Unite London bus demo

Unite’s “Driving Up Pay” campaign aims to win a common contract across all London’s bus companies. Socialist Party members are playing a key role in the campaign’s steering committee.

As part of this campaign Unite has called a demonstration of London bus workers for 11 September.

The Socialist Party also supports those bus drivers in dispute with their companies over imposed below-inflation pay increases.

A successful bus workers’ campaign could provide a real inspiration to all workers. The 2012 victory over the Olympics bonus shows that militant united action can win.


Pirates’ pay protest

Greenwich Unite members protesting at the council's

Greenwich Unite members protesting at the council’s “tall ships festival”, photo Mark Thomas   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Greenwich Unite members dressed up as pirates on Saturday 6 September to let residents know that the council is nothing but a bunch of robbers. While refusing to support the union pay claim of a pound increase per hour, it is nevertheless ready to spend over £2 million on a “tall ships festival”.

The protest was organised at the same time as two days of strike action by parking wardens in the borough – a popular strike among car drivers!

The union had contacted every councillor to ask that they support the pay campaign. Yet not a single Labour councillor from this local authority with a massive Labour majority even responded.

The Unite branch in Greenwich is now preparing for further action, building for the national strike on 14 October and the national TUC march on 18 October, while also balloting members in libraries over pay, staffing and workloads.

Greenwich Unite members
photo Mark Thomas

photo Mark Thomas   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)


FBU elects Matt Wrack

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack has been re-elected unopposed for a new five-year term.