Olympics: London bus drivers threaten strikeReported by Deccan Herald on Saturday, 9 June 2012 (on June 9, 2012)
|
*Thousands of London bus crews have voted to strike unless they are paid extra for working over the Olympics, the Unite union said today, raising the prospect of a walkout during the Games.*
Unite had previously warned that "strike action could take place up to and during the Olympic Games", which last from July 27 to August 12.
More than 8,000 workers on the famous red buses took part in the vote and backed industrial action by more than nine to one. Unite represents about 20,000 bus workers in the capital in total.
The union, Britain's biggest, wants a bonus of 500 pounds per head for Games duty from 21 private bus companies, after staff on the London Underground won payments of 850 pounds each for the expected heavier workload.
It must now decide whether to name strike dates following the vote.
Unite says at least 800,000 extra passengers are predicted to use London's buses during the Olympics.
"Our members are only asking for an extra 17 Pounds a day, which will just about buy you a pint of beer and a portion of fish and chips at the Olympics," said regional officer Peter Kavanagh.
"Our members want the Games to be a success but their patience has run out."
Transport for London, the public body that oversees the complex transport network for the capital's population of more than seven million, said pay was a matter for the private companies involved.
Leon Daniels, head of surface transport, said 70 percent of London bus drivers had not joined the Unite vote for strike action, adding that this was probably because "70 percent of London's local bus services are not affected by the Olympic Games".
He labelled the strike plan "unnecessary" and accused Unite of seeking to exploit the Games.
During the Olympics, London's public transport network must deal with an extra three million daily journeys, as 10,500 athletes, 9,000 officials, 20,000 journalists and millions of spectators descend on 13 sporting sites.
Links:  Full news story
|
|
|
| Recent related news |
| |
guardian.co.uk
2 hours ago | • Seattle score four again but face anxious wait on Alonso
• Houston Dynamo lose at... |
guardian.co.uk
8 hours ago | Danish entrepreneur Martin Bjergegaard says that to succeed and be happy it's not necessary to work... |
News24
10 hours ago | Thousands of workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant in East London have embarked on an illegal strike, a... |
This is
12 hours ago | This is Bristol --
A WESTON-super-Mare based coach firm has had its operating licence temporarily... |
guardian.co.uk
20 hours ago | Khan, leader of Tehreek-e-Insaf party, says Altaf Hussain's Muttahida Qaumi Movement behind death of... |
| |
Huffington Post
23 hours ago | By Mary Wisniewski
CHICAGO, May 18 (Reuters) - Chicago will shut down part of its "L" elevated rail... |
Breitbart
1 day ago | This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
· The former girlfriend of France's... |
guardian.co.uk
2 days ago | Banks may increase salaries to compensate for EU plans bringing 10 times more London bankers within... |
guardian.co.uk
5 days ago | Insurgency in the north-east has led the president to impose a state of emergency that oppresses... |
| |
|
|
Facebook
E-mail
Twitter
Mixx
StumbleUpon
FriendFeed