Bus drivers strike over Games pay
STRIKING bus drivers lay down in a main road during emotionally charged industrial action on Friday.
Unite said support for the 24-hour stoppage among its members at 17 bus companies was "solid", with picket lines mounted outside depots across the capital.
-
STRIKE: The bus drivers have said they want to be taken seriously by TfL.
This included 300 strikers outside the Arriva depot in Brighton Road, South Croydon, who were on the scene from 3am on Friday to 3am the following day.
Tensions ran so high at one point that some passionate strikers lay down in the road in protest at colleagues who had decided to ignore the walkout.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
Croydon's union rep Paul Willott, 38, has worked for the bus company for 15 years and said they had decided enough was enough.
He added: "We have had a load of support from the public.
"We want what the tube workers, the trains, the DLR workers; we want what they're getting over the Olympics. We want to be heard."
Joseph Brennan, 52, who has worked for the company for three years, said: "I think it's grossly unfair that other transport workers are given bonuses but we are not, when will be doing most of the work during the summer.
"TfL always bows down to the tube drivers and gives them what they want but they take from us.
"We have had enough and are determined to be taken seriously."
Comments
by RecFan
Friday, June 29 2012, 2:49PM
“He added: "We have had a load of support from the public".
Obviously they don't bother reading this forum!”
by anotherbear
Friday, June 29 2012, 2:24PM
“I caught the 468 night bus home early Sat 23nd June and the driver dragged out the journey from 45 mins to and hour and a half, just to highlight the issue. He kept stopping for 10 mins at a time and turning the engine off just to wind everyone up.
Unbelievable way to treat your fare-paying customers. After all, the customers have done nothing wrong and yet we get the inconvenience.
I find most bus drivers incredibly rude and discourteous to their customers. Now I have zero respect too.”
by NHSExec
Friday, June 29 2012, 12:30PM
“@bagpus123
"Thatcher's Britain"?
So the 1970s were a time of reasoned Union behaviours and never any of them trying to hold anyone to ransom in order to getincreased pay and conditions?”
by bagpus123
Friday, June 29 2012, 12:23PM
“No not in croydon, but as london tax payers we will be paying for it for years to come”
by swsquires1
Friday, June 29 2012, 12:03PM
“300 strikers? Surely that is more than the expected increase in numbers on Croydon buses during the Olympics, or did I miss something and the Olympic stadium is actually in Croydon...”
by bagpus123
Friday, June 29 2012, 10:53AM
“Thats the world we live in unfortunetly,from bankers to footballers,pop stars etc you get what you can, thatchers britain comes home to roost”
by NHSExec
Friday, June 29 2012, 10:37AM
“The argument seems to be "it's not faaairr, they're getting something and we're not, it's not fairrrrr!" It sounds much like the sort of argument one of my daughters would have come out with at about age 10.
NHS London workers are also not getting an olympic bonus, despite obviously having more people from all around the world in the city. Perhaps all the A&E staff should go on strike as they are not getting something the transport staff are getting.
They get paid to do a job, so get on an do it. Last I checked they didn't receive less pay if the buses were empty, so why more if they are full?
Just usual Union nonsense. Are some bankers greedy? Yep, but then so are these Unionised transport staff as well.”
by bagpus123
Friday, June 29 2012, 10:06AM
“Well yes there are plenty of eastern europeans who would do the job at a cheaper rate if thats what you want”
by PeterNT
Friday, June 29 2012, 9:41AM
“If they can't accept the terms of their employments which DOES NOT include a bonus for doing their job during busy periods I suggest they resign as there are many unemployed people who would willingly step in.”
by RecFan
Friday, June 29 2012, 8:09AM
“They're luck they have a job. If they don't like the terms and conditions laid down by their employment contract then they can resign.
They're no more than parasites who aim to bully their employers by causing maximum inconvenience to their passengers. If they had any principles they wouldn't strike. Rather, they should take the buses out and not collect any fares. That would get their employers attention!
As an employee group they are an embarrasment to Britain. The world is watching how Britain hosts the Olympics and these clowns add no value by their personal greed and stupidity.
Anyway, how much more busy are the buses going to be around Croydon during the Olympics?”