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From The Socialist newspaper, 9 September 2009
RMT action: Bus workers strike for pay rise
Vectis bus workers in Newport and Ryde (IOW) took strike action on 3 September over pay. Their picket was well supported with Vestas RMT members joining in in solidarity. RMT branch secretary Keith Murphy spoke to The Socialist: "We were expecting a meeting with management back in March to discuss pay. Talks were not started for a couple of months. At the first meeting the union asked for an increase, but not the 15% claimed in the local press!
"The company said they could not afford it even though they made a £2 million profit in the first quarter of this year. No offer was made and an RMT meeting agreed to ballot for industrial action. No talks with management took place and the decision was taken to strike. Management continue to refuse talks but have sent out texts and three letters to staff calling on them to come to work. We will be meeting again this week and have action planned again for this Friday and Saturday."
Vectis enjoy a monopoly on the island and take every advantage, fleecing passengers and holding down workers' pay. There will be two more strike days on 11 and 12 September.
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In The Socialist 9 September 2009:
One million unemployed young people: 'We demand real jobs!'
Youth unemployment: Future jobs or fake schemes?
War and occupation
Trades Union Congress
TUC conference: Workers willing to fight - in spite of leadership
Socialist Party workplace news and analysis
Workers' action can stop NHS cuts
PCS members prepare to fight cuts and privatisation
Unite election: United Left hustings
Witch-hunted Unison member given extra charge
Inaugural meeting to establish a North Wales branch of the National Shop Stewards Network
Socialist Party trade unionists meeting
Postal workers strike
Postal workers national ballot: Vote 'yes' for strike action
Protesting against scabbing managers
RMT action
RMT action: Bus workers strike for pay rise
Vestas workers: Stop the blades
RMT wins no compulsory redundancy position but future battles loom
Marxist analysis: history
Marxists and the Second World War
International socialist news and analysis
Return of al-Magrahi to Libya ignites a political storm
Northern Ireland: Councillor joins Socialist Party
Education
Socialist Party review
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