Monday, June 25, 2012

Further bus strikes planned in London over Olympic bonus payments - @standardnews

Strike dates, however, are not expected to be announced pending a decision on further talks between Unite the union and bus operators.

Unite, which began its annual conference today at Brighton, is deciding its next course of action.

It also plans to appeal against the High Court decision which prevented strikes taking place at three of the 20 private-sector bus operators.

Peter Kavanagh, Unite London regional secretary, called on Transport for London (TfL) and the operators to get back round the table for "meaningful negotiations."

He said: "We will fight to get the injunction overturned and further action will be bigger if TfL and the bus operators continue to bury their head in the sand."

Friday's strike was a "wake up call to the bus companies and TfL," he said.

The strike was ordered after the bus companies turned down union demands for a £500 Olympic bonus for each of more than 20,000 staff.

Workers claimed a "massive increase" in the workload with 800,000 extra passengers expected during the Games.

The union is now demanding £600 having added £100 to its demand - and £100 for each further walkout - to make up for lost wages.

Employers have offered around £340 paid for by an £8.3 million grant from the Olympic Delivery Authority, a deal brokered by Mayor Boris Johnson.