Bus workers in the Unite union will be striking across London today despite a last minute court injunction that hoped to halt the industrial action. Disruption will began around 3.00am and will finish at the end of the night shift on Saturday 23 June.
A judge ruled today that the action could not go ahead while, incredibly, stating that he’d publish his reasoning next week! The Unite union has taken a brave decision to press ahead with the strike in all but three of the twenty bus companies in the capital despite this baffling ruling which they described as “an affront to democracy”.
On Friday more than 20,000 employees working for London bus operators, backed strike action by a solid 94 per cent on a higher turnout than that which elected Mayor Boris Johnson. The strike concerns payments during the Olympics where bus workers will be expected to shoulder long hours and a higher workload.
Olympic awards have already been agreed for the following workers, but bus workers’ bonuses are up in the air, despite the Mayor declaring that they should have one to ensure smooth transport during the Games:
- Heathrow Express workers: £700
- Network Rail: £500
- Docklands Light Railway: £900
- Virgin Rail: £500
- London Overground: £600
- London Underground: At least £850
- BAA staff, up to £1,200
According to TfL’s annual report the top seven staff at the organisation are in line to cash in on two years of annual bonuses worth £560,000 which equates to £80,000 each if the system runs smoothly during the Olympic Games yet the drivers, who some might think were more essential to a bus service, have not yet seen a similar “appreciation” from TfL.
Strike!
The last time London bus workers went on strike was in 1982 in solidarity with nurses union NUPE
The last London-wide bus strike took place in 1982 in solidarity with striking nurses.
London regional secretary, Peter Kavanagh, said “Bus workers across the vast majority of London’s bus network will be on strike tomorrow. This comes despite an injunction which was given without any proper explanation. It begs the question of whether the court has come under any external pressure in making the ruling. Granting an injunction in the face of a massive vote for strike action is an affront to democracy. We are fast becoming a country where justice rules in favour of big business and tramples on the rights of ordinary working men and women.”
Peter Kavanagh, continued “London buses will come to a standstill for the first time in a generation across London on 22 June. The blame lies squarely with the bus operators and TfL. The bus companies haven’t met with Unite once to discuss bus workers’ extra contribution to the Olympic games and TfL has refused to intervene.
“This dispute could be resolved at a stroke but if the bus companies and TfL continue to do nothing Unite will call further strikes up to and during the Olympic Games.
“Bus workers are on the frontline of London’s transport system dealing with millions of passengers yet all TfL has done so far is insult them. TfL’s Leon Daniels, who earns £234,000, accused bus workers of being ‘reprehensible’ even though he himself is in line for a £80,000 bonus tied to the Olympics.”
Mayor and TfL
Mayor Johnson has not met with the union over the dispute who has written to him twice since September in order to get round the table.
TfL urged passengers in a statement to use other transport options, or to walk or cycle where possible. “The average bus journey is around 2.2 miles so many of these journeys could be made in this way. During the course of the strike bus passes will be accepted on reasonable alternative routes on Tube, DLR, and London Overground.”
Check before you travel at tfl.gov.uk/buses
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