Bus strike

[Chippy Minton]

Loz - Unite have already considered the cost And how can it be an "extra ongoing pay rise"? It's a one off payment for the Olympics!

[Loz]

Chippy Minton Wrote:

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> Loz - Unite have already considered the cost And

> how can it be an "extra ongoing pay rise"? It's a

> one off payment for the Olympics!

I thought it was illegal to try to demand companies pay for strike action pay lost?

Anyway, my last line should have read...

Striking for an extra ongoing pay rise at least has a cost/benefit. But this strike (for a one off bonus) just seems like union muscle flexing, which probably explains the low turnout.

[Chippy Minton]

I guess because they are asking for the extra it isn't illegal, but I'm not a lawyer!

As for the low turnout, I don't think it's explained by "union muscle flexing", it's just simply a sad reflection on the country's current apathy with regard to voting.

General Election, local election, referendum - you name it, no matter what it is, people in this country don't turnout to vote like they used to.

PS

If the government allowed more modern/flexible voting methods for this sort of thing (e-mail, SMS, workplace ballots etc) - like the unions are campaigning for - there would be higher turnouts for all ballots. But the ConDems aren't going to allow that though are they!

[the-e-dealer]

Turn out was low vote in favour was very high %100 at one Garage! . I dont see how we can assume anything about those who didnt vote. Maybe compulsory voting would settle it.

[Loz]

Chippy Minton Wrote:

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> General Election, local election, referendum - you name it, no matter what it is, people in this

> country don't turnout to vote like they used to.

But they do vote in the X Factor. Says it all, really.

>

> PS

> If the government allowed more modern/flexible voting methods for this sort of thing (e-mail,

> SMS, workplace ballots etc) - like the unions are campaigning for - there would be higher turnouts

> for all ballots. But the ConDems aren't going to allow that though are they!

I agree. The technology is now available and should be used for all voting - union and elections.

And I don't think you can blame the coalition - Labour had the opportunity to being it in as well. And actually, I suspect the unions would like to keep the status quo, really - they are getting the voting results they want, and the less enthusiastic members might not be so keen on strike action.

[Chippy Minton]

I agree Loz - Labour are just as guilty, but the ConDems def won't reform it.

You're wrong about the unions not wanting it though - they actively campaign for this as low turnouts are as bad for them as anyone else and, to be blunt, it would save them a lot of money which they need to do wherever they can.

[beaver14uk]

What can you put. As I have already said plan on the basis of no buses and you won't go far wrong.

[uncleglen]

Buses carry a finite number of people. Bus drivers work a finite number of hours unless they opt for overtime so how is a bonus justified? As per-usual we are being held to ransom.

[KalamityKel]

hmmmm lets see... having to sit in solid traffic in hot weather for considerable periods of time due to diversions and route alterations because of the Olympics, having issues with driving hours limits because you can't get back to where you need to be when you need to be (having to stop on route for a compulsory half an hour rest period) whilst having arrogant and generally stupid people shouting at you because they don't understand the rules you have to follow... compared to train drivers sitting in their cabs not having to deal with general public and being paid extra for the priveledge... yes that's fair

[the-e-dealer]

Even Steve knobber Norris agrees if others are Getting a bonus then buses should as they have the hardest job

[the-e-dealer]

ooh look Boris has found ?8M for bonuses.

[maxxi]

It's like a family of unruly children.

If you cave in and give one of them extra pocket money because there was more washing-up than usual to be done, thanks to Auntie Greta's lot coming along on Sunday, then you will eventually have to give extra to your other brats too as they invent more and more spurious arguments along the lines of;

"There was less room on the sofa so I should be compensated!" or "She had the lamb fat and that's usually MY treat!"

In the end Boris is adopting the well known but bloody expensive "Anything for a quiet life" approach.

[Chippy Minton]

More like Boris is adopting his usual "anything to make me look good" approach.

Unite have been asking him to intervene for the last nine months! Now, less than two days before the potential strike, he gets involved to try and portray himself as the gallant knight in shinning armour battling the evil unions.

[Bic Basher]

UNITE are going to ACAS tomorrow to negotiate a deal with the bus companies after Boris offered an ?8m contribution from the ODA to pay the bus drivers their bonuses. However the ODA money won't be released if the drivers strike on Friday.

We should know by tomorrow evening if the strike is still going ahead, but assume it's still on for now.

[the-e-dealer]

yeah so the money not borises money by the way vanishes Friday. Then what strikes during the olympics ? I don't think so just bozzo posturing.

[uncleglen]

I was under the impression that there will be dedicated lanes for Olympic traffic. Also, just how many bus routes will be affected?- very few is my guess. And its the school holidays so bus drivers won't have to put up with the school morning and evening crowds- swings and roundabouts of the job.

[Chippy Minton]

The ODA money won't cover everything - the operators will still have to pay some, so it's not a done deal.

My guess is that the complicated nature of 20 operators being involved in the dispute means they've found it hard to injuct against Unite and along with Boris's intervention have conceded to the ACAS talks. Unite probably won't strike if those negotiations are taking place AND all the operators take part in those talks.

I agree with Bic Basher - assume it is still on for now.

[KalamityKel]

it's poor reporting that it's the bus companies that aren't willing to offer the money to their drivers - TFL are the ones still holding the money not the bus companies. For all Boris' twaddle and finger pointing he's still as clueless as usual.

[Bic Basher]

Chippy Minton Wrote:

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> The ODA money won't cover everything - the

> operators will still have to pay some, so it's not

> a done deal.

Indeed, I think it's ?14m to cover all of the drivers bonuses?

[the-e-dealer]

Ive heard Bus Drivers say they would settle for ANYTHING. Anyway strike is going ahead. I cant believe they couldn't get a deal!

[Loz]

the-e-dealer Wrote:

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> Ive heard Bus Drivers say they would settle for ANYTHING. Anyway strike is going ahead. I cant

> believe they couldn't get a deal!

If that was the case, and Bic Basher's numbers are correct, then surely at least ?250 would be covered by Boris and give everyone a way out?

[the-e-dealer]

I guess it was so 11th Hour that they could not go back to the drivers and ask if ?250 was ok. Boris's tactic seems to be to give them little time to manoeuvre. I cant see what the benefit of that is. The money has been there all the time. LDA has alread paid ?85M to Train COs

[Otta]

So, can anyone actually tell me if this is happening or not? Reading conflicting things.

[georgia]

ITV news have just said it will be a 'partial walkout' but it isn't clear which routes this will affect so very helpful

[Bic Basher]

The companies who have been granted an injunction are Metroline, Arriva The Shires and London General (who are branded as Go-Ahead London).

However the Go-Ahead routes in ED are operated by London Central (12, 37, 63, 185, 363) from Peckham and Camberwell garages and are still walking out tomorrow, so as far as I'm aware. all routes in our area are still out of service tomorrow.