28 Mar 2013

Isle of Man: next strike to be 3 April

Bus Vannin drivers have voted for further strike action in a long-running dispute with the government over proposals to introduce a £3,000 pay cut. The drivers will stage two separate walkouts on 3 April, from 7.30-9.30am and 3-5pm. The drivers have already struck in December, January, February and March.
http://www.bbc.co.uk

15 Mar 2013

Strikes called off at Go North East

Three days of strike action scheduled by North-East bus drivers has been called off after a revised pay offer was made. Members of Unite employed by Go North East were due to walk out today, Monday and next Saturday. However, following discussions between the operator and the union, a revised deal will be balloted on.
The revised offer consists of three parts – a two per cent increase backdated to July 1, 2012; a further 0.5 per cent from April 1, 2013 and a final two per cent from July 1, 2013. Go North East said the increased offer would be funded through productivity improvements which would be the subject of further negotiation.
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

 
The new pay offer differs very little from the previous one, which drivers rejected. It even has strings attached. At the moment even the official inflation rate (RPI) is running at 3.3%. A pay 'rise' at anything less than that figure is really a pay cut.

12 Mar 2013

Three days of strikes announced at Go North East

Go North East face a series of strikes across North East England from Friday 15 March. They are in response to a below inflation pay offer, and will involve 1,435 workers.

The company offered a two per cent pay increase for 2012/3 which was rejected by the drivers. The company then made a second offer - a two year deal - which simply repeated the operator's original offer for 2012/3 plus an offer of 2.5 per cent in 2013/4. Predictably, the offer was rejected. 

Profits

In 2012 Go North East made £7.2 million in profit and is on target to make £7.4 million in 2013. It is part of the giant Go-Ahead group, and operates services in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham and Teeside.

 
Unite regional officer Fazia Hussain-Brown said: "The company's below inflation pay offer means a pay cut in real terms when prices are going up. The drivers take home £240 a week, they are struggling to support their families, with some having to rely on benefits." 


The 24 hour stoppages will be on 15, 18 and 23 March. The strike ballot saw a 77% turn out, with 60% voting for strikes

http://www.unitetheunion.org