Sure way to kill off support from the public...Radio Forth wrote:BUS DRIVERS STAGE WILDCAT STRIKE
Hundreds of drivers with Lothian Buses are holding wildcat industrial action. They've been pulling off their routes and heading back to depots. It's the latest development in the long-running dispute over pay. Today's action follows a letter sent to staff by management which appears to call for a ballot on next week's strike.
Bus Strike
http://www.forth1.com/Article.asp?id=16202
And now Mr Poppy's Ma has reported that the strike is off
Bus Drivers - the real reasons behind the dispute
I was a bit sorry to read some of the earlier criticisms of the bus drivers dispute - I for one totally back their fight for better pay and conditions, as I would for any workers, and have been along to their picket line at Seafield to show support. And yes I am dependent on Lothian Buses to get me to work....but it was about far more than the salary - please read this article for another view - I declare in advance it is from Socialist Worker, but it does put another perspective on things - often the mainstream media only tells us what the bosses who own these papers want us to read....read on please. This is from last week's paper and I am aware a deal is on the table, although not guaranteed to be accepted ofcourse, but I wanted to try to add another view to this ..... I too love the quiet when the buses aren't running, but also the quiet on Christmas day when hardly anything including the hundreds of cars going past my window, are resting for once!
from
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/articl ... le_id=7001
Bus workers fight for decent pay and against long hours
by Raphie de Santos
LOTHIAN REGION bus workers were set to strike for two days this weekend following their first strike earlier this month.
After nearly four months of negotiations bus drivers finally lost patience with the council, which is the employer.
On Monday 18 July, they held a 24-hour strike which T&G union branch chair Peter Williamson said had 100 percent support across the region.
This was followed by a ban on overtime for the duration of the dispute, which means that the council will have to introduce a Saturday service during the normal Monday to Friday working week.
Every year around 20 percent of drivers leave because pay is so poor that the only way to make a living is to work masses of overtime.
A current standard working week of 39 hours brings a salary of £15,800.
However, the dispute is really about the council trying to impose new conditions on the entire workforce.
The council has offered a 5 percent wage increase with strings attached.
The T&G wants just over 6.1 percent with no strings attached. The strings that the council have attached are to do with the introduction of more single decker buses.
Currently existing double decker drivers are allowed to work a maximum of 4.5 hours without a break.
A newly recruited single decker bus driver can work a maximum of 5.5 hours without a break.
They want to impose the conditions for single decker drivers on all the region's bus drivers for both existing double decker and new single decker drivers.
So instead of needing five drivers to cover one bus shift, the region will only need to have two or three.
from
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/articl ... le_id=7001
Bus workers fight for decent pay and against long hours
by Raphie de Santos
LOTHIAN REGION bus workers were set to strike for two days this weekend following their first strike earlier this month.
After nearly four months of negotiations bus drivers finally lost patience with the council, which is the employer.
On Monday 18 July, they held a 24-hour strike which T&G union branch chair Peter Williamson said had 100 percent support across the region.
This was followed by a ban on overtime for the duration of the dispute, which means that the council will have to introduce a Saturday service during the normal Monday to Friday working week.
Every year around 20 percent of drivers leave because pay is so poor that the only way to make a living is to work masses of overtime.
A current standard working week of 39 hours brings a salary of £15,800.
However, the dispute is really about the council trying to impose new conditions on the entire workforce.
The council has offered a 5 percent wage increase with strings attached.
The T&G wants just over 6.1 percent with no strings attached. The strings that the council have attached are to do with the introduction of more single decker buses.
Currently existing double decker drivers are allowed to work a maximum of 4.5 hours without a break.
A newly recruited single decker bus driver can work a maximum of 5.5 hours without a break.
They want to impose the conditions for single decker drivers on all the region's bus drivers for both existing double decker and new single decker drivers.
So instead of needing five drivers to cover one bus shift, the region will only need to have two or three.
-
Hiboz
Re: Bus Strike
Presumably you chose to live there?Epykat wrote:Could we have more of the same please? I've thoroughly enjoyed my two days of relative peace and quiet. We've been able to listen to the telly, stand beside the window without being stared at by the entire top deck of the 26 and the teenagers have been able to eat their chips in comfort without having to share with people waiting for a bus. I think we should make it a regular occurrence.
Quit moaning.
-
Pal of Porty
- Posts: 2136
- Joined: 30 Sep 2004, 13:41
- Location: Old Folks Home
- Contact:
Re: Bus Drivers - the real reasons behind the dispute
Management/Owners are not always wrong!Carla wrote:- I for one totally back their fight for better pay and conditions, as I would for any workers.....
Justice delayed is justice denied.
Re: Bus Drivers - the real reasons behind the dispute
She didn't say that. She's just sticking up for her side, as I'm sure the CBI do for theirs whilst admitting that workers are not always wrong.Pal of Porty wrote:Management/Owners are not always wrong!Carla wrote:- I for one totally back their fight for better pay and conditions, as I would for any workers.....
-
Pal of Porty
- Posts: 2136
- Joined: 30 Sep 2004, 13:41
- Location: Old Folks Home
- Contact:
Re: Bus Drivers - the real reasons behind the dispute
Your interpretation is totally correct - although I cannot see what the CBI has to do with my point - I would equally disagree with any statement they made in a similar vein.Dadaist wrote:She didn't say that. She's just sticking up for her side, as I'm sure the CBI do for theirs whilst admitting that workers are not always wrong.
Justice delayed is justice denied.
Re: Bus Strike
We live here because we paid all our poll tax and council tax and so we can't afford to live anywhere else..........Hiboz wrote:Presumably you chose to live there?
Quit moaning.
Enough of your nonsense - get back to the Play Pen!
Re: Bus Drivers - the real reasons behind the dispute
I've been along to show my support too. There were about 9 or 10 picketers standing around a placard. I drove past and I guess I was going a little bit faster than I ought to have. The picketers waved and gestured for me to stop but I made like I hadn't seen them and drove on regardless.Carla wrote: I for one totally back their fight for better pay and conditions, as I would for any workers, and have been along to their picket line at Seafield to show support. .
Looking back in my rear mirror I got a definite sense of oneness with my comrades, they appreciated my demonstration of support. As surely only they could.