Bus passengers are shocked after learning a large section of the bus network around Aberystwyth is to be scrapped. A depot in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, and stations in New Quay and Lampeter and Dolgellau could shut on 21 December following a consultation with staff. That would mean the cancellation of buses 20, 40, 40C, 50, 585 and X94 from the same date.
Arriva Buses Wales blamed public transport funding and fuel costs. Up to 46 jobs could be lost. Ceredigion council said it was not made aware of the possible cuts before the announcement was made and called for changes. The Welsh government said it was "naturally disappointed" by Arriva's proposal but it was a "commercial matter for the company".
http://www.bbc.co.uk
13 Sept 2013
Cheshire: drivers to strike once a week for a pay rise
Bus workers at Network Warrington have started the first in a series of strikes in a dispute over pay. Staff at the bus company have been told there will be no pay rise for them this year, for the first time in 16 years. Network Warrington is an unusual operator in that it is run by the borough council.
The drivers say the action has also been taken because of their concerns about the way the company is being run. They will walk out one day a week for the next seven weeks in a move which has paralysed the majority of the buses. The next strike will be on Saturday 21 September.
3 Sept 2013
Paraguay: sacked drivers crucify themselves in protest
Eight Paraguayan bus drivers, who were reportedly fired from their jobs after demanding better pay and conditions, haved nail themselves to crosses in Luque, a town north of the capital, Asuncion.
The men have been lying nailed to crosses through their hands for 23 days, and have vowed to continue their protest until they are reinstated. Union leader Juan Villalba, one of the drivers crucified, said they would not give up their protest until all are reinstated. Mr Villalba claimed they had been sacked after asking for overtime pay, medical insurance and state pension contributions.
The drivers' wives are also taking turns to be nailed to crosses alongside their husbands. One appealed to the country's president to come witness their "inhuman situation". "I am joining in today. Tomorrow it will be another mum, and the following day it could be another, because we have to defend our rights," she said.
The manager of the Vanguardia bus company, Aufredi Paredes, said five of the drivers would be re-hired, but the group are refusing to return until all eight are reinstated.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
The men have been lying nailed to crosses through their hands for 23 days, and have vowed to continue their protest until they are reinstated. Union leader Juan Villalba, one of the drivers crucified, said they would not give up their protest until all are reinstated. Mr Villalba claimed they had been sacked after asking for overtime pay, medical insurance and state pension contributions.
The drivers' wives are also taking turns to be nailed to crosses alongside their husbands. One appealed to the country's president to come witness their "inhuman situation". "I am joining in today. Tomorrow it will be another mum, and the following day it could be another, because we have to defend our rights," she said.
The manager of the Vanguardia bus company, Aufredi Paredes, said five of the drivers would be re-hired, but the group are refusing to return until all eight are reinstated.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Guernsey: CT Plus drivers to strike this week
Guernsey's bus drivers have voted for a two-day strike in a dispute over working hours. The action, to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, was agreed at a meeting on Sunday evening.
Unite official Bob Lanning said he was not at the meeting but he would be talking to drivers in the hope of avoiding the industrial action. Mr Lanning, who is based on the mainland, is flying to the island later on a pre-arranged visit to discuss the drivers' ongoing dispute.
In a statement the operator CT Plus said: "This action is unilateral and has not been conducted through or supported by the union, with whom we have been consulting and negotiating."
Drivers previously took industrial action for one day in June and called off a planned weekend strike.
http://www.bbc.co.uk
A report on Sunday's meeting
Bus drivers said the move was not about money but was ‘an act of desperation’ against unethical working rotas and health and safety issues. A total of 25 of the 43 drivers attended Sunday night’s meeting at which 23 voted to strike and two abstained. The majority of other drivers are thought also to be in support, however.
Drivers say they are often working from 6.30am to 9.30pm with a five- or six-hour break in the middle for which they do not get paid. Alternatively, some drivers are working 12-hour shifts with breaks of only 30 minutes.
http://www.thisisguernsey.com
Unite official Bob Lanning said he was not at the meeting but he would be talking to drivers in the hope of avoiding the industrial action. Mr Lanning, who is based on the mainland, is flying to the island later on a pre-arranged visit to discuss the drivers' ongoing dispute.
In a statement the operator CT Plus said: "This action is unilateral and has not been conducted through or supported by the union, with whom we have been consulting and negotiating."
Drivers previously took industrial action for one day in June and called off a planned weekend strike.
http://www.bbc.co.uk
A report on Sunday's meeting
Bus drivers said the move was not about money but was ‘an act of desperation’ against unethical working rotas and health and safety issues. A total of 25 of the 43 drivers attended Sunday night’s meeting at which 23 voted to strike and two abstained. The majority of other drivers are thought also to be in support, however.
Drivers say they are often working from 6.30am to 9.30pm with a five- or six-hour break in the middle for which they do not get paid. Alternatively, some drivers are working 12-hour shifts with breaks of only 30 minutes.
http://www.thisisguernsey.com
14 Aug 2013
Jersey bus workers to strike for five days
71 workers at LibertyBus (run by CT Plus) will strike for five days this month – in a bid to get a sacked colleague reinstated. The strikes will be from 22 to 24 August and 27 to 30 August.
Nick Corbel, Unite regional officer, said the 66 drivers and five other staff felt very strongly about the driver's dismissal. They had previously voted overwhelmingly, in two separate ballots, for strike action over a decision by LibertyBus to sack two drivers and the imposition of excessive shift patterns.
Mr Corbel said the case of the second driver had been settled and talks about the shift patterns were continuing with the guidance of the Jersey Advisory and Conciliation Service.
http://www.bbc.co.uk
Nick Corbel, Unite regional officer, said the 66 drivers and five other staff felt very strongly about the driver's dismissal. They had previously voted overwhelmingly, in two separate ballots, for strike action over a decision by LibertyBus to sack two drivers and the imposition of excessive shift patterns.
Mr Corbel said the case of the second driver had been settled and talks about the shift patterns were continuing with the guidance of the Jersey Advisory and Conciliation Service.
http://www.bbc.co.uk
26 Jul 2013
Jersey: bus workers to strike over shifts and sackings
Bus workers employed by CT Plus have voted to strike over new shift patterns and the dismissal of drivers. A 24-hour strike was held on 30 December by bus drivers working for the previous operator Connex. CT Plus took over the island's service on 2 January.
The company also took over Guernsey's bus services last year. Drivers there staged a one-day strike on 10 June over concerns about new shift patterns. Further strikes were averted after the company agreed to make changes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk
The company also took over Guernsey's bus services last year. Drivers there staged a one-day strike on 10 June over concerns about new shift patterns. Further strikes were averted after the company agreed to make changes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk
19 Jul 2013
First Midland drivers balloted for strikes
Bus drivers in Worcester could strike during the first day of the school summer holidays. 149 First Midland drivers in Worcestershire and Herefordshire are being balloted over the prospect of a walkout because of changes to their working conditions. Unite says its members didn’t agree to them, and it has left them worse off.
According to Unite, the drivers’ working weeks have dropped from 39 to 37 hours, and they now don’t get paid for carrying out ‘walk around’ checks of the vehicles. Should they vote to strike, the earliest they could down tools would be on Monday 22 July.
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk
According to Unite, the drivers’ working weeks have dropped from 39 to 37 hours, and they now don’t get paid for carrying out ‘walk around’ checks of the vehicles. Should they vote to strike, the earliest they could down tools would be on Monday 22 July.
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk
9 Jul 2013
South Africa: indefinite strike over nepotism
Metrobus drivers began an indefinite strike in Johannesburg yesterday. The SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) says drivers are demanding the suspension of Metrobus's acting managing director. The union wants Lawrence Maqekoane investigated for allegedly violating company policies.
They’re unhappy about the use of a behavioural assessment policy in the company’s recruitment process – fearing it could be open to manipulation, and it's raising concerns of possible nepotism. Samwu wants him out of office so he can't interfere with the investigation. Hundreds of commuters were forced to use taxis, with Metrobus operating at less than 20 percent capacity.
http://www.enca.com
They’re unhappy about the use of a behavioural assessment policy in the company’s recruitment process – fearing it could be open to manipulation, and it's raising concerns of possible nepotism. Samwu wants him out of office so he can't interfere with the investigation. Hundreds of commuters were forced to use taxis, with Metrobus operating at less than 20 percent capacity.
http://www.enca.com
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