Bus strike

SUPPORT FLOODING IN FOR BUS DRIVERS

Stagecoach bus drivers have stepped up their action in the fight to improve their wages. A mass meeting rejected Stagecoach's offer which refused to back pay any increase to June 1st 2011 and voted to strike on 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th February and to follow this up with further strikes if management do not produce a reasonable offer. 

Other bus driver Unite branches are recognising the importance of this dispute. A Barnsley union representative said, "We are expecting delegations to our next strike from other areas, as far away as Ayrshire."

Bus drivers attended a meeting of Barnsley Trades Council on Wednesday to explain details of their case. Delegates were shocked to hear how Stagecoach had refused to negotiate over the wages until after eight days of strike action. A driver said, "Stagecoach took us over six years ago and we've had very little increase in our wages." Delegates were disgusted when the Unite representatives explained that they did not want their names mentioning because of the harassment they had suffered from management. Managers have caused a number of arguments with pickets over minor issues and have attempted to tell union officials how they should report issues to the members.

A bus driver said one of the few good things about management turning up was that they looked very tired at five in the morning. "They hate it when we strike on a Saturday, it spoils their weekend."

Barnsley Trades Council delegates pledged support to the drivers. An FBU rep told how he had boarded a Stagecoach bus by mistake on the first strike day. He asked the driver why he was scabbing. "He told me he wasn't a scab, he was a manager. I told the rest of the bus passengers that the driver was a scab, that I would not travel on a scab bus and was getting off. A load of other passengers got off with me!" It has been noticeable that on strike days very few passengers are using Stagecoach buses. On routes where other companies run as well there have been many examples of passengers ignoring Stagecoach and waiting for rival buses. A number of people have been to the picket line and said that they were in the miners' strike and would never use a bus driven by a scab.

The UCU rep told the Trades Council that Barnsley College lecturers had given money to the hardship fund because they had been through a hard dispute themselves. "When we had to fight to save a job at our college we were boosted by support we received from other unions. That gave strength to our members to fight on until we succeeded. We want the bus drivers to see that they can win like we did."

A Unison convenor said, "We in the public sector have had a strike over pensions. We have lots of other fights facing us. But we need to link workers in the public and the private sectors. Your fight is important to all of us."

The Trades Council voted to organise a demonstration in Barnsley on the next strike day, Saturday 4th February. Supporters are asked to assemble at 10.30am at the Jumble Lane crossing end of the bus station where the pickets stand during the day. It is hoped that all the local unions will turn out in support and that there will be union branches from around the area turning up with banners. After a rally at the picket line there will be a march through Barnsley town centre and a final rally in Peel Square. The Unite reps were keen to see this support.

Money to the bus strikers' hardship fund is coming in from a number of workplaces and unions. This is helping to support those members who are struggling to make ends meet with the frequent strikes.

Messages of support should be emailed to Barnsley Unite branch secretary Tony Rushforth at a-rushforth@sky.com. Cheques should be made payable to TGWU 9/9 Barnsley and sent to A Rushforth, 45 Tune Street, Wombwell, BarnsleyS73 8PX

George Arthur