REPRESENTING BUS WORKERS

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: march 2010 :: RMTnews 13 Dave Letcher usually works as a bus driving instructor for First Devon and Cornwall, but for the next three years he has swapped his training cab for a seat on the union’s ruling Council of Executives. He has worked in the industry for nearly 35 years and has seen a lot of changes, including bus privatisation which has fragmented the industry and brought new challenges. Therefore, he says, representing bus workers is no easy task in what is a difficult time for the industry. “Each company has its own collective bargaining arrangements, which means that wages differ from company to company. “For instance at my company drivers will earn, after this year’s increase, £8.20p an hour. This is the culmination of a three year package that finally harmonises the pay rates for all First Devon and Cornwall bus drivers. However this is towards the lower end of the scale of wages in the bus industry, where drivers in urban conurbations can earn considerably more. It still represents an appallingly low wage compared to the responsibility the job entails. The rate for the job is more than 50% less than that earned by most train drivers who share similar levels of responsibility” He says that privatisation and competition has led to a contraction of services and a worse deal for the travelling public. “A recent retendering exercise in the Cornwall area will see a serious loss of services around Helston and Camborne, from one operator being taken over by another. “Helston depot will be reduced by six peak vehicles and Camborne by two, impacting on staffing levels,” he said. Dave points out that bus competition actually works against the interests of the travelling public in many areas. For instance commuters going to Penzance may get to the town with one operator but may have to leave town using another, making return tickets impossible to use. Ultimately, Dave says, buses will have to be regulated if the services are to be expanded to encourage people out of their cars. “Without regulation, and ultimately renationalisation, many people just can’t rely on expensive and intermittent services and won’t change their habits,” he says. Dave says that RMT must expand its bus membership if it is going to defend the interests of bus workers. In the South West RMT is on the verge of getting trade union recognition at Webbers bus company, that serves Minehead, Bridgwater and Taunton, and, further afield, Brylaine bus company in Lincolnshire, which serves the Boston area. He says that however difficult it is in the industry only one thing that will protect you in the long term, your RMT membership. “At the end of the day RMT membership gives you security. “You can get representation, protection and collective bargaining rights which have given bus workers the weapons to defend themselves. “As such we still have pension rights, holiday pay and sick pay and other benefits that many private operators simply do not offer. There is also the RMT fines pool, which you really need if your work involves being out on the road,” he says. Dave says that bus workers are transport workers and RMT is a democratic, all grades industrial union. “Bus workers also have their annual grades conference, which this year is in Bournemouth on April 22 to 24, make sure you get there and make your voice heard,” he says. For more details about the bus workers’ grades conference contact your branch secretary. You can contact Dave Letcher at d.letcher@rmt.org.uk or phone 020 7255 9145 or 07854236052 REPRESENTING BUS WORKERS RMT News talks to Dave Letcher, a bus worker currently serving on the union’s executive committee