South Yorkshire Bus Strike

Tom | 25.07.2004 18:57 | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | Sheffield

Update 10 August: After 21 days out, the longest bus strike for 30 years is over, see victory after 21 days.

A significant all out strike is under way by 800 bus drivers employed by First Bus, a major multinational with annual profits in excess of £160m, the strike has been solid as it goes into its second week.

Drivers are striking for a 40 hour week, a reduction of the maximum hours a day to eight-and-a-half hours and a quicker increase in pay for 'starter rate' drivers, who currently have to wait three and a half years to earn more than £5.85 an hour! Steve Clark, the regional organiser for the TGWU, says "Clearly we are in for the long haul".

Buses in the depot

First Bus have already backed down on threats to use managers as scab labour after trade union solidarity actions across the country and hostile local press coverage. There have however been some suggestions that an all out strike unnecessarily impacts the public, compared to for instance running the buses as normal but not charging fares, which would solely hit First Bus.

On Sunday 25th, First Bus rejected the drivers' final bid to end the dispute and all talks have broken down. Drivers are paid 10 days in arrears so the first pay packet that is threatened is Tuesday 10th August. The TGWU has made an urgent plea for financial assistance and solidarity: "Dear Friends, Bothers & Sisters, fellow trade unionists and supporters everywhere! We need your support in any way you can!"

Tom

Comments

Hide the following 6 comments

real news

26.07.2004 17:01

well done Tom,

this is real news mate

screw the lousy BBC and the rrest of the press who don't seem to give a damn.

Tony Granger

Thanks, but . . .

26.07.2004 19:46

The beauty of Indymedia is that ANYONE can propose or write a centre column feature, you just have to email a proposal to

imc-uk-features@lists.indymedia.org, and if no-one objects it goes up in 24 hours. All I did was collate the reports from the newswire ;-)

Good luck to the strikers, First Bus sound like right bastards.

Tom

features list for uk stuff, local lists for local stuff...

26.07.2004 22:35

Just to add to what Tom said - for local features (ones that just appear on regional pages and not the UK page) you can mail the local list suggesting a feature, in this case the local list is the Sheffield one:

http://lists.indymedia.org/imc-sheffield

Chris

some bus drivers

28.07.2004 12:09

allright i live at lowedges.. it seems much of the public are right behind the stikers.. however let's be clear there are rude and just out of order drivers.. i have seen much shit from drivers such as racism, sexism, not dealing with old people in a polite manner, being rude to passengers calling them scum when they have left the bus.. but then on shit wages and working conditions you get to understand why this might just be.. but lets not excuse some of the bus drivers who give people grief because of crapp wages etc..

there was a time when buses in sheffield were clean, drivers helpful and polite.. we can dream of the good old days.. but we need to deal with the reality.. jan wilson and new labour have run with the lack of service from first maineline.. pointed out some intresting facts.. lets hope this srike gets better conditions for drivers and passengers alike.. it aint nice having to avoid the dried puke not cleaned from the prevous night at nine in the morning..

if we are going to place and end to global warming and the loss of over 10 thousand plus animal and plant life in the next ten years.. then real start is public transport.. yes they're being a little selfish.. but here we have the opportunity to educate drivers and the wider public about the rape of mother earth.. that's why i support them.. that's why i suffer the massive inconveniance this strike has caused me..

see the rest of the debate here

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/sheffield/2004/07/295199.html

mozaz

mozaz

Why does Doncaster get mentioned on TV coverage

04.08.2004 13:55

I am fed up with local radio and TV coverage saying that Sheffield shop keepers are loosing money due to this strike. Do they not think that Doncaster is worse off as we do not have the priveledge of having Super Tram although we have to subsidise it. I live in Armthopre and so far have been unable to attend 2 very important hospital appointments. I think the buses should run without charge as previously suggested until this strike is settled.

Brenda Veiter

UPDATE

10.08.2004 09:28

South Yorkshire bus workers have agreed to return to work today (10th August) after being on all-out strike for 20 days for better pay and conditions. This strike is been the longest bus workers strike on the UK for 30 years.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/sheffield/2004/07/295498.html

Tom