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You wait ages for one strike then three come along...
Strike to win one
rate for the job
Strike together: 5, 13 & 16 February
One rate for the job across London
The moneys there for decent pay
for everyone
he news Unite has called a further
three 24 hour strikes on London
buses (5, 13, 16 February) will be
welcomed by every driver who wants to
see a serious fight to end the unfair pay
across the capital.
This is our chance to win one rate
for the job. The three strike dates make
it clear to the bus operators, Transport
for London (TfL) and Tory mayor Boris
Johnson that they face a serious fight.
More strikes were the only option for
the union as employers have continued to
refuse to enter into collective talks, despite
the success of our strike on 13 January.
Its clear from the big picket lines
that day that more and more drivers are
getting behind this fight.
The union is winning the war of
words in the press with opinion polls
showing wide support for our cause.
Route
Unite rightly argues there are over 80
different pay rates covering Londons
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.
This is so unjust the drivers case is
unanswerable. Theres one fare rate across
London, why isnt there one pay rate?
There has been a race to the bottom in
London for years. Drivers face low pay,
ever lengthening periods on new starter
rates and victimisation of union reps.
But the money is there to pay for the
evening up of wages.
The latest accounts for the capitals bus
operators show the companies making
combined profits of 171.7 million, with
directors pay totalling at least
7.24 million a year.
Its great that the union is now
mapping out a plan of action.
A one day strike alone was never
going to be enough. An escalation of
strikes will put big pressure on the
companies and also massive political
pressure on Transport for London and
City Hall to step in and sort things out.
TfL and Johnson say its all down to
the companies and the unions to sort
things out. But its clear whose side
they are on.
Johnson is anti-union. He is happy
for the employers to rake in profits at
the drivers expense. TfL showed their
true colours in January when they
stopped drivers using their staff pass on
the strike day!
be the turning point after years of attacks.
It would give heart to every worker
fighting against pay cuts and bullying
bosses. If we win on this issue, well be
in a much stronger position to take on
the bosses over everything else.
Every driver should get behind the
strikes. Mass meetings at garages across
London would keep drivers up to date
with the issues.
Reps should also contact local trade
union branches to encourage them to
bring solidarity to the picket lines.
This fight has to go all the way. Every
driver needs to know that the union is
absolutely determined to win this dispute
and that if the employers wont concede
then theyll face even more action.
A victory now on London buses could
Bus Worker online
Meetings
Divide
Workers on London buses come from all
over the world. UKIP and the Tories want
to divide us, blaming migrant workers
for years of low pay. Labour has failed to
stand up to this racist scapegoating.
But the fantastic picket lines at
London garages show its only when
workers are united they can win.
Busworkers should join the unionbacked anti-racism demo in London on
21 March.
The rank and file paper for bus workers now
has a home online. Visit us for the latest
stories and to have your say:
Blog: busworker.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook: Bus Worker
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