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Solid bus strike for better terms, pay and against anti-union bosses
Striking Westbourne Park bus workers photo Rob Williams (Click to enlarge)
London bus workers Tower Transit took 24-hour strike action on 26 August, over the imposition of roster changes, pay and the anti-union approach of the company.
Over 1,000 drivers, engineers and controllers at Westbourne Park bus garage and the Lea interchange bus depot were involved in the dispute following an 89.8% vote in favour of strike action.
Following the solid action, the second 24-hour stoppage of the dispute, scheduled for 29 August, was called off for talks. The walkout followed mounting frustration among workers, who are angry over a lack of consultation over roster changes which are leaving them out of pocket, as well as the non-payment of correct rest day working pay rates.
One driver at Westbourne Park said: "I don't see my family because I work six or seven days a week while these companies are making millions, not pennies. We're public workers in a private company and it doesn't work. Companies are too busy trying to make profit."
Workers on the picket line at the Lea Interchange photo Isai Priya (Click to enlarge)
At the Lea interchange in east London it was evident Sadiq Khan's betrayal in allowing companies to get away with these attacks has done damage to Jeremy Corbyn among London bus drivers.
Socialist Party members spoke to workers on the picket line who said that they thought Jeremy Corbyn would let them down as Khan has done, undermining faith in Labour.
The Socialist Party's call for all transport to be brought back into public ownership really chimed.
Socialist Party reporters
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
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