Strike action at Mitcham Belle

RMT News – Essential reading for today ’s transport worker THE RMT-sponsored Merchant Seamen War Memorial charity based at the Springbok estate received a £10,000 donation last month from Dover shipping branch and MacLachlan solicitors. The generous gift was the result of negotiations between the Dover branch and P&O ferries during a major re-structuring programme the company was undertaking which threatened nearly 500 jobs. RMT managed to reduce compulsory redundancies to just 16. P&O made clear that all staff leaving on redundancy would be required to sign an agreement with the company to pay the legal fees. With fees of up to £250 per agreement Dover branch were keen that the union benefited rather than the legal profession. Therefore branch secretary Malcolm Dunning contacted Mark Griffin, a friendly solicitor who had spent time at sea in his youth. Mark and his firm of solicitors agreed to donate £50 of each agreement to a charity nominated by the union. Springbok is based in an 18th century mansion near Guildford in Surrey and cares for retired seafarers. RMT also use the building to hold education courses throughout the year. Malcolm said that while the union took no comfort from job losses in the shipping industry it was fitting that money generated from P&O found their way to a nautical charity connected to the RMT. 5 Merchant seamen charity receives £10,000 retirement home windfall STRIKE ACTION by RMT members at the Mitcham Belle bus company in southwest London was suspended after the company agreed to re-instate two RMT reps. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that further talks would take place concerning outstanding issues still to be resolved. RMT members at the company held a solid 24 hour strike earlier this month over union recognition, pay, conditions, annual leave and sick pay. There is also a lack of negotiation machinery and unfair disciplinary procedures are used against staff. The rolling strike action was sparked by the unfair dismissal of 10 staff for trade union duties and for such spurious reasons as allegedly passing a red light while driving a bus. Mitcham Belle was a green field site in terms of union membership when employees first applied to join the RMT. Despite around ninety per cent RMT membership, the company is still refusing to recognise the union staff had chosen to represent them. Mitcham also tried to bring in agency staff to scab on the strike. However, half of them refused to cross the picket line when they discovered why they had been employed. RMT regional organiser Bobby Law said that staff had been treated appallingly with no toilet or lunching facilities and forced to drive old buses. Mitcham Belle has a contract with Transport for London and the union has inquired to TfL if the company will be fined for failing to run a service during strike days. The company runs bus services around Croydon and Richmond into central London, including routes 127, 152, 200, 201, 493 and K5. RMT YEOVIL bus branch celebrated a double retirement last month. Roger Trowbridge worked at Yeovil depot since 1974 and Geoff Fowler since 1993. Roger and Geoff have both been RMT reps at the depot. The New Nautilus Social Club organised the event, run by Yeovil branch members. Yeovil celebrate Reps re-instated at Mitcham Belle RMT members demand union recognition at the Mitcham Belle bus company