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First, Stagecoach, CT Plus — and more to come...

unite the strikes

to
T
win pay battles
he pay revolt on the buses is
gathering pace.
On top of last week’s magnificent
48 hour strike in East London, strike
votes in the capital at First Centre West,
First Capital East and CT Plus have
now opened up the possibility of a huge
strike that could shut down much of
London’s transport network.
The votes for action show the
mood—70 percent at First Centre West,
67 percent at First Capital East, and 86
percent at CT Plus.
Now the votes are turning to action.
On Monday this week Stagecoach
workers in Rotherham struck against
a 1.5 percent offer. They plan further
action alongside workers in Barnsley.
CT Plus is set to strike on Friday this
week. East London Bus Group workers on the picket line
First drivers in Bolton, Bury and power to break the freeze if the union win. That’s a lesson that has to be
Wigan are set to resume strikes after sticks to its guns. spread.
rejecting the latest union recommended All too often—in Aberdeen, South Bus workers are showing a
offer. Yorkshire and the North West (where willingness to fight that hasn’t been
First drivers in Leeds are set to strike the deal was rejected) the union has seen for years. And in doing so they
on Monday 7 December, with a two-day organised the action only to settle for a are standing up for the idea that public
walkout likely to start on December 23 lousy deal. This has to stop! transport should be a properly-run
if a ballot for action goes the right way Over the last few months workers service rather than a cash-cow for
this week. have begun to win victories in the face profit-hungry multinationals.
of the recession. Workers’ action can smash the pay
Fight together In Leeds an all out strike by bin freeze.
The bus operators have tried to use workers has led to real gains, and an all But it’s obvious that if the union is
the fears flowing from the recession out strike at the Superdrug warehouse going to be kept on the right track then
to drive down wages and conditions. in South Elmsall won significant rank and file workers need to organise
But they are now meeting a wave of concessions. to keep the pressure on until victory is
resistance. In other words, if you fight you can won.
It’s vital that Unite brings together
the struggles, coordinating any action
to hit the operators hardest.
In big cities like Leeds and London ■ I would like to get Socialist Worker regularly
drivers have huge potential power in the ■ I want to join the Socialist Workers Party
run up to Xmas.
If the East London Bus Group Name.................................................................................................................
(ELBG), First and CT Plus struck
together London would be in chaos. Address.............................................................................................................
That nightmare for the bosses has to
become a reality. ..........................................................................................................................
Companies like First and ELBG
demand a pay freeze, yet they are still Phone.............................................e-mail........................................................ Bus 24/11/09
making a fortune from the hard work of Circulation 020 7819 1171
Return to SW industrial dept PO Box 42184, London
bus workers. SW8 2WD industrial@swp.org.uk Editorial 020 7819 1180
But it’s clear that drivers have the