Hopes raise for moves to avert London bus strike
Wednesday 20 June 2012
Related articles
Money is available for an Olympic bonus for London bus workers, Boris Johnson revealed today, raising hopes that a planned strike on Friday could be averted.
More than 20,000 members of the Unite union are to walk out for 24 hours in pursuit of a claim for a £500 bonus, threatening travel chaos.
The Mayor of London told the London Assembly that a pot of £8.3 million was available from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) for bus companies to compensate their drivers.
"I urge them to do the right thing by their workforce and by Londoners and get on and negotiate. I would say to those that are seriously proposing a strike that would be greatly disruptive.
"I say to them that cash is available but it is only available on the condition that Londoners are not disrupted and that there is no strike."
"It is up to the employers to get on and do the deal.
"There is ODA cash available to the tune of £8.3 million to compensate workers who are genuinely going to be doing more during the Olympic and Paralympics.
"In so far as they are going to be doing more there is cash available from the ODA. It is absolutely vital that the bus companies now pull their fingers out and do this deal."
Peter Kavanagh, Unite's regional secretary for London, said: "This 11th-hour intervention still raises more questions than it answers.
"It beggars belief that Boris Johnson has waited so long to intervene and the Mayor has still not been in direct contact with us or responded to our request for a meeting.
"Unite met with the Olympic Delivery Authority last Friday and we believe they were listening, so we cautiously welcome the money being made available by the authority.
"The Mayor cannot now just walk away and leave it to the bus companies. We expect genuine involvement and intervention from the Mayor and Transport for London to ensure the bus companies fulfil their duty to recognise fully the role their workers will be playing in making the Olympics a success.
"We cannot call the strike off until we hear from the bus companies and we are persuaded that TfL is serious about resolving this dispute. With only 36 hours left, every minute counts.
"There are 20 bus operators - it's imperative there's a single forum to meet with the bus companies and TfL's involvement is vital in order to secure a deal."
* The Rail Maritime and Transport union said it planned to ballot its members on Greater Anglia, which includes the Stansted Express, for strikes in a dispute over an Olympic bonus.
PA
-
Have shock jocks gone too far after Rush Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke a slut?
-
The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey pays more income tax than big cities of the North
-
British business: We need to stay in the European Union - or risk losing up to £92bn a year
-
World news in pictures
-
British father faces charges after confessing to slitting his two children's throats in Lyon flat
- 1 The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey pays more income tax than big cities of the North
- 2 Gareth Bale agrees new £130,000-a-week Tottenham contract - but can leave next season for £50m
- 3 'Revenge porn' is no longer a niche activity which victimises only celebrities - the law must intervene
- 4 The moral case on tax avoidance is overwhelming - and we all know Google wants to do the right thing
- 5 Sam Wallace: The second coming of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea will be a reunion that can only end in tears
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Independent Dating
iJobs General
SAP SD Consultant
£475 - £476 per day + negotiable: Progressive Recruitment: SAP SD Contract Con...
Maths Teacher- Reading
Negotiable: Randstad Education Reading: Our client in Sonning Common, is looki...
Science Teacher- Reading
Negotiable: Randstad Education Reading: Our client in Sonning Common, is looki...
Special Needs Teacher in Lewisham South London
£27000 - £55000 per annum: Randstad Education London: Supply special education...
Day In a Page
The price of pacifism
Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond
Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?
Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'







Comments