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From The Socialist newspaper, 13 June 2012
Olympics - a fair deal for transport workers
London bus workers strike together
A London bus worker
Bus workers across London have voted overwhelmingly for strike action. Dates are to be announced.
Other passenger transport workers in the capital are getting an Olympic bonus. Why not bus workers? Do the bosses think we are a soft touch?
Our union Unite expects 800,000 extra passengers to travel on buses during the Olympic Games. We are asking for a £500 bonus for the extra pressure we're undoubtedly going to face. Every day we already have to deal with frustrated passengers and tolerate road rage on congested streets. It will be many times worse during the Olympics.
Other workers are getting between £500 and £900. And Unite has revealed that seven London transport bosses stand to get an Olympic bonus of £80,000 each. In May a survey revealed 88% of passengers agree with us getting a bonus.
The count last week indicated 94% voted to strike - on the same 38% turnout as when London mayor Boris Johnson got in to office.
Unless Transport for London and the big profitable bus firms pay up, this will be our first London-wide strike for decades. Success can begin to transform the mood of bus workers. We desperately need to build a reputation like tube workers for strong trade unionism.
Other disputes
Transport for London RMT members in Travel Information Centres, Customer Contact Centres and Lost Property Offices have voted more than three to two for strike action and more than three to one for action short of a strike.
This is to demand payment for the extra work during the Olympics and in protest at the ban on annual leave during the games. Strike action and an overtime ban are now likely.
The RMT has also just secured an agreement for Heathrow Express workers of a £700 bonus for the extra pressure during the Olympics. This also gives the opportunity to earn additional payments on a voluntary basis with no threat to annual leave or enforced extension of hours.
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In The Socialist 13 June 2012:
Socialist Party news and analysis
No to austerity! - Turn anger into action
NSSN conference agrees call for one-day general strike against austerity
Leveson: contradictions and a crisis of credibility
No to local government pensions deal
The class divide in elderly care
Socialist Party youth and students
Youth Fight for Jobs national meeting
From pillar to post: reassessment for ESA
Super-rich Beecroft targets workers' rights
International socialist news and analysis
Spain: bank bailout can't stop Euro death-spiral
Wisconsin Recall: Democrats paved the way for Walker's victory
Kazakhstan: Oil workers jailed by rotten regime
International day of support for political prisoners in Iran
Threat from far-right in Greece: Time to build defence committees
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Tamil protest scores victory as Rajapaksa cancels speaking engagement
Bolton Uni: Reinstate Shana Begum!
Olympic's sponsor exploits workers
Socialist Party workplace news
Sheffield recycling centre strikers supported by 90% of public
Council admin workers in Kirklees strike against cuts
Olympics - a fair deal for transport workers
Coryton refinery closure protests
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