Barts health workers visit the Lea Interchange bus drivers picket line Photo: London SP
Barts health workers visit the Lea Interchange bus drivers picket line Photo: London SP

On 6 and 7 February, bus drivers at Lea Interchange garage in east London will be out on strike again against bullying management.

Hundreds of workers have stood on the picket lines on the two previous two-day strikes.

As well as visiting the picket lines in numbers to bring our support to the Unite members, Socialist Party members and Waltham Forest Trades Council have been working to spread solidarity, including organising teams of pensioners to leaflet buses and spreading the word around other workplaces. Unite reps spoke on the platform of the recent trades council public meeting.

Stagecoach bosses are under pressure, but are upping their aggressive tactics to try to undermine the strike.

Waltham Forest Trades Council has issued the following notice around London trades councils:

Urgent appeal to all Stagecoach drivers: Do not cross the line – support the drivers at Lea Interchange

Stagecoach drivers at Lea Interchange (Waltham Forest/Hackney) are currently in a bitter dispute against bullying, victimisation of reps, and union-busting. Unite the Union represents nearly 400 drivers at the depot, who have stood rock solid on the picket line.

The management tactics

We believe management is preparing ‘Birmingham-style’ aggressive tactics. They are attempting to hire external drivers and use ‘loan drivers’ from your garages to break the strike and starve the Lea drivers back to work.

We ask you for solidarity:

1. Refuse voluntary loan work: If you are asked to volunteer to transfer to Lea Interchange – say no. Do not do the dirty work for the bosses. They are paying you to break your own colleagues.

2. If you are “ordered” to transfer: Do not just accept it.

  • Call your Shop Steward (reps) immediately
  • State that you have safety concerns about crossing a hostile picket line
  • Demand a full written risk assessment before moving
  • Do not undermine the dispute
  • A victory for Lea is a victory for you
  • If they break the union at Lea, they will come for your garage next

Show your support:

  • Send messages of solidarity to the Lea Interchange Branch: Branch secretary: shahid.fazil@unitetheunion.org and Branch organiser: muhsin.manir@unitetheunion.org
  • Visit the picket line: Next dates are Feb 6, 7, 20, 21, the address is Lea Interchange Bus Depot, 151 Ruckholt Road,  E10 5PB
  • Emergency hardship fund: Unite LE254 Lea Interchange branch, Unity Trust bank, 60-83-01 20060855, ref: [your name/organisation]