London bus strikes 13 January – workers have had enough

The Socialist Party fully supports the strike by 27,000 bus workers across London on Tuesday 13 January. Bus workers will be coming out on strike following a ballot where 84% voted in favour of strike action. The effect of all London bus workers coming out on strike together will be massive and is the first all London bus strike since the victorious strike over the Olympic bonus in 2012. It is the first all London dispute on the buses over pay since privatisation 20 years ago.

London bus workers are furious that there is a huge disparity in pay rates between different companies with drivers driving down the same road being paid dramatically different rates. Hourly rates can vary between £9.75 an hour to £15.26 an hour. Bus workers are also angry at the constant fear of abuse from the management or supervisors and the fear of getting written warnings for just about anything.

The fantastic strike in 2012 that won the Olympic bonus showed that London bus workers are prepared to fight and win, and can win now. The strike will give bus workers confidence. This is a major campaign which will require a determined battle and it needs a diary of escalating action of more strike, that shows the bosses that the bus workers mean business.

The Socialist Party leaflet for the strike can be downloaded here: www.socialistparty.org.uk/txt/346.pdf