Demonstrate against First's latest bus fare rises
alistair tice | 02.01.2007 15:34 | Social Struggles | Sheffield
Bus campaigners We Want Our Buses Back have organised a protest demonstration aginst First's latest fare rises. This takes place on Saturday 6th January assembling at 11am at City Hall for a march and rally.
South Yorkshire First have announced more bus fare increases from 6th January. The Day Saver (joke!) ticket will go up from £3-50 to £4, a massive 14% increase!
Bus campaigners, We Want Our Buses Back, who organised a 300 strong demonstration last November against First’s last fares rise, are encouraging bus users to protest again on Saturday 6th January.
After 4 rounds of fare rises in 2003-04, public outrage and protests forced First to promise no more fare increases for 12 months, but now they have cynically made this announcement around Christmas time to divert people’s anger.
WWOBB convenor Calvin Payne says “ These fare rises prove that First bosses haven’t changed one bit – they still put profits First!
“FirstGroup made record profits in the last year. FirstBus UK made approx £110 million profit. Dividends to shareholders were increased by 10% and £23 million was returned to the fat-cats! Yet the busdrivers have had their pensions cut. Then the company has the cheek to blame drivers’ wage rises for the fares increase!
“This announcement comes literally days after Sheffield residents received the council’s glossy brochure ‘Transport in Sheffield – it affects you!” Too right it does. This latest fare rise proves that Sheffield Council has no control over the private bus companies so how can it plan public transport?
Why is the Labour council that passed a motion of no confidence in First still trying to get ‘partnership’ deals?
“We Want Our Buses Back is organising a demonstration against this latest fare rise and stepping up its campaign for buses to be returned to public ownership and control. The council must decide whose side it is on – the passengers or the profiteers?
Bus campaigners, We Want Our Buses Back, who organised a 300 strong demonstration last November against First’s last fares rise, are encouraging bus users to protest again on Saturday 6th January.
After 4 rounds of fare rises in 2003-04, public outrage and protests forced First to promise no more fare increases for 12 months, but now they have cynically made this announcement around Christmas time to divert people’s anger.
WWOBB convenor Calvin Payne says “ These fare rises prove that First bosses haven’t changed one bit – they still put profits First!
“FirstGroup made record profits in the last year. FirstBus UK made approx £110 million profit. Dividends to shareholders were increased by 10% and £23 million was returned to the fat-cats! Yet the busdrivers have had their pensions cut. Then the company has the cheek to blame drivers’ wage rises for the fares increase!
“This announcement comes literally days after Sheffield residents received the council’s glossy brochure ‘Transport in Sheffield – it affects you!” Too right it does. This latest fare rise proves that Sheffield Council has no control over the private bus companies so how can it plan public transport?
Why is the Labour council that passed a motion of no confidence in First still trying to get ‘partnership’ deals?
“We Want Our Buses Back is organising a demonstration against this latest fare rise and stepping up its campaign for buses to be returned to public ownership and control. The council must decide whose side it is on – the passengers or the profiteers?
alistair tice
e-mail:
wewantourbusesback@hotmail.co.uk
Homepage:
http://www.wewantourbusesback.com
Comments
Hide the following 2 comments
Good Luck
03.01.2007 02:39
I hope demonstrations will work, but I suspect they won't.
Peter Morton
London Prices
03.01.2007 12:27
*Gets on bike*
Busser