First Bus management, rather than trying to settle the long-running bus drivers’ dispute, has pulled a fast one and ramped up the odds. Given the prices they are paying top-notch hotels to put their strike breakers up and the fees their lawyers charge, this is clearly no longer a matter of cost, but of prestige: defeat from a small garage like Weymouth and Bridport might show them up as weak?
First drivers will work next week because of a Labour Law technicality. When the drivers finally took action 6 weeks ago, in a claim for parity with Yeovil Garage that is at least 5 years old, First management withdrew the “check off” scheme through which union members pay their union fees from their pay, at source (The union is charged for the cost). This meant that the UNITE members had to change to direct debit to continue to be union members. The First lawyers discovered that this left a week in which the drivers were not union members, not covered by the Trade Union Act, and therefore could be sacked, legally, for taking what then becomes “unofficial action”. That week is next week. If only First spent as much time and ingenuity on actually resolving the dispute!
First drivers will work next week…..and from the 8th of August will take continuous strike action for the whole week. A result of masterful negotiation by First! On the 8th, at 8.15am, members of Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland TUC, plus local Labour Cllrs Tia Roos and Paul Kimber, will join the drivers on their picket line. This manoeuvre comes after a long line of First putting pressure on sick drivers to sign back on to work, or be interviewed by company doctors on the eight floor (no lift). The drivers are truly angry and with reason.
If First wishes to retain any credibility with local users, let alone its staff, it should return to the table and settle now.
Tim Nicholls, President, Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland TUC
