Nick Chaffey, Southern and South East Socialist Party
First Bus Solent Unite strikers have been told that their pay dispute is over after being given a 4.8% pay award and told they should return to work. That was the local news on Friday 21 February. The following morning, the picket line was solid as over 140 strikers sent a message loud and clear: “Our strike continues!” Strikers who began their action in November are clearly more determined than ever.
Fareham is part of the area covered by the Hampshire devolution application, welcomed by local MPs and council leaders who include the development of the transport network as a key justification. Yet so far none have given support to the dispute. This is despite the fact that First Solent receives public subsidies for a service that is currently all but non-existent. Serious questions need to be answered. Not only is First Solent taking public money and failing to deliver a service, but management is offering a £50 daily bonus to any driver willing to break the strike. So public money is being used to try and break the strike, and break the union to boost profits for the company.
The behaviour of First Solent management and the silence of local councillors and MPs show that privatisation has nothing to do with providing public services, serving local communities and respecting the commitment of their drivers. Elections have been cancelled in Hampshire for this May, while this strike continues and local councils carry out a new round to cuts to jobs and services.
Socialist Party members give our full support to Fareham bus strikers and pledge we will carry the call for fully funded public transport into our election campaigns for next year’s postponed elections. Public transport, run under democratic control by elected committees of drivers and service users, is what can deliver a genuine public service delivered by well-paid and respected workers.
