WIN AT WILTS AND DORSET

RMTnews :: june 2006 :: www.rmt.org.uk 4 Industrial action by 700 RMT members at Wilts and Dorset bus company has won an improved pay offer. Drivers, engineers and office staff at Wilts and Dorset depots in Salisbury, Poole, Bournemouth, Ringwood, Swanage, Blandford, Pewsey and Lymington took one-day strike action in May and suspended further action following the offer. Staff had voted by 479 to 21 to reject an inflation-only offer linked to unacceptable attacks on conditions, including sick- pay. The fresh offer, an increase for drivers to £8.21 from February 26 and £8.30 from June 1 and corresponding increases of 2.6 per cent and 1.1 per cent on all other rates, also saw a loosening of the ‘strings’ attached to the deal, including the attack on sick-pay. Action scheduled for May 25 and May 26 was deferred after the company signalled that it was prepared to re-open talks, and the action re-scheduled for June 5 and 6 was also suspended to allow consultation with members. “Our members made it quite clear that Wilts and Dorset’s inflation-only pay offer, and the attack on sick-pay and other working conditions, were unacceptable,” said regional organiser Phil Bialyk. He said that the strike action on May 18 was a magnificent display of solidarity that clearly made the company think again. “An overwhelming vote, backed up by an absolutely solid day’s strike, has ensured that Go-Ahead’s attempt to break RMT at Wilts and Dorset has not only failed miserably but has strengthened our members’ resolve,” he said. RMT Poole and District branch secretary Pete Gale reported that all RMT members took part in the protest and no company buses were seen on the roads during the strike. He said that are members were united in their determination to secure a fair deal. “We will fight to protect our sick pay scheme, defend the right to have a full meal break and resist all attempts by the Go-Ahead Group to reduce us to a third rate workforce on low pay and worse conditions,” he said. WIN AT WILTS AND DORSET ‘Magnificent’ day of strike action brings Go- Ahead subsidiary back to the negotiating table F ollowing a derisory initial offer, a one-year pay deal was reached with Lynx which gave an increase of 3.5 per cent on basic rates from January, a 3.5 per cent increase in London allowances and a minimum of four days’ compassionate leave on the death of a parent. Since the buyout of Lynx Express by UPS, RMT has also been pursuing various issues arising from the integration of operations. Although this was the second successive above-inflation deal, a number of issues remain to be resolved, including on outstanding back-pay and the promised consolidation of £40 of C&D drivers’ bonus as an extra £1 on the hourly basic rate. Lynx/UPS have also sought to impose an existing UPS policy that all employed drivers involved in a road traffic accident deemed to be avoidable are to attend a disciplinary hearing. The union believes that such changes of policy should be the subject of discussions with the union and not imposed without negotiation and has sought urgent meeting to discuss this and the other outstanding issues. RMT has received written assurances that the union will remain recognised at all relevant depots, and the union is fully involved in discussions on integration, including on the trial now under way at Dartford. The closure of the Euroexpress operation at Dartford saw 20 of the 24 staff accept alternative posts secured within the organisation, with four opting for redundancy. RMT AGS Mick Cash said that union will continue to monitor developments and a national meeting of all local reps is planned to discuss the integration process. LYNX EXPRESS/UPS PAY DEAL