at its parent company, ComfortDelGro, rose by 1.6 percent in the three months to June this year. The Unite union is asking its members to reject the offers. If members throw out the bosses’ proposals the union will then move to ballot for a strike.
3 Nov 2010
Further strike days in CT Plus dispute
by Mark L Thomas
Drivers at CT Plus struck again on Friday of last week — and announced more strikes in their dispute over pay in Hackney, east London. New strikes were set for Friday of this week and the following three Fridays.
The last of these will be combined with a strike on Monday 29 November — aimed to coincide with a planned strike on London Underground by the RMT and TSSA unions.
One driver told Socialist Worker, “I think the management here are taking advantage of the crisis in the economy.” Another driver chipped in, “But there’s no recession at CT Plus—business in booming. Just look at their website.”
And another said, “I got a newsletter from the company boasting about how well they’re doing, how profits are up. But we don’t see any of it.” The company has imposed a pay “rise” of around 1 percent. The drivers’ are demanding the RPI rate of inflation plus 2 percent.
The strike faces challenges. The company recruited a lot of new drivers before the dispute and has been using controllers to drive buses. Drivers who work on a separate contract on the Olympics site have also been used to cover CT Plus routes on strike days.
But strikers remain determined. Derrick Campbell, the Unite union branch secretary, told Socialist Worker, “Management were surprised when we told them about the new strike days we’re calling. “They had hoped it was finished.”
Drivers at CT Plus struck again on Friday of last week — and announced more strikes in their dispute over pay in Hackney, east London. New strikes were set for Friday of this week and the following three Fridays.
The last of these will be combined with a strike on Monday 29 November — aimed to coincide with a planned strike on London Underground by the RMT and TSSA unions.
One driver told Socialist Worker, “I think the management here are taking advantage of the crisis in the economy.” Another driver chipped in, “But there’s no recession at CT Plus—business in booming. Just look at their website.”
And another said, “I got a newsletter from the company boasting about how well they’re doing, how profits are up. But we don’t see any of it.” The company has imposed a pay “rise” of around 1 percent. The drivers’ are demanding the RPI rate of inflation plus 2 percent.
The strike faces challenges. The company recruited a lot of new drivers before the dispute and has been using controllers to drive buses. Drivers who work on a separate contract on the Olympics site have also been used to cover CT Plus routes on strike days.
But strikers remain determined. Derrick Campbell, the Unite union branch secretary, told Socialist Worker, “Management were surprised when we told them about the new strike days we’re calling. “They had hoped it was finished.”
2 Nov 2010
Bus driver arrest did not add up
A bus driver arrested for pocketing fares has walked free from court after it was shown she had actually overpaid her bosses.
Catherine Bates, 39, was suspended and faced an eight-month legal wrangle after being accused of stealing £21.60. The case cost £10,000 in legal aid fees but was thrown out by Coventry crown court on the first day of the trial after the error was spotted.
Catherine said, "It's been sheer hell. It was always on my mind - even on my wedding day." She plans to take bus firm Travel de Courcey to an employment tribunal and is considering legal action.
http://www.mirror.co.uk
Catherine Bates, 39, was suspended and faced an eight-month legal wrangle after being accused of stealing £21.60. The case cost £10,000 in legal aid fees but was thrown out by Coventry crown court on the first day of the trial after the error was spotted.
Catherine said, "It's been sheer hell. It was always on my mind - even on my wedding day." She plans to take bus firm Travel de Courcey to an employment tribunal and is considering legal action.
http://www.mirror.co.uk
1 Nov 2010
Shares in transport giants rise after spending review
Transport stocks were the main winners from the UK’s comprehensive spending review. Shares rose in the main bus groups after bus operator subsidies were cut by far less than had been feared. The government will cut its rebate on fuel duty by 20 per cent between 2012 and 2015. Expectations had been for a reduction of at least 10 per cent per year, though many thought it could be abolished entirely.
Stagecoach jumped 9.4% on the news, prompting traders to reconsider the possibility of sector consolidation. Shares in Go-Ahead were up 7.7%, FirstGroup rose by 6.4% and National Express rose 4.7%.
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