10/05/2012

London Bus Drivers Balloted Over Strike Action

In an escalation of a row over pay during the Olympic’s, thousands of bus drivers in London are to vote on whether to take strike action.

Unite said it had given 21 bus companies operating in London notice of its intention to ballot up to 21,000 of its members in the capital next week.

The union has asked for a £500 payment to recognise the "massive increase" in workload during the Games.

Transport for London has called for a resolution with minimal disruption.

The union said 800,000 extra passengers were expected to travel on buses during the Games.

It added that other transport workers, including those on London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railways, Network Rail and Virgin, would receive hundreds of pounds in extra payments during the Olympics.

Unite's general secretary Len McCluskey told BBC Radio 5 live that workers "had a right to join in on additional revenue at a time of increased stress".

"What is wrong with the bus companies who are going to earn millions of pounds additional revenue, what's wrong with them saying 'we're going to give a little bit of that to our workers'?"

(H)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

11 February 2015
London Bus Drivers Postpone Strike Action
Planned strike action by London bus drivers has been postponed as an "act of goodwill". The strike action was due to take place on Friday and Monday, with drivers walking out across the city's 18 bus companies. Unite the union has called on the bus companies to accept an invitation for talks.
11 May 2012
London Underground Workers Welcome Olympic Payment
Unite members working for London Underground have welcomed an £850 Olympic payment. There had been extensive negotiations over the working arrangements attached to the deal and to whom the payments should apply. Unite represents hundreds of engineering, electrical, power control and management workers employed by London Underground Limited.
25 February 2008
Guilty Verdict In Bus Stalker Trial
Levi Bellfield has been found guilty of the murders of two women in the trial dubbed the 'Bus Stalker' killings. Bellfield was found guilty of the murders of Amelie Delagrange, 22, in August 2004 and Marsha McDonnell, 19, in February 2003, following nearly six days of deliberation by the jury at the Old Bailey.
19 February 2008
Jury Sent Home In 'Bus Stalker' trial
The jury in the murder case dubbed the 'Bus Stalker' killings has been sent home following a second day of deliberations. Levi Bellfield, 39, from west London, is accused of offences against five different women.
10 September 2015
Bus Operators To Share Clean Bus Technology Funds
Funding is being offered to bus operators across England to equip buses with emission cutting technology and offer passengers better journeys.