BUS WORKERS FIGHT FOR BETTER PAY

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may/junel 2024 :: RMTnews 18 Threats to health and safety and fighting for better pay dominated the agenda the bus workers national organising conference in Grimsby recently. Delegates debated several motions on key issues affecting bus workers, including calling for a nationwide minimum standard for bus workers and for independent investigations into bus crashes. Shadow transport minister Simon Lightwood and prospective Labour Parliamentary candidate Melanie Onn also underlined future Labour governments commitments to bus drivers and workers’ rights. Laying out Labour’s plans for the bus sector, Mr Lightwood said: “From day one of a Labour government, we will strengthen workers’ rights and make Britain work for working people, because restrictions on trade union activity are holding back living standards. “We will repeal anti-trade union legislation and strengthen the place of trade unions in the workplace and their ability to organise, meet and represent their members by simplifying the laws around union representation. “We will work with trade unions every step of the way, unlike the current Tory government, who are so desperate to turn unions into political football and unions in the transport industry are no exception,” he said. RMT regional organiser Gaz Jackson spoke of the disparity between pay and conditions of bus workers compared with colleagues in the rail industry. “Some of our drivers don’t have access to toilets and we’re fighting for our members having the ability to access these basic facilities. “It's a basic human right and we must make sure that going forward, that we keep pushing these things, and that we keep trying to push wages up,” he said. With the union increasing its activity where it is recognised at bus companies accross the country, there had been noticeable improvements for RMT members. RMT assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey told delegates that RMT bus membership was rising along with increases in wages. “Wages are rising faster than other bus workers in the economy for the second year running”. As national officer for buses he went on to say that he welcomed Labour declaring that if elected they will remove section 22 of the Bus Services Act. “That's the part of the legislation which banned the public ownership of buses, and it's been around for years, and it's been a goal of this union to get rid of ever since it was brought into being. “The important thing for us is public ownership is back even if just at a localised level. “It is a step forward but it's not our policy overall, and that is we want a nationally integrated publicly owned transport network run in the interest of the public, not for private profits,” he said. Looking ahead to the future and the challenges faced in the industry, he talked about automation and technological advances which potentially threaten RMT members terms and conditions. “You've got a conglomeration of banks, public bodies, universities… government money - all going BUS WORKERS FIGHT FOR BETTER PAY RMT assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey addresses conference