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Bus bosses havent shifted... we need to escalate the fightback...

NAME STRIKE DATES

NOW FOR FAIR PAY

HE FIGHT FOR EQUAL PAY

on London buses saw solid
strikes in January and
February. It was clear from the
response of members on the picket
lines that Unites demand was one
they were proud to get behind.
Some members were unsure of the
decision to pull back strikes for talks
when none were being offered.
Since then, Unites efforts to get
negotiations going with the bus
operators and Transport for London
over a fair pay structure for drivers has
led to some meetings involving the
employers and TfL.
It was positive that the union used
the space to organise drive up pay
meetings in many areas during the last
few months to continue to put its case
to members.
But the bosses refusal to make even
the most limited progress means this
phase of inaction needs to end. Unite
leaders were right to withdrew on that
basis from a further meeting planned
for 27 April and Unites regional
secretary Peter Kavanagh has stated the
union will be considering our next
course of action.

Meetings

But members were frustrated to come

out the last London-wide Unite bus
reps meeting at the beginning of May
with still no dates for strikes.
The most recent communication
from the union makes it clear that
there is no sign of the bosses entering
collective discussions over pay at this
stage. Unites 7 May update states that
reps have made it clear that if progress
isnt made, the fight should be back on
with more action called. This a good
signal to members to expect more
action. Members should organise inside
Unite to get strikes called now.
After the election disaster of a Tory
majority government, we know the next
five years will see working class people
under siege from continuing austerity
attacks on pay, conditions and services.

During the last bus strikes members showed they were up for a serious fight to win on fair pay

Labour lost the election because they

failed to offer an alternative to austerity
and echoed the Tories and Ukips racist
attacks on migrants.
Their defeat was not a result of being
too left-wing.
Labours historic demise in Scotland
in the election shows this, where the
SNP won a landslide victory through
putting anti-austerity arguments and
saying migrants are not to blame for the
crisis.

Hope

Union leaders across our movement

demobilised strikes over pay at a
national level on the basis that a Labour
government was our best bet.
This was a serious mistake. National
coordinated strikes against austerity
could have made a real difference,
reshaping the terrain of the election.

As millions now feel deflated and

angry after the horror of waking up
to another five years of the Tories, a
London-wide bus strike can give hope
and confidence to workers everywhere.
Previous strikes were a brilliant
display of the strength our unions
have to fight for working class people.
They brought the injustice of
massive pay differentials and a two-tier
workforce to the publics notice.

Hard-hitting

The bosses and TfL have had months

to enter into a serious process. They
refused to take the chance we offered.
Unite leaders are right to gear
towards more action. Now we
urgently need the dates for hardhitting strikes for every member to get
behind and build a strong turn out in
every garage.

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