On the Buses |
Stagecoach South Yorkshire on strike
Published Date: 19 November 2009
By Polly Rippon
BUS passengers in South Yorkshire face more misery after Stagecoach drivers announced three days of strike action.
Drivers are walking out in Barnsley, Rotherham, Dearne Valley and Doncaster on three consecutive Mondays - November 23, November 30 and December 7 - because of a row over pay.
Stagecoach managers today reassured passengers and said the firm would continue to operate a 'substantial' daytime service during the industrial action.
The company said all school services would operate as usual if the strikes go ahead.
Stagecoach buses in Sheffield and those operated by Stagecoach East Midlands in south Rotherham and Doncaster are unaffected by the planned industrial action.
Stagecoach Yorkshire managing director Paul Lynch said:'It is very unfortunate that we have not been able to reach an agreement after many months of negotiation. "We have made several offers all of which have involved pay rises well in excess of inflation. The most recent pay offer was recommended for acceptance by the trade union. "We will be working extremely hard to ensure the majority of passengers are not affected by the strike action. We will be drafting in drivers from other areas, plus managers to make sure any disruption is kept to a minimum.'
Bus drivers from rival company First have cancelled all proposed strike action in Sheffield after talks with management.
Workers at the Olive Grove Road depot in Sheffield were angry at the way some grievance and disciplinary issues had been handled.
Both sides are still in negotiations but the strikes have been cancelled.
Preston Sell Offf
The Monopolies Commission has ordered Stagecoach to sell off Preston. This had been aquired earlier this year.
Grimsby and Mansfield/Worksop
Bill Pattison from Grimsby has informed that they have accepted the latest offer which is the same as that offered to Mansfield/Worksop. I understand it is a two year deal which means Hull are on their own next year.
Theagreement is as follows.
When comparing, please remember that we get 12 minutes per day signing on/off (1 hour per week) as well as spread pay.
Retirements
John Longbottom and Geoff Dixon have retired and I'm sure we all wish them a long and happy retirement. They both received retirement presents from the company as well as a card and cash collected from staff.
Geoff Dixon's last run (photo by Johnny Bowler).
Many thanks to Keith Baker for devoting his time to organising these collections and many others in the past.
Union Learning reps
A learning agreement has been drafted and, subject to agreement by Unite and the RMT, will be presented to the company in December. Please inform me asap if you are interested and I will talk through the requirements. Please be aware that this position is NOT part of the branch committee and ULR's are NOT shop stewards.
Blast from the past
I've received some photos of staff members (past, present and deceased) and will be running a short (very) series on the subject. Once again I appeal to anyone with pictures to let me scan them and put them on this site. I also notice we have had no employee of the month or senior moments lately, surely it can't be that quiet!
Doesn't this picture just make you want to fill up! or maybe crack up!
Who is it?? clue ---from the 70's
On the Buses |