The case of Unite union convenor Abdul Omer, who was sacked by bus company Sovereign, was raised at the London busworkers’ conference last week. The union’s campaign for his reinstatement has stalled and a delegate asked why Unite wasn’t doing more. This got widespread support from other delegates. The chair of the conference agreed to call on Unite officials to write to every London bus convenor updating them on the case. Unite needs to launch a serious campaign win a strike ballot at Sovereign’s two west London garages demanding Abdul’s reinstatement.
The conference also heard from the convenor at the East London Bus Group, which has been taken over by Stagecoach. He told delegates that wages and conditions have been guaranteed for the time being. But any attempt to undermine them in the future would not be accepted.
6 Dec 2010
Stagecoach prepares to swoop on smaller operators
Brian Souter is set to further tighten his grip on the UK’s bus market on the back of buoyant trading for Stagecoach, the transport giant he founded 30 years ago.
The Perth group already handles more than 2.5 million passenger journeys on a daily basis through a network which serves more than 100 towns and cities across the country and it recently splashed out £53 million on a return to the London market.
The Sunday Herald understands that directors are now ready to make use of some £260m of unused debt facilities to snap up smaller rivals which could be especially hard hit by Government moves to cut fuel subsidies and reduce payments for concessionary fares.
Brokers at Deutsche Bank believe the group’s underlying pre-tax profits, due to be announced on Tuesday, may have risen approaching 40% to more than £100m in the first six months of the current year.
However, any significant acquisitions would attract the attention of the UK Competition Commission which is already investigating the bus market and will report preliminary findings next month.
The Perth group already handles more than 2.5 million passenger journeys on a daily basis through a network which serves more than 100 towns and cities across the country and it recently splashed out £53 million on a return to the London market.
The Sunday Herald understands that directors are now ready to make use of some £260m of unused debt facilities to snap up smaller rivals which could be especially hard hit by Government moves to cut fuel subsidies and reduce payments for concessionary fares.
Brokers at Deutsche Bank believe the group’s underlying pre-tax profits, due to be announced on Tuesday, may have risen approaching 40% to more than £100m in the first six months of the current year.
However, any significant acquisitions would attract the attention of the UK Competition Commission which is already investigating the bus market and will report preliminary findings next month.
29 Nov 2010
Ballot for strikes in Brighton & Hove
Workers at Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company balloted last Thursday over the company’s latest pay offer. The Unite union has urged its members to reject the offer and asked them whether they are willing to take industrial action. The company is part of the Go-Ahead Group.
One worker, who wanted to remain anonymous, criticised the company’s insistence on buying buses rather than improving on the 2% pay rise offered to workers. He said: "The bus company is buying buses every year when they plead poverty. “They care more for the passengers than the drivers. Passenger numbers increase year on year, fares increase and traffic and stress increase. The bus company verbally praises the drivers but does not back that up."
Another worker said: “The feeling is this isn’t a fair offer, considering this is a very profitable company. There is a feeling they are not willing to negotiate.”
Workers have already voted to reject the 2% pay rise due next month, claiming it will actually amount to a 2.6% pay cut taking into account rises in the cost of living. The new ballot concerns the latest offer which maintains the level of pay rise but also suggests reducing the working week by one hour and recasting holiday rotas. Unite claims none of the concessions will put money in their members’ pockets.
One worker, who wanted to remain anonymous, criticised the company’s insistence on buying buses rather than improving on the 2% pay rise offered to workers. He said: "The bus company is buying buses every year when they plead poverty. “They care more for the passengers than the drivers. Passenger numbers increase year on year, fares increase and traffic and stress increase. The bus company verbally praises the drivers but does not back that up."
Another worker said: “The feeling is this isn’t a fair offer, considering this is a very profitable company. There is a feeling they are not willing to negotiate.”
Workers have already voted to reject the 2% pay rise due next month, claiming it will actually amount to a 2.6% pay cut taking into account rises in the cost of living. The new ballot concerns the latest offer which maintains the level of pay rise but also suggests reducing the working week by one hour and recasting holiday rotas. Unite claims none of the concessions will put money in their members’ pockets.
25 Nov 2010
Busworkers join Portuguese general strike
The government will vote tomorrow on next year's spending plan – including a 5 percent cut from some public sector salaries, a hiring freeze, and a rise in the VAT from 21 to 23 percent.
Coordinated strike by Australian drivers
New South Wales, Australia
Up to 3,000 private bus drivers are set to take part in a prolonged statewide strike in the lead-up to Christmas.
In a dramatic escalation of a long-running industrial dispute, the union representing the state's four largest private bus companies - Veolia, Busways, Premier Illawarra and Comfort Delgro Cabcharge - yesterday gained permission from Fair Work Australia to conduct a vote on industrial action among drivers.
''Drivers will continue to fight until we get a fair deal - it could be weeks, it could be months,'' a Transport Workers Union official, Michael Aird, said. ''We have been negotiating since April, but there doesn't appear to be any agreement.''
The drivers are demanding a 4 per cent rise each year for three years, and enhanced self-defence and occupational health and safety training. They are also angry about a lack of basic facilities such as toilets and eating areas when they are between runs.
Unlike their state government counterparts who are returned to their depots between trips, private bus drivers are often left in sheds without toilet facilities.
Up to 3,000 private bus drivers are set to take part in a prolonged statewide strike in the lead-up to Christmas.
In a dramatic escalation of a long-running industrial dispute, the union representing the state's four largest private bus companies - Veolia, Busways, Premier Illawarra and Comfort Delgro Cabcharge - yesterday gained permission from Fair Work Australia to conduct a vote on industrial action among drivers.
''Drivers will continue to fight until we get a fair deal - it could be weeks, it could be months,'' a Transport Workers Union official, Michael Aird, said. ''We have been negotiating since April, but there doesn't appear to be any agreement.''
The drivers are demanding a 4 per cent rise each year for three years, and enhanced self-defence and occupational health and safety training. They are also angry about a lack of basic facilities such as toilets and eating areas when they are between runs.
Unlike their state government counterparts who are returned to their depots between trips, private bus drivers are often left in sheds without toilet facilities.
24 Nov 2010
London United drivers accept offer
A planned strike by bus drivers at London United in south west London was called off after workers narrowly voted to accept a new pay offer.
Bosses offered 4 percent over two years, but refused to backdate it to April when the pay negotiations should have begun. As a result the deal was rejected and a one-day strike set for Monday of this week.
Bosses then offered a lump sum of £100 on top. This was put to a consultative ballot with the drivers’ Unite union recommending acceptance. Socialist Worker understands that the vote was 483 to accept, but with a large minority of 383 rejecting it.
The threat of action forced the company to improve its offer slightly, but more could have been won if a strike had taken place. The final deal is significantly below inflation.
Bosses offered 4 percent over two years, but refused to backdate it to April when the pay negotiations should have begun. As a result the deal was rejected and a one-day strike set for Monday of this week.
Bosses then offered a lump sum of £100 on top. This was put to a consultative ballot with the drivers’ Unite union recommending acceptance. Socialist Worker understands that the vote was 483 to accept, but with a large minority of 383 rejecting it.
The threat of action forced the company to improve its offer slightly, but more could have been won if a strike had taken place. The final deal is significantly below inflation.
22 Nov 2010
Unite members elect new leader
Len McCluskey has been elected the next general secretary of Unite, the country's largest trade union.
Just over 15% of the 1.57-million membership voted in the four-way leadership race, which was seen as a battle between McCluskey and Bayliss, his fellow assistant general secretary.
Unite members opted for McCluskey, a former dock worker and centre-left candidate, over Bayliss. Bayliss raised eyebrows on the eve of the TUC conference – at which unions vowed to mount a mass campaign of action to defend public services from government cuts – by declaring that public sector strikes would turn unions into the "bad guys".
McCluskey's victory heralds a leftwing leadership that will be at the forefront of moves to oppose government cuts.
He secured around 101,000 votes, with Jerry Hicks, a popular grassroots leftwing activist, coming in second on 52,000 votes. Bayliss was pushed into third place on 46,000 votes while Gail Cartmail, assistant general secretary with responsibility for public services, came fourth, with 39,000 votes.
Derek Simpson, formerly of Amicus, retires as joint leader next month. Tony Woodley, formerly of the T&G, will step down next autumn.
Just over 15% of the 1.57-million membership voted in the four-way leadership race, which was seen as a battle between McCluskey and Bayliss, his fellow assistant general secretary.
Unite members opted for McCluskey, a former dock worker and centre-left candidate, over Bayliss. Bayliss raised eyebrows on the eve of the TUC conference – at which unions vowed to mount a mass campaign of action to defend public services from government cuts – by declaring that public sector strikes would turn unions into the "bad guys".
McCluskey's victory heralds a leftwing leadership that will be at the forefront of moves to oppose government cuts.
He secured around 101,000 votes, with Jerry Hicks, a popular grassroots leftwing activist, coming in second on 52,000 votes. Bayliss was pushed into third place on 46,000 votes while Gail Cartmail, assistant general secretary with responsibility for public services, came fourth, with 39,000 votes.
Derek Simpson, formerly of Amicus, retires as joint leader next month. Tony Woodley, formerly of the T&G, will step down next autumn.
17 Nov 2010
Metroline drivers reject below inflation pay
At Metroline in north London bus workers have massively voted to reject their pay offer. Bosses offered either a £200 lump sum for this year, or £250 this year, followed by a 1 percent pay rise from April 2011. Ballot papers are due to be sent out over the next couple of weeks. Workers should vote for hard hitting action.
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