LONDON — Carrying signs saying, “Don’t blame your drivers, blame our bosses,” striking bus drivers picketed the Westbourne Park Garage Sept. 1.
Some 2,000 drivers, engineers and controllers, members of Unite the Union, walked out for two days at seven London United depots and the Westbourne Park depot of London Transit. Both companies are owned by First Bus.
The dispute covers a range of issues. “We had a successful 11-day strike two years back to protect our wages against price rises,” Unite Branch Secretary Rob Higginson told the Militant. “But this year the company announced it intends to base inflation on the lower consumer price index rather than the more accurate retail price index.
“They’ve also announced changes to our schedules, meaning we can end up working eight days straight. Another issue is a two-tier arrangement. It takes newer drivers 36 months to get on the negotiated wages, terms and conditions.”
“They get 2 pounds an hour [$2.70] less for doing exactly the same job,” picket supervisor Meli Angelo said. “We’re going out again Sept. 12-14.” The strike hit 71 bus routes here.
“We anticipate being joined by another 1,000 brothers and sisters who work for London Sovereign — also owned by First Bus — but have a different pay review date,” Higginson added.