More bus strikes are likely in the ongoing dispute over Olympics bonuses.
Staff from 17 bus companies took part in Friday’s strike. Unite wants £500 for drivers (the union has denied claims in the Evening Standard that it’s upped the demand to £600) to compensate for increased passenger numbers and general havoc during the Games. The Olympic Delivery Authority has offered £8.3m towards the bonus – but that was originally only available if Friday’s strike didn’t happen – which TfL say would allow a £500 bonus to any driver working in a garage “where one or more routes were affected by the 2012 Games”. Of all the bonuses awarded to transport workers, £500 is the smallest amount offered so far (BAA staff could earn as much as £1,200).
The general secretary of Unite, Len McCluskey, said yesterday that further strikes would happen unless a “fair and sensible” solution was found. For the moment though, Unite are holding their horses. Three bus companies were granted an injunction against their staff striking on Friday but the reasons behind that injunction haven’t been released yet; when they are, we’ll find out the union’s next move.
Photo by richwat2011 from the Londonist Flickr pool
