|
Home
|
The Socialist 10 October 2012 |
Join the Socialist
Party
Subscribe
| Donate
| Bookshop
South Wales bus workers receive strong support for strike
Bus workers protest in July 2008, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge) Monday 1st October saw bus drivers and engineers in South Wales take strike action over pay despite their union, Unite, recommending they refrain from doing so.
It was the first strike action of its type in eight years and was a new experience for many of the users of First Cymru buses. However the response was tremendous.
I work at a local supermarket and many of my colleagues use the bus to travel to and from work, myself included.
But despite the strike meaning they had to make other plans they supported the drivers and understood their decision, with comments like, "Good for them" and "They deserve a decent wage".
Also, whilst travelling on the buses before the strike I informed the drivers that I support them in taking strike action and was pleased to hear I wasn't the first person to do so.
Passengers in the area are worried about a worsening bus service as letters in the local paper have shown recently and they believe that the workers taking a stand against the bus company can arrest this decline.
On the day itself the striking workers made Socialist Party members feel most welcome on their picket lines and were happy to have our support.
The overall response to the strike gave me a real lift, as I'm sure it did to the workers on strike.
In the lead-up to, and fight for, a general strike, this is great news indeed.
Scott Jones, South West Wales
This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 4 October 2012 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.
In this issue
Socialist Party news and analysis
 Tories promise more pain... Kick out the 'nasty party'!
Labour Party conference - not fighting austerity
Arguing the case for a 24-hour general strike
Birmingham Tory conference demo
'Millions crying out for leadership and for an alternative'
Anti-austerity candidates selected for November contests
No welfare cuts
Health workers must fight attacks on jobs and pay
Politicians line up to attack abortion rights
The hidden homeless - "Sofa surfing is my lot"
Them & Us
Transport feature
Send the transport privatisers packing
International socialist news and analysis
Venezuela presidential election
Greece: escalating the action against austerity
South Africa: 'What are we doing about this government that is killing us?'
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Why we're marching on 20 October
More success for Socialist Students
Save East Midlands ambulances
Campaign Kazakhstan: A musical and political evening
Youth Fight for Jobs and Education fortnight of action 13-27 October
Dewsbury fights health service cuts
Waltham Forest: Parents and staff unite against school sell-off
Sunderland anti-fascists stand up against divisive EDL
Socialist Party workplace news
South Wales bus workers receive strong support for strike
Fighting the construction industry blacklist
Workplace nurseries saved in HMRC
Leeds solidarity with Crossrail battle
Mid Yorkshire Health admin staff ballot for strike
Bin workers' strike threat
Workplace news in brief
Marxism
TV review : Masters of Money - Karl Marx
Marx was right!
Home
|
The Socialist 10 October 2012 |
Join the Socialist
Party
Subscribe
| Donate
| Bookshop |
Google search the site
Printable version
email to friend
