26 Jul 2013

Jersey: bus workers to strike over shifts and sackings

Bus workers employed by CT Plus have voted to strike over new shift patterns and the dismissal of drivers. A 24-hour strike was held on 30 December by bus drivers working for the previous operator Connex. CT Plus took over the island's service on 2 January.
The company also took over Guernsey's bus services last year. Drivers there staged a one-day strike on 10 June over concerns about new shift patterns. Further strikes were averted after the company agreed to make changes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk

19 Jul 2013

First Midland drivers balloted for strikes

Bus drivers in Worcester could strike during the first day of the school summer holidays. 149 First Midland drivers in Worcestershire and Herefordshire are being balloted over the prospect of a walkout because of changes to their working conditions. Unite says its members didn’t agree to them, and it has left them worse off.
According to Unite, the drivers’ working weeks have dropped from 39 to 37 hours, and they now don’t get paid for carrying out ‘walk around’ checks of the vehicles. Should they vote to strike, the earliest they could down tools would be on Monday 22 July.
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk

9 Jul 2013

South Africa: indefinite strike over nepotism

Metrobus drivers began an indefinite strike in Johannesburg yesterday. The SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) says drivers are demanding the suspension of Metrobus's acting managing director. The union wants Lawrence Maqekoane investigated for allegedly violating company policies.
They’re unhappy about the use of a behavioural assessment policy in the company’s recruitment process – fearing it could be open to manipulation, and it's raising concerns of possible nepotism. Samwu wants him out of office so he can't interfere with the investigation.
Hundreds of commuters were forced to use taxis, with Metrobus operating at less than 20 percent capacity.
http://www.enca.com