Leeds bus strikes over pensions to go ahead
tgwu | 08.12.2006 13:05 | Other Press | Workers' Movements
Bus drivers at First Leeds will strike in protest at attempts to devalue their hard earned pensions. One thousand drivers, all members of the Transport and General Workers Union, will walk out on 11th, 23rd and 24th December when no buses are expected to run so hitting the lucrative Christmas shopping and leisure period.
"Turkeys don't vote for Christmas so why should our members vote for pension cuts?" said Phil Bown, T&G regional industrial organiser. "What First is doing is ending the final salary pension scheme, which we fought hard for, and they are doing it by stealth. We will not accept the steady reduction in the living standards of our present and future pensioners."
FirstGroup have issued a national order that in future pension contributions will be capped to inflation. Mr. Bown said not only did this fly in the face of a national pensions agreement; it broke First's policy of local bargaining. He explained that because the company was intending to cap pension contributions it meant members of the final salary scheme would not get the full benefits they had been promised as their contributions would not be based on their whole salary.
"At a time when the government and the pensions industry are telling everyone to save more to pay for their retirement, First are cutting back," continued Mr. Bown. "That is why bus drivers are striking and no other reason. We believe this highly profitable company should think again and quickly."
In a high turnout industrial action ballot over 64% took part. Of these 65% voted to support full strike action and 75% for limited industrial short of full strikes.
"The result of the ballot was convincing and should send a powerful message to the company," added Mr. Bown. "Do the local managers really want to spoil Christmas for hundreds of thousands of people in Leeds and hundreds of businesses?"
FirstGroup have issued a national order that in future pension contributions will be capped to inflation. Mr. Bown said not only did this fly in the face of a national pensions agreement; it broke First's policy of local bargaining. He explained that because the company was intending to cap pension contributions it meant members of the final salary scheme would not get the full benefits they had been promised as their contributions would not be based on their whole salary.
"At a time when the government and the pensions industry are telling everyone to save more to pay for their retirement, First are cutting back," continued Mr. Bown. "That is why bus drivers are striking and no other reason. We believe this highly profitable company should think again and quickly."
In a high turnout industrial action ballot over 64% took part. Of these 65% voted to support full strike action and 75% for limited industrial short of full strikes.
"The result of the ballot was convincing and should send a powerful message to the company," added Mr. Bown. "Do the local managers really want to spoil Christmas for hundreds of thousands of people in Leeds and hundreds of businesses?"
tgwu
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Additions
Further Information Found
09.12.2006 20:37
Hi everybody,
You'll know about the proposed TGWU strike that is scheduled to take place on Monday. The strike is a strike of FIRST bus drivers and has been called by the bus drivers in response to their pension rights being reduced by FIRST, the private company that runs the buses.
There was a final meeting of FIRST bus drivers last night in relation to whether or not the strike will still go ahead. The last news I heard is that the strike is going ahead.
Therefore, unless the Yorkshire Evening Post states otherwise between now and Monday, it would seem that the strike will indeed be going ahead.
It is apparently the case that some bus routes will be running even in the event of the strike. The bus drivers on this routes will either be FIRST managers who also have public driving licences or they will be bus drivers brought in from other areas. Obviously, people make their own decisions, but on Monday I will be not getting on any bus that is operating (whatever the understanding or motiviations of the individual driver) on a strike-breaking (i.e. 'scab') basis.
The reason I have taken this decision is because I am not prepared in any way to undermine the bus-drivers' collective efforts to safeguard the pensions to which they are currently entitled. In other words, I am not prepared to assist the management of FIRST in any way in their attempts to defeat the bus-drivers' campaign to defeat attempts to downgrade their pensions. I feel that getting on a bus operated on a strike-breaking / 'scab' basis would amount to this. Obviously this is only my opinion and people will all make their own decisions, no doubt based upon, amongst things, their circumstances on Monday.
I thought I would draw this to people's attention as if they see FIRST buses on Monday they may presume that the strike is off but this may not necessarily be the case.
I hope that strike action is not necessary in that I hope the FIRST managers back down.
Of course, people could use non-FIRST related buses (i.e. the 36 from Harrogate to Leeds) without strike-breaking.
Cheers
Luther
PS - It'd be good if people could forward this on!!!!
PPS- Come along to the picket line at Leeds Bus Depot on Monday morning, it should be fun, and a great start to the week.
You'll know about the proposed TGWU strike that is scheduled to take place on Monday. The strike is a strike of FIRST bus drivers and has been called by the bus drivers in response to their pension rights being reduced by FIRST, the private company that runs the buses.
There was a final meeting of FIRST bus drivers last night in relation to whether or not the strike will still go ahead. The last news I heard is that the strike is going ahead.
Therefore, unless the Yorkshire Evening Post states otherwise between now and Monday, it would seem that the strike will indeed be going ahead.
It is apparently the case that some bus routes will be running even in the event of the strike. The bus drivers on this routes will either be FIRST managers who also have public driving licences or they will be bus drivers brought in from other areas. Obviously, people make their own decisions, but on Monday I will be not getting on any bus that is operating (whatever the understanding or motiviations of the individual driver) on a strike-breaking (i.e. 'scab') basis.
The reason I have taken this decision is because I am not prepared in any way to undermine the bus-drivers' collective efforts to safeguard the pensions to which they are currently entitled. In other words, I am not prepared to assist the management of FIRST in any way in their attempts to defeat the bus-drivers' campaign to defeat attempts to downgrade their pensions. I feel that getting on a bus operated on a strike-breaking / 'scab' basis would amount to this. Obviously this is only my opinion and people will all make their own decisions, no doubt based upon, amongst things, their circumstances on Monday.
I thought I would draw this to people's attention as if they see FIRST buses on Monday they may presume that the strike is off but this may not necessarily be the case.
I hope that strike action is not necessary in that I hope the FIRST managers back down.
Of course, people could use non-FIRST related buses (i.e. the 36 from Harrogate to Leeds) without strike-breaking.
Cheers
Luther
PS - It'd be good if people could forward this on!!!!
PPS- Come along to the picket line at Leeds Bus Depot on Monday morning, it should be fun, and a great start to the week.
Luther Blisset
Comments
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I'm alright Jack
08.12.2006 19:40
Barry
posters
14.12.2006 11:47
I support the strike and would be up for putting up posters around the town and at bus stops to explain the strike. Are there any posters available for downloading anywhere?
Ciao
infidelo
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