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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april 2022 :: RMTnews
10
Bus workers at the annual
organising conference hosted
by Notts and Derbyshire bus
branch discussed strategies for
building membership density
in the bus industry.
RMT assistant general
secretary Eddie Dempsey said
that conference needed to
develop strategies for
strengthening union
representation within the bus
industry in order to fight for
better pay and conditions.
He said that attacks on pay
were continuing by private
companies that handed £280
million to shareholders rather
than re-invest in the industry
or pay more to workers.
“On top of that we are
seeing a rise in inflation
including a 54 per cent
increase in energy prices,” he
said.
He said that in order to
prevent private companies
cherry picking bus routes and
cutting others, the ‘wild west’
profit-led privatised model had
to be replaced with a
municipal approach which
guaranteed bus services in the
interests of the travelling
public.
He said that the organising
conference had the right
under rule 12 (4) to instruct the
union on how to increase
membership of the grades
they represent.
Lee Rundle, South Devon
outlined ideas about
organising bus drivers,
engineers, office staff and
cleaners and co-ordinating
activity.
“We need to show them
that united we can make a
difference at work,” he said.
Mark Thomas, South Devon
said that in terms of organising
it was important to target
younger workers and
encourage them to get
involved.
“There are many young
people coming into the
industry and we must educate
them and get them involved in
the campaign to improve their
conditions,” he said.
Andy Bradford, Exeter
called on the union to increase
coverage of bus issues in the
union’s publications. RMT
News welcomed the idea and
encouraged bus workers to
invite reporters to branches
and depots or email in stories
to bdenny@rmt.org.uk in order
to increase the profile of bus
workers issues across the
entire union.
Julie Tobin, South Devon
Bus said that the union
BUS WORKERS GET
ORGANISED
Bus workers meeting in Nottingham discussed
low pay, assaults, education and recruitment